New Construction Roofing in Indiana and Illinois — What Buyers Should Know

New construction homebuyers in Northwest Indiana and northern Illinois often assume their new home’s roof is perfect — it’s new, after all. In reality, new construction roofing has its own set of concerns that buyers should understand before and after closing.

What’s Typically Installed on New Construction in Our Market

New construction homes in Lake County, Porter County, and Will County subdivisions typically use:

Shingles: Standard architectural shingles — usually the builder’s volume-purchase product, which may not be the premium product tier. Often a 30-year architectural shingle from one of the major manufacturers.

Underlayment: Synthetic underlayment has largely replaced felt in new construction. Quality varies by builder.

Ventilation: Continuous ridge vent is standard in most new construction. Soffit intake is also standard but quality of installation varies.

Ice and water shield: Building code requires ice and water shield at eaves. The extent of coverage (just at eaves or also in valleys) depends on the builder.

Professional inspection ensures no damage goes undetected

What Builders Don’t Always Tell You

The warranty on builder-grade shingles: Many builders use standard product-tier shingles that come with basic manufacturer warranties. These are not the enhanced warranties (System Plus, Silver Pledge, Golden Pledge) that require certified contractor installation. The warranty coverage on a builder-grade installation is often less comprehensive than what you’d get from a qualified replacement contractor.

Builder warranty vs. manufacturer warranty: Your builder’s one-year warranty on workmanship is separate from (and often less comprehensive than) the manufacturer’s material warranty. Know what each covers.

Speed of new construction installation: Production housing builders prioritize installation speed. While professional new construction crews generally do competent work, the incentive structure is different from a premium replacement contractor who stakes their local reputation on every job.

Quality materials and expert installation make the difference

What to Check Before and After Closing

Before closing (during your walkthrough):
– Check that ridge cap is complete and flat along the entire ridge line
– Check that pipe boots and penetrations appear properly flashed
– Ask the builder for documentation of the shingle brand and product installed
– Ask for the manufacturer warranty registration — confirm it’s been registered

After closing — your first inspection:
Schedule a professional drone inspection 6-12 months after closing. This documents baseline condition and identifies any installation issues while they’re still under builder warranty.

After any significant storm in your first years:
New construction shingles are fully vulnerable to storm damage from day one. If a significant hail event affects your area, don’t assume your new roof is fine — get it inspected.

Alamo Roofing serves Lake County, Porter County & northern Illinois

Upgrading a New Construction Roof

If you’ve purchased new construction and want to upgrade your warranty coverage, there are options. GAF allows warranty upgrades on qualifying installed systems — meaning you may be able to upgrade from basic manufacturer coverage to an enhanced warranty level by having a GAF Master Elite contractor inspect and register the installation.

This isn’t always possible (depends on installation quality and product tier), but it’s worth exploring. Call (219) 248-2194 to discuss whether your new construction roof qualifies for warranty upgrade.

Builder Defect Claims

If you discover roofing installation defects within your builder warranty period (typically one year), document everything with photographs and report in writing to the builder. Keep copies of all correspondence. If the builder fails to respond adequately, you have recourse through Indiana’s or Illinois’s contractor licensing systems and potentially through litigation.

Alamo provides documentation support for homeowners pursuing builder warranty claims — our professional inspection report carries weight that homeowner photos alone may not.