If you have a roof made of Tamko Lamarite, you might be in for a nasty surprise.
After a deluge of consumer complaints, including premature cracking, curling, and delamination , Tamko has discontinued their Lamarite Slate product. That means your Lamarite roof isn’t doing its job of protecting your home, family, and possessions.
The bottom line is this: if you have a Tamko Lamarite Slate roof, give us a call! We’ll work directly with your home insurance company to get you the best deal on a roof replacement, with minimal out-of-pocket costs.
What Are Tamko Lamarite Slate Composite Shingles?
Tamko Lamarite was a synthetic slate product: a composition shingle made of hard rubber and designed to look like realistic natural slate.
Natural slate is a beautiful and durable roofing material, but it’s also heavy and extremely expensive. Tamko Lamarite, like other artificial slate products, was molded with the specific textures and contours of natural slate to create authentic detail and dimension. It seemed like a great roofing choice, but time has proved that Lamarite just couldn’t stand up to the elements.
Why Was Tamko Lamarite Slate Discontinued?
Consumers have made a number of allegations against Tamko Building Products, claiming that their Lamarite Slate shingles had poor design and manufacturing defects. Consumers have alleged that these defects manifested long before the expiration of the warranty. A number of consumers have reported issues, including but not limited to:
- Cracking
- Crumbling
- Brittle
- Falling from the roof
- Discoloration
So, if your home has Tamko Lamarite Slate shingles your roof is likely to be vulnerable. It also means that when any of these tiles need replacing you will not be able to replace like for like, which is pretty frustrating!
Fortunately, your homeowners insurance may cover the cost of a replacement.
My Roof Has Discontinued Lamarite Slate Shingles. What Do I Do Now?
If you have Tamko Lamarite shingles installed on your roof, they may be defective. Document all instances of cracking, delamination, curling, and warping. Also, make sure you have paperwork for your proof of purchase, installation, and warranties.
Next, you’ll want to contact a certified roofer who can help you assess the state of your roof. Designer Roofing can come out for a free evaluation, help you submit a claim to Tamko, and advocate on your behalf.
Filing An Insurance Claim For Discontinued Tamko Lamarite Slate Shingles
You should then notify Tamko of any damage found. Your roofer can help you submit a claim. You will want to submit a copy of your original warranty and highlight the exact section naming coverage for the specific damage incurred. You will also want to include high resolution photos of the damage.
If your claim is due to a manufacturing defect, a sample tile can be removed from your roof and sent to an independent lab for verification of a manufacturing failure.
Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover A Replacement Roof?
It depends. In the case of discontinuation, many policies will cover a complete roof replacement. However, it will really depend on your homeowners insurance policy. Generally, the more expensive the policy, the more likely it is to cover a new roof if your roof has been significantly damaged and your tiles are discontinued or can’t be “matched.”
A reputable roofing contractor will be able to advise you on your best next steps and help you successfully file an insurance claim. If you have Tamko Lamarite on your roof, call Designer Roofing to make sure your roof continues to protect your home and family.