American Cemwood™ roofing failures & warranty information:

this website provides information about American Cemwood fiber cement roofing shingles, shakes, and roof failures, including roofing claims information for Permatek, Permatek II, Royal, Cemwood, and Cascade shakes, and Pacific Slate and Trieste tiles or roof "shingles" and includes advice for home inspectors, home buyers, and homeowners where these roofing products are used.

We discuss claims for qualifying damage to American Cemwood roofing tiles and shakes, including but not limited to: Permatek, Permatek II, Royal, Cemwood, and Cascade shakes, and Pacific Slate and Trieste tiles. List of fiber cement & hardboard roof shingle failures, warranty claims, manufacturers.

American Cemwood Roofing Class Action Lawsuit Settlement FAQs

Several hardboard-based and fiber cement based roofing products have not performed as well as originally anticipated, experienced early failure, and were the subject of roof warranty claims.

Masonite Woodruff, Cemwood, Hardishake/Hardislate, CalShake and Fire Free are examples of product names that have suffered these problems.

Our page top photo and photo at left of an American Cemwood roof was provided courtesy of Canadian home inspector Hugh Cairns [3].

On 2018-02-28 by (mod) - same problem with my Cemwood roof. Did you get any satisfaction?

Sorry June

As you'll read in AMERICAN CEMWOOD ROOFING, nobody is currently getting further satisfaction regarding Cemwood roof failures and the "claims websites" you may find by search engines are not providing any help whatsoever.

I would like to see photos of the conditions of your roof - that might permit some useful comment and might help other readers. Use the picture frame icon next to the Comment button to attach images.

On 2018-02-27 by june phillps

@Sharon balfour, I have the same problem with my Cemwood roof. Did you get any satisfaction? If so, please call me at 828 261 0200. June Phillips

On 2018-02-22 by (mod) - FireFree PMFC roof tiles installed in 2001 are cracking and falling off

Chris,

I'm not optimistic, I'm sorry to say. It would be helpful if I could see some shark photos of the condition of your roof and the crack roof tiles. And I'll be glad to do some further research.

On 2018-02-21 by chris

Our FireFree PMFC roof tiles installed in 2001 are cracking and falling off. The manufacture Re-Con is out of business. What can we do about this?

On 2017-09-26 by (mod) - we have "missed the boat" on recovering any warranty

Unfortunately, yes. Often companies or class action suits, to be manageable, specify a time window for claims.

If you want to use the page bottom CONTACT link to send me some sharp photos of the conditions on your roof we may be able to comment further.

Sorry.

Daniel

On 2017-09-26 by Lisa

I just finished reading, so apparently we have "missed the boat" on recovering any warranty. As the number and the website no longer pertains to the actual class action lawsuit

On 2017-09-26 by (mod) - My Cemwood roof is not holding up.

Lisa,

That's just what we've published in the article AMERICAN CEMWOOD ROOFING. Let me know if that leaves you with specific questions.

On 2017-09-26 by Lisa

Looking for info on warranty issues with the Chemwood roof that is failing on My Parents home.

On 2017-09-12 by (mod) -

C W

Thank you for telling me about that telephone number problem, I will research it to see if I can find better information.

It's pretty common with some of the older class action claims topics that eventually no one is picking up the phone because the claims period Is long closed.

But I'll see what I can find for this specific case. Thanks again for letting me know.

On 2017-09-12 by C Wilhelm

The 1-800-708-3266 number goes nowhere. After pressing # to get through 8 or so "special offers", it tells you that the number has been changed to 1-800-712-6600 then finally hangs up. The latter 800-number is a free 411 lookup service, so that number also goes nowhere.

On 2017-04-09 by (mod) - Contact the Cemwood Administrator at 1-800-708-3266.

Contact the Cemwood Administrator at 1-800-708-3266.

On 2017-04-09 by June phillips

April 8, 2017. My Cemwood roof is not holding up. Who do I call about a claim?

On 2017-03-31 by Sharon balfour

How can I make a claim on my cemwood roof

Question: Our 50-year Cemwood roof all of a sudden is breaking down,

(Aug 27, 2012) Irene Lehmann said:

What is the settlement regarding these roofing tiles

(Oct 9, 2012) davendonna2@shaw.ca said:

Has anyone any information on any settlements in Canada?

(Dec 28, 2012) Jenny Ruoff said:

We just recently purchased a home that has a Cemwood shake roof. A couple of days ago we noticed a leak in one of the ceilings.

Our 50-year roof all of a sudden is breaking down, and I am finding out that Cemwood shakes have been breaking down for a while now. Is there any way to get compensated for this? I have read there were class action lawsuits, but the phone # & website in the suit is not working.

Thank you for your help.
Jenny Ruoff

(Feb 11, 2013) Ron 2/9/13 said:

Yes, we have experienced the same roof failure with excessive water absorption and fungus growing on roof tiles including discoloration and brittleness.

(Mar 6, 2013) Judy said:

We have had problems with our roof too, and I too can not get in touch to find out about the class action suit. Does anyone have a number or address that can be used for info?
Thanks

(Mar 26, 2014) Dennis Lanes said:

We have a failed roof made with Cal - Shake SFM - 4943 shakes. Are we eligible to participate in the claim?

(Apr 18, 2014) Patricia Gross, highmountaintrees@gmail.com said:

The information packet & claim form we got for Cemwood Roofing said claims must be submitted by Feb. 7, 2015. We mailed our claim on Jan. 5, 2013, with USPS tracking. With no word in a year, we finally wrote an inquiry letter on April 2, 2014. We just received a reply stating the settlement closed on May 19, 2011 and that our claim was received after the closing date. Since we did file prior to the date given in the claim form instructions, what is our recourse?

Reply:

You may need to consult an attorney who has expertise in construction law, but first it seems appropriate to contact the company providing documentation of when and how your claim was submitted.
Keep us posted.

Question: Class-Action claims deadline for FireFree roofs: 15 January 2007

(June 7, 2014) Jeff Fisher said:

Is the lawsuit for FireFree+ shakes still open? I just foundout about it last week during some roof repairs. Email: jeffreyfisher59@gmail.com

Reply:

Jeff, In considering Fire Free roofing shakes failure complaints, a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge awarded an $18.6-million class-action settlement in June 2001 to homeowners of FireFree roofs manufactured and installed from December 1993 to November 1997.

Homeowners with failing FireFree roofs covered in the suit had until Jan. 15, 2007, to file claims. So no sorry, you're too late.

Question: sealant or paint for use on Permatek roofs with flaking coating

(July 14, 2014) Beth said:

Is there a sealant or paint that can be applied to a Permatek roof. We live in a desert area in southern Colorado-low humidity and little snow/rainfall but the coating is flaking off.

Reply:

I understand that there was a touch-up paint used on sawn edges of Cemwood Permatek roofs but that the product has not proven durable. One would think that if a restorative or protective coating had ever proven successful on Permatek roofs it would have been widely publicized and used on these failing roofs. I have not been able,to find such products nor reports of their use.

A separate company and product, Permatex is sold as a coating for tile and metal roofs, an acrylic sealer. I found no data on its use on Permatek roofing.

Question: filing a claim with American Cemwood®

Amy said:

I just found out yesterday that my roof is cemwood. It was put on by a remodeling company that did a room addition 14 yrs. ago. They are now out of business. I have been having broken tiles in hoards. I thot it was from painters, window washers or termite tenting but it isn't. They just brake spontaneously. Is there still a lawsuit going on with the manufacturer or is it too late? I can't believe I was totally in the dark about this. No one told me til a third roofer came out yesterday to survey the damage.

Reply:

Amy, Cemwood Roofing said claims must be submitted by Feb. 7, 2015. The contact links for American Cemwood are in the article just above.

Watch out: if the roof was damaged by foot traffic or another external cause I'm doubtful that any manufacturer is going to consider that a failure covered by warranty.

Question: Reader Experiences with Amerian Cemwood Roofing Claims

(Sept 5, 2014) Amy said:
I just found out yesterday that my roof is cemwood. It was put on by a remodeling company that did a room addition 14 yrs. ago. They are now out of business. I have been having broken tiles in hoards. I thot it was from painters, window washers or termite tenting but it isn't. They just brake spontaneously. Is there still a lawsuit going on with the manufacturer or is it too late? I can't believe I was totally in the dark about this. No one told me til a third roofer came out yesterday to survey the damage.

(Sept 5, 2014) (mod) said:
Amy, Cemwood Roofing said claims must be submitted by Feb. 7, 2015. The contact links for American Cemwood are in the article just above.

(Sept 25, 2014) Olga said:
Due to hurricane and constant rain in my area, I reported water damages to my homeowners insurance.

I was told that my roof are cracked that caused all those leaking. My contractor saw water damages and he recommended to submit a claim for my Cemwood Roofing as they were reported defective & had been a problem by many homeowners that had them installed.
I called the claims administrator hotline but all I get is a recording selling me gadgets that I don't need and requesting my charge card number and get disconnected. I would like to process or complete a claim form. Thank you!

(Sept 25, 2014) Olga said:
Based on the information on the website that claims can be submitted by Feb., 7 2015. I need to download or receive a claim form so that I can
submit a claim. The interior or my house has damages because of these defective roof.

I need assistance in filing a claim. I am retired and barely afford to pay my mortgage and CANNOT afford to replace my roof! I need some answers please if claims are still accepted or not. Thank you!

Reply:

Olga,

I'm glad you were able to obtain at least some information from Cemwood. To obtain help filing a claim, since most likely you will need to provide various forms of evidence of damage, you need an on-site assistant, possibly a roofing inspector. Perhaps if you call your local family assistance office they can help you.

You might also try calling some of the experts in your area and who are listed at inspectapedia.com/Expert-Consultants-Directory.php to see if they will offer a pro-bono or reduced fee roof inspection and claims assistance.

The other option for you is to contact an attorney for help.

Question:

(Nov 6, 2014) Jeanine said:
I am having trouble locating the claim form to submit in connection with Cemwood roofing failures. Can anyone direct me to where a claim is online or a specific link?

Reply:

Cemwood Roof Shakes: Information about American Cemwood roofing shakes and related products is
at AMERICAN CEMWOOD ROOFING [The article above on this page]

Contact information is at: American Cemwood - imitation wood shakes crack, swell and discolor. The American Cemwood roofing settlement includes Cemwood Shakes, Permatek Shakes, Permatek and Permatek II. Cascade Shake, Trieste Tile, Pacific Slate, Permatek II and Royal Shake.

Class action settlement site: [BOGUS website] for help identifying Cemwood or Permatek shakes on a roof

see Claims administrator [BAD telephone number]

is all the data we've found. Warnings are in the text of the article above on this page.

We do provide a link to a PDF file with claims administrator contact information. Readers report varying responses including no reply.

Question: been waiting for 1 year for a response from Amerian Cemwood Claims Administrator

29 Jan 2015 juby said:
been waiting for 1 year for a response to my reg letter addressed to american cemwood settlement fund. no response from them,and the phone # listed is no longer in service. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Reply:

Juby youre not alone. If the company doesn't respond I think you're DOA. I tested the Cemwood Claim telephone line. Worse than disappointing.

WATCH OUT: AMERICAN CEMWOOD CLAIM SITE FRAUD ALERT: the Claims Administrator telephone number 1-800-708-3266 shown below now connects you to a marketing company who will contratulate you by promising you a cruise to the Bahamas!

WATCH OUT: cemwood claims wesite FRAUD ALERT: the original American Cemwood Claims administrator site given in most website references for this topic now auto-forwards readers to http://ww5.cemwoodclaims [BADSITE] com/ which is a "Made for AdSense" site that only provides links to advertisements. At least that's All I could find there.

...

Continue reading at AMERICAN CEMWOOD ROOFING - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Roofing & Fiberboard Damage Articles

• AMERICAN CEMWOOD ROOFING
• ASBESTOS & FIBER CEMENT ROOFING - home - where our page top photo of material described as asbestos-cement roofing looks a lot (from the ground) like wood-fiber cement roofing
• FIBER CEMENT PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS
• FIBER CEMENT PRODUCT STANDARDS
• FIBER CEMENT ROOF SHINGLE ASBESTOS TEST RESULTS
• FIBERBOARD ROOFING & FIBER-WOOD ROOFING
• HAIL DAMAGED SHINGLES & OTHER ROOF COVERINGS
• SIDING HARDBOARD IDENTIFICATION & CLAIMS for Exterior siding defects: hardboard siding failures, warranty claims - where to submit siding failure claims.
• ROOF LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
• WARRANTY & Class Actions, Fiber Cement Shingles

Suggested citation for this web page

AMERICAN CEMWOOD ROOFING CLAIM FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ROOFING

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.

---

 

IF above you see "Comment Form is loading comments..." then COMMENT BOX - countable.ca / bawkbox.com IS NOT WORKING.

In any case you are welcome to send an email directly to us at InspectApedia.com at editor@inspectApedia.com

We'll reply to you directly. Please help us help you by noting, in your email, the URL of the InspectApedia page where you wanted to comment.

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---