What is Construction Warranty, and Why You Need it

When considering a home renovation or addition, ensure that your project is covered by the proper warranties on the workmanship and product.

Renovation warranty guarantees the work completed by your contractor. It’s important to look for when signing a contract on a home addition or renovation to help protect yourself and the work that’s been completed. 

So, when considering renovations on your home, don’t forget about the warranty. 

There are three types of warranty you should consider: warranty on the work, warranty on the product and a new home warranty. 

Warranty on the Work 

When selecting a contractor in Calgary, look for companies that are members of BILD RenoMark. They will have received the RenoMark certification through a rigorous screening method that qualifies them based on several elements like quality workmanship, financial stability and a solid management team. 

The home renovation or addition is carried out by a professional team that will then warranty their work for a minimum of two years. This will cover things like a loose railing or unsecured baseboards, essentially any of the work within the scope of what they completed for you. It will also cover you in the instance that your contractor defaults, doesn’t meet standards or goes bankrupt. 

This does not include everyday home repairs or items/rooms that weren’t touched during the renovation or addition. 

When signing your contract with your team, look for the warranty details and make sure they are fully outlined. 

At Melanson, as a RenoMark certified builder, we not only cover you for a full two years on the workmanship but we also cover you for two years on the materials. This isn’t required and most builders only cover you for one year, but we stand by our work and care about you and your home. 

 

Warranty on the Product 

Most products used in the renovation will come with their own warranty (when installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions). This is where a professional team can help save you heartache down the road as they’re trained specifically in installing these properly – keeping your warranty intact. 

The warranties may vary on each product, so ensure at the end of the project, you get all of the information from your contractor. 

New Home Warranty 

If you’ve purchased a new home and want to make changes right away, you could be affecting your new home warranty. This warranty is provided by your builder and can often come in two, five and seven-year intervals. 

Any changes you make to the home can affect your warranty. For example, if you paint the walls and the builder needs to make a repair, they won’t repaint the wall with your new colour since they provided painted walls at completion. This doesn’t mean they won’t make the repair, it simply means they aren’t responsible for restoring it to your updated state. 

If you’re planning on renovating during the existing new home warranty, choose a team that will guarantee their work. These are two separate warranties and will only cover the work completed by each individual, the builder and the renovator. Just keep in mind that if the builder needs to fix something on the original home, they may have to go through your renovation, which won’t be covered by either party.  

Make sure your renovator keeps track of what they’ve done and how it’s affected the home. This can help you if you need to make a claim with the builder. Thinking of Making Changes to Your Home?

A proper warranty is only one of the things to look for when hiring a home renovation contractor. If you want to learn more about the full process, read How to Choose Your Home Renovation Contractor