A builder’s warranty is a written promise tied to a new-home construction project or remodel. It usually covers specified workmanship, materials, building systems and, in some contracts, major structural defects for different periods. It does not automatically cover every problem in the house: appliances, minor cosmetic cracks, manufacturer-warranted products and temporary living costs are common exclusions.
The signed warranty controls. Coverage, deadlines, exclusions, who performs repairs and the dispute process vary by builder and location, so treat the periods below as common examples from the Federal Trade Commission’s guidance, not as a nationwide guarantee or state-specific legal rule.
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What a builder’s warranty is
A builder warranty comes with new home construction or a remodel. It addresses defects in construction—such as faulty workmanship, defective materials or a failure of a covered system—rather than ordinary breakdowns that happen years later. The warranty document should identify the parts of the property covered, the length of each protection, exclusions, the notice method and any inspection, repair or dispute requirements.
“Home warranty” can mean something entirely different. A separately purchased home service contract generally offers repair or replacement services for selected appliances or systems after they fail. The FTC warns that these contracts can duplicate existing manufacturer coverage, cover only part of a product, impose service fees or dollar limits, and make claims difficult. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) also explains that a home warranty does not cover the home’s structure and may or may not include appliances. A service contract therefore does not replace a builder’s structural or workmanship warranty (FTC; NAIC).
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What is commonly covered
Workmanship and permanent materials
Typical builder coverage applies to specified permanent components installed as part of the construction or remodel. FTC examples include concrete floors, plumbing, electrical work, windows and HVAC. A workmanship provision may address installation that does not meet the warranty’s stated standard; a materials provision may address a defective product supplied by the builder. The contract’s definitions—not the fact that an item is inside the house—determine whether a particular defect qualifies.
Mechanical and utility systems
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, plumbing and electrical systems often receive a separate coverage period from finishes. A failed component may also have a manufacturer’s warranty, and the builder document may direct you to that manufacturer or exclude the item once manufacturer coverage applies. Check both documents before authorizing work.
Major structural defects
Some builders offer a longer term for “major structural defects.” FTC guidance describes these as problems that can make a home unsafe and put its owner in danger; a roof that could collapse is its example. Structural language is usually narrower than a complaint about a cosmetic crack or a finish. Read the warranty’s definition, engineering or inspection requirements and any damage threshold before assuming a structural claim is covered.
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Typical coverage periods
The FTC describes the following patterns. They are illustrative durations reported in its consumer guidance, not mandatory terms. Your warranty may start at a date specified in the contract—such as closing, substantial completion or another trigger—and may use different periods for different components.
| Coverage category | FTC example of duration | Examples cited by the FTC | What to verify in your document |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most workmanship and materials | One year | Siding and stucco, doors and trim, drywall, paint | Covered standard, start date, exclusions and the deadline for written notice |
| HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems | Two years | Heating/cooling, plumbing and electrical systems | Which equipment and parts qualify, service-call rules and whether manufacturer coverage controls |
| Major structural defects | Up to 10 years in some warranties | A defect that could make the home unsafe, such as a roof that could collapse | Exact structural definition, proof required, threshold for a covered defect and claim procedure |
Do not infer that every finish lasts one year, every system lasts two years or every structural warranty lasts ten years. The FTC presents these as general examples; the signed warranty sets the actual term (FTC, “Warranties for New Homes”).
Common exclusions and limits
Even when a problem appears soon after completion, it may fall outside the builder’s promise. The FTC identifies these common exclusions:
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- Household appliances. Refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers and similar products may be excluded or handled only under the appliance maker’s warranty.
- Small cosmetic cracks. Minor cracks in brick, tile, cement or drywall are often excluded as normal settling or cosmetic movement. The warranty may define what size, location or severity becomes actionable.
- Components covered by a manufacturer. The builder may require you to pursue the manufacturer’s separate warranty, or the builder document may exclude the component altogether.
- Moving and temporary accommodation. Out-of-pocket expenses such as a hotel, rent or moving costs while major repairs occur are usually not included.
This list is not exhaustive. Exclusions can also address owner maintenance, alterations, misuse, normal wear, weather events, landscaping or damage caused after completion. Look for conditions such as required maintenance, inspection rights, prompt notice, access to the property, repair-authority limits and deadlines. If a clause is unclear, ask the builder for a written explanation before the deadline expires rather than assuming the broader interpretation.
Builder warranty versus a separately purchased home service contract
The names are easy to confuse, but the products answer different problems. Use the contract and the comparison below to identify which one you have.
| Question | Builder warranty | Home service contract |
|---|---|---|
| What event is covered? | Specified construction defects in a new build or remodel | Later repair or replacement of listed appliances or systems after a breakdown |
| Who provides it? | Usually the builder or a warranty administrator named in the construction documents | A separate service-contract company selected and paid for by the homeowner or another party |
| Which components? | Contract-defined workmanship, materials, systems and possibly major structural elements | Only the appliances and systems listed in the service contract; structural coverage is not provided |
| Duration and start date | Different periods by component; the signed builder document controls the trigger and expiration | Term and renewal dates set by the service contract |
| Exclusions and limits | May exclude appliances, minor cracks, manufacturer-warranted items and temporary living costs; other limits may apply | May duplicate manufacturer coverage, exclude parts or conditions, impose service fees and set dollar or annual limits |
| Who selects or performs repairs? | Often the builder or a designated contractor under the warranty’s procedure | Usually the service-contract provider assigns or authorizes a technician under its network rules |
| Claim and dispute process | Written notice, inspection and any mediation or arbitration required by the builder warranty | Provider’s call-in, authorization, fee and escalation process |
The FTC and NAIC both advise checking limits, exclusions and overlap before buying or relying on a home service contract (FTC; NAIC). Keep the builder warranty even if you later purchase a service contract; the latter does not turn a structural defect into a covered service call.
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How to make a builder-warranty claim
1. Read the written warranty first
Locate the section for the affected component and record its coverage period, start date, exclusions, maintenance conditions and definition of a covered defect. Check whether the document names a warranty administrator, requires a particular form or portal, sets an emergency phone number, or demands notice within a specific number of days. Photograph the condition before cleaning, opening walls or allowing another contractor to alter it.
2. Notify the correct party in writing
Follow the stated submission method, but put the request in writing even if an urgent hotline is available. Describe the address, room or component, the date you noticed the problem, symptoms, any immediate safety risk and the remedy requested. Ask for confirmation and an inspection appointment. Keep the language factual; do not concede that an exclusion applies or authorize a repair that could affect the builder’s ability to inspect.
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Save the signed warranty, purchase or remodeling documents, photographs and videos, receipts, inspection reports, emails, letters, claim numbers and notes of every call. Record the date, person, promise and next step after each conversation. The FTC suggests sending a formal letter by certified mail with a return receipt so you can show when it was delivered. Continue ordinary maintenance and retain evidence of it, because the warranty may condition coverage on reasonable care (FTC).
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4. Review the proposed repair
Ask which warranty provision authorizes the work, what materials will be used, who will perform it and whether the repair carries a separate workmanship guarantee. Obtain the scope and schedule in writing. If the defect creates an immediate safety hazard, take reasonable steps to protect people and property, document the condition first when safe, and notify the builder through the emergency channel and written channel.
5. Follow the contract’s dispute path
Many new-home warranties offer or require mediation and arbitration for disagreements about coverage or repair quality. The particular contract determines whether either process is mandatory, how to start it, who pays fees, and whether a deadline applies. Do not skip a required notice, inspection or mediation step; keep proof that you completed each one. If the document is ambiguous or a significant structural issue is involved, a qualified lawyer or building professional familiar with your state can explain options without replacing the contract’s procedure.
Questions to answer before the warranty expires
- What is the exact expiration date for each component, and what event starts that clock?
- Does the reported condition meet the document’s definition of a defect, or is it classified as normal settling, wear or a cosmetic issue?
- Is another warranty—such as the manufacturer’s—responsible for the product?
- Have you complied with maintenance, access, inspection and notice requirements?
- Does the warranty cover consequential costs such as temporary housing, moving, storage, damage to belongings or only the defective component?
- Who has authority to approve a repair, and can using your own contractor void or limit coverage?
- What mediation, arbitration, appeal or court deadline applies if the builder denies the claim or the repair fails?
Submit a documented notice before the applicable deadline even if the builder has not yet identified the cause. A pending conversation does not necessarily preserve a claim; only the contract and applicable law can answer that question.
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A builder warranty is not a blanket promise that a home will remain problem-free, nor is it a substitute for homeowners insurance. Insurance and warranty contracts address different risks, and a service contract has its own limits and fees. The warranty also may not resolve responsibility where a defect involves design, soil movement, an owner alteration, a product maker or a later contractor. Identify the responsible document, preserve evidence and use the stated claim route before paying for permanent corrective work.
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