How to write contractor warranty language

Contractor warranty language should say what is covered, for how long, what is excluded and how to make a claim. Distinguish your workmanship promise from the manufacturer’s product warranty, and check the legal protections that apply even when your contract does not mention them.

Written promises and legal warranty protections

An express warranty is a promise you make about the work or product. Review your estimate, website and sales wording for consistency; do not assume that a promise is harmless because it was made outside the contract.

An implied or statutory warranty can apply without being written into your agreement. For example, Minnesota Chapter 327A provides specified warranties for new dwellings and home improvements and limits how they can be modified. Coverage, beneficiaries and time periods depend on state law and the work type.

So a written warranty is a floor you promise, not a ceiling on your exposure. A clause reading "this warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, express or implied" is standard template text and may do less than it appears to, depending on the state and on whether the customer is a homeowner or a commercial buyer. Check your state's implied warranty rules and consumer protection statutes with a construction attorney licensed there before relying on it.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act also governs written warranties on consumer products. A covered written warranty generally prevents disclaiming implied warranties. A limited warranty may restrict their duration if the restriction is reasonable, clear and conspicuous and state law allows it; a full warranty cannot. The FTC’s warranty guide explains the distinction.

The FTC’s product-coverage rule distinguishes building materials by transaction. Materials purchased for home repairs or remodeling can be covered; materials supplied to construct a home, substantial addition or other realty generally are not. Separate equipment such as furnaces and water heaters remains covered. A warranty solely on repair workmanship is outside the Act, while one covering both repair parts and labor can fall within it.

Define the duration instead of leaving “lifetime” unexplained

If you use “lifetime,” answer these questions in the warranty:

• Whose lifetime? The customer’s ownership, the product’s useful life or another defined period? The FTC’s guide says lifetime advertising should identify which life determines the duration.
• Labor or materials? Say whether you cover installation defects, defective products, replacement labor or all three. A labor warranty does not automatically answer what happens when shingles fail.
• Does it transfer? Say whether the promise extends to a later homeowner, subject to any legal rights that apply.
• Who will honor it? Name the warranty provider and contact details. Closing a business does not by itself answer whether an obligation survives.

A defined promise such as “5 years on workmanship, labor and materials included, non-transferable” is easier to interpret. That is illustrative wording, not a recommended duration or a substitute for required state warranties.

Separate workmanship, product defects and damage

Separate these possible causes, then explain your obligations for each. Responsibility can overlap.

Your workmanship. Flashing that leaks, a fixture that was not set level, a circuit terminated loose, mortar that failed at the joint. State how you will inspect and correct covered installation defects.

A manufacturer defect. A failed compressor or defective shingle may fall under the manufacturer’s warranty. Provide the actual terms and model numbers, and state separately whether you include replacement labor. Check registration requirements and any conditions for extended coverage; do not promise coverage the manufacturer has not offered.

Damage unrelated to defective work or products. Describe exclusions for causes such as misuse or lack of specified maintenance. Tie an exclusion to the cause of damage; do not automatically void all coverage because another contractor touched the property. For covered consumer products, federal warranty law restricts mandatory branded parts or service.

Sample warranty structure: coverage, duration and claims

This sample structure covers scope, duration, exclusions and claims. Complete the placeholders and have the terms reviewed for your work and state before use:

Workmanship warranty. For [period] from substantial completion, we will repair defects in our workmanship at no charge for labor or materials. Any manufacturer warranties for materials and equipment we install are described in the attached product terms; we will provide any applicable registration or completion documents at completion. We will perform the labor to replace a warranted part at no charge for [period].

Not covered. Normal wear; damage from misuse, accident, or weather events; damage caused by settlement or movement unrelated to our defective work; damage caused by failure to perform the specified routine maintenance; damage caused by alterations or repairs by others. These exclusions do not remove rights that applicable law protects.

Making a claim. Notify us in writing at [email/address] describing the problem. We will inspect within [number] business days and, where the claim is covered, complete the repair within a reasonable time. Please allow us to inspect before another contractor performs work on the affected area.

Some states require notice and an opportunity to inspect or offer repairs before a construction-defect lawsuit. Texas Property Code §27.004, for example, prescribes notice and inspection procedures for covered claims, with exceptions. Have local counsel check the required method, timing and scope; the sample email process does not replace statutory notice.

Check claim deadlines and insurance separately

Your workmanship period is not necessarily the deadline for a legal claim; that is set by state law. Coverage for repair of your own work also depends on the policy and endorsements. Ask your agent in writing.

Reuse reviewed warranty terms on quotes

Save your reviewed warranty wording in DoneQuote’s default Agreements or a quote template. Check the period and scope on each quote before sending. When the wording changes, update the reusable version and review existing drafts separately; previously approved terms do not change just because you edited a default.