Warranties

Warranties for Materials and Workmanship

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A reputable contractor will include in the contract you sign a warranty on materials and workmanship. Make sure you get it in writing. Verbal assurances that a contractor will "come back and fix anything that goes wrong" are very difficult to enforce after the job is finished.

The contractor’s warranty covers the quality of the installation or construction work done, specifying what is covered and for how long. Manufacturers of products used by the contractor warrant their products to be free from defects for a specified length of time if they were installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

If you’re building a home, you’ll want new home warranty coverage, which protects you if your builder is unable or unwilling to complete the project or cannot provide adequate after-sales service. In B.C., Ontario and Quebec, new home warranty coverage is mandatory — your builder must provide it. New home warranties have conditions, so make sure you understand the coverage you are getting.