Renovation warranty in Ontario: how to read the fine print on workmanship coverage

Every contractor says "we stand behind our work." It is the easiest sentence in the trade. The question is what it means on a Tuesday in month eight, when a tile has loosened or a door trim has opened at the mitre.

What is the difference between workmanship and material warranties?

You often need both. A good contractor will help you register or claim on manufacturer warranties and will tell you which party to call for which problem. Our standard is a one-year workmanship warranty on our work.

What should a real warranty cover?

• The length of coverage and when it starts (usually at completion).
• Which work is covered: structure, finishes, trim, tile, paint, plumbing connections.
• How to report a problem and how quickly they respond.
• Who does the repair, and whether subtrades are included.
• Whether minor settling touch-ups, such as trim joints or small paint cracks, are included.

What is commonly excluded?

Be transparent about this, because honest contractors list exclusions rather than hiding them:

• Normal settling of the house and seasonal movement in wood.
• Damage from extreme humidity swings, flooding or leaks from other sources.
• Misuse, neglect or changes made by others after completion.
• Wear and tear, and cosmetic issues you accepted at the final walkthrough.

Note that Tarion's new-home warranty applies to new homes, not renovations, so your contractor's written warranty is the main protection you have after a renovation.

The contract audit

Before you sign, find the warranty in the contract. It should state the duration, the coverage, the exclusions and the contact steps, in writing. If it is only promised verbally, ask for it to be added. Related reading: insurance and WSIB, and payment schedules, since holding a final payment until deficiencies are fixed is your leverage.

Owner-supplied materials and your warranty

If you buy the tile, flooring or fixtures yourself, ask how that affects the warranty before you sign. We have been on a job where the supplied materials were of such poor quality that they would have broken long before our one-year warranty ran out. We cannot warrant products we did not choose, and a good contractor will tell you so clearly at the start rather than after a failure. The solution is simple: agree in writing who inspects the materials on delivery and who is responsible if they fail.

How we improve after every job

A warranty is also a source of learning. We keep a lessons-learned register and review each project at the end of every phase: what did we do well, what should we improve, and how can we be more efficient. Callbacks and corrections go into it, and the changes show up in the next project.

Keep reading

• Licensed, bonded and insured: what it really means for your renovation
• Protecting your capital: what a fair renovation payment schedule looks like
• How to choose a general contractor in Hamilton

This guide is general information from a contractor, not legal advice. Rules, prices and ranges change, so confirm current details before you sign a contract.