What Types of Warranties Are Typically Provided for New Home Builds?

December 23, 2023

There are a lot of questions and concerns that go into purchasing a new home, and all of those things get amplified when building the home from the ground up. Protecting your purchase with warranties is always a good option, but not all warranties provided by the builders are created equal. It’s important to understand what warranties your builder provides – and what they encompass – as those can change based on local regulations and the specific builder. 

Getting the right warranties from home builders in Gulfport can sometimes make or break your experience. Local regulations and other industry practices can influence the specific warranties offered in a particular region, meaning it’s important to consult directly with the builder to understand all available warranties and their protections. 

Builder’s & Structural Warranties

The builder’s warranty is a general warranty that covers the workmanship and materials for a specific period of time – typically one year. This is in place to make sure that the home is free from defects and meets other certain quality standards. This written assurance that any of those defects will be repaired during that time period. This can include issues with plumbing systems, electrical systems, HVAC, or other structural elements. 

Structural warranties cover the structural integrity of the home and are usually longer than a general builder’s warranty. Commonly ranging from five to 10 years, these warranties can address issues with the foundation, load-bearing walls, or other structural components. These are typically longer because some of these issues can take years to develop, and the builder wants to make sure the homeowner is covered against them when they arise. 

Warranties Separate from the Builder

Not all warranties come from the builder. Separate from the builder’s warranty is the manufacturer’s warranty. Appliances and other major components in the home – such has HVAC systems – may come with their own warranties from the manufacturers. These are usually provided by the specific company that produced the appliances or systems. 

The roofing materials will also commonly come with their own separate warranties, and these are provided by the manufacturer of the roofing materials. These roofing warranties will typically cover defects in the roofing materials, and these will often have a much longer duration. Roofs are built to last a long time, and some roofing warranties have a duration of 10 to 30 years, or sometimes longer. A trusted home builder in Gulfport should be able to help you understand the warranties from these outside companies, as well. 

It’s vital for homeowners to carefully review the terms and conditions of the warranties provided by the builder. Additionally, they should understand what is covered and for how long, as well as any exclusions or other limitations. Some builders will offer separate warranties on their workmanship, or other extended warranties, so it’s important to understand everything being offered. For more information on warranties and getting the right ones in place for your build, reach out to the experts at Elliott Homes today.