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Contractor Warranty

wrkrwood's picture

Contractor Warranty (post #191076)

wrkrwood on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 18:00
in

Hello,

I originally planned to fix the facade of my house, but I think I may hire a gc to do the job instead.

We're negotiating right now and I'm asking him to extened his warranty to two years in case any of his work fails. He seems to think this is an unusual request and claims that most gc's only cover 1 year.


My question: is one year the traditional warranty for services and is it unreasonable to have him stand by his work for longer than that? I just don't want to go thru this process more than once.


Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

-ww

‹ LABOR COST FOR CLIENTS New finish/built-in carpentry ›
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What do you want him to warranty? (post #191076, reply #1 of 8)

by TLE in reply to wrkrwood [original] on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 18:21

What do you want him to warranty?

If you are talking about his workmanship and items he has control over, asking and receiving an extended warranty is not all that unusual.

If you are asking him to give you a blanket warranty covering product failure and his labor to repair that failure, I would feel that is excessive.

A better method of choosing a gc would be to find out if he is reputable and does work that does not require concerns over warranty schedules.

How did you come up with the contractor that you are talking to?

 

Terry

 

Terry, Thanks for your (post #191076, reply #2 of 8)

by wrkrwood in reply to TLE [original] on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 20:00

Terry,

Thanks for your reply.

He was recommended by a friend. I was asking him for a three year warranty for his craftsmanship, but he was saying that he felt more comfortable with a 1 yr.  The job is to restore the facade of my house. Replace old wood and paint/prime.

 

-ww

Is this (post #191076, reply #6 of 8)

by davidmeiland in reply to wrkrwood [original] on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 21:21

a time-and-materials job or a fixed price job?

Generally, I would expect exterior woodwork and painting to easily last three years, but of course that depends on how picky you are. I would be disappointed if you called me at 2 years 11 months and told me there was slight paint wear and that it all needed repainting.

The warranty period in my contract is one year but I pay attention to completed work quite a bit longer than that, and have fixed things that were far out of date. It's great PR.

An important thought when working on referral, I think. (post #191076, reply #7 of 8)

by calvin in reply to davidmeiland [original] on Fri, 07/09/2010 - 04:29

but I pay attention to completed work quite a bit longer than that, and have fixed things that were far out of date. It's great PR

Direct referral from prior customers and of course their continued use of your company in future ventures come from quality work and the satisfaction of a well done job.  If taking care of "out of warranty" items  adds to that experience and costs you minor time, a better form of advertisiing you cannot find.

There is however a realistic limit to be considered.  And of course another reason for material markups.

I go this aftn if I get done soon enough to meet with a referral that has looked at doors at the Depot.  My goal, to supply all the doors and hardware through my suppliers.  With a markup.  You could say it is hard to stand behind your work and the product when not supplying the whole enchilada.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

Terry, Thanks for your (post #191076, reply #3 of 8)

by wrkrwood in reply to TLE [original] on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 20:00

Terry,

Thanks for your reply.

He was recommended by a friend. I was asking him for a three year warranty for his craftsmanship, but he was saying that he felt more comfortable with a 1 yr.  The job is to restore the facade of my house. Replace old wood and paint/prime.

 

-ww

Please don't use "Back" after (post #191076, reply #4 of 8)

by DanH in reply to wrkrwood [original] on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 20:22

Please don't use "Back" after posting -- it causes too many double posts.  Click on "Recent posts" instead.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

Generally there's some sort (post #191076, reply #5 of 8)

by DanH in reply to wrkrwood [original] on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 20:25

Generally there's some sort of state law that requires a one-year warranty, and that's what all the contractors live by.  If they offer a longer warranty it's likely to be through an insurance company.

A reputable contractor will fix a problem he caused two or three years after the job.  An unreputable contractor will duck fixing a problem after six months, no matter what the warranty.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

One year is standard.   At (post #191076, reply #8 of 8)

by Jeff_Clarke in reply to wrkrwood [original] on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 03:31

One year is standard.   At two years, as a request, he should charge you additionally for the additional coverage.   However, most GCs are used to the one-year warranty so he probably wouldn't know how to price it.    I'd stay with the one-year, but if longevity is your concern do some research on paint and other materials to allow for the best choices for long life.