What Is a Builder's Warranty vs. a Manufacturer's Warranty?

A builder's warranty covers workmanship and structural issues in the home itself. A manufacturer's warranty covers individual products installed in the home (appliances, HVAC, water heater). They overlap but are not the same.

The Short Answer

Your new home comes with multiple warranties from different sources. Understanding which warranty covers what — and for how long — helps you know who to call when something goes wrong.

Builder's Warranty

The builder's warranty typically covers three tiers: workmanship (1 year — paint, caulking, drywall, etc.), systems (2 years — plumbing, electrical, HVAC), and structural (10 years — foundation, load-bearing walls, roof structure).

These are common timeframes, but they vary by builder and may be modified by your purchase agreement. Read the warranty document carefully — it may exclude more than it covers.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Individual products in your home — appliances, water heater, furnace, air conditioner, roofing materials, windows — come with their own manufacturer warranties.

These warranties are separate from the builder's warranty. If your dishwasher breaks in year two, you would contact the appliance manufacturer, not the builder.

Make sure you receive all manufacturer warranty documents at closing and register the products as required.

Where They Overlap

When a problem could be either a builder workmanship issue or a product defect, determining which warranty applies can be complicated.

For example, if your HVAC system fails, it could be a manufacturer defect (covered by the HVAC manufacturer) or an installation error (covered by the builder's systems warranty).

Builders sometimes point to the manufacturer warranty to avoid covering a repair under their own warranty, and vice versa.

Protecting Yourself

Keep all warranty documents in one place and note expiration dates.

Register all products with their manufacturers.

Document any issues immediately with photos, dates, and written descriptions.

Submit warranty claims in writing and keep copies.

Understand what is excluded from the builder's warranty — exclusion lists can be extensive.

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