Does a Builder’s Warranty Cover Materials?
It depends on the wording. A workmanship warranty is about how the work was done, products often carry their own guarantee, and your legal rights sit underneath both.
The short answer
It depends on the wording. Read it before you need it.
A builder's workmanship warranty is mainly about how the work was done: whether it was installed, fixed and finished properly. Whether it also covers the materials depends entirely on its wording, so check. Many products, such as rooflights, windows and roofing membranes, come with a separate manufacturer's guarantee against faults in the product itself. Underneath both, consumer law generally expects materials supplied as part of a job to be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose, and the work to be done with reasonable care and skill.
In practice, when something fails, the first call is the same either way: the contractor who did the work. Working out whether a fault is in the product or in the fitting is often part of what they need to do, and it decides which cover responds.
Side by side
What each kind of cover is usually about
Workmanship warranty
- Given by the contractor who did the work
- Covers faults in how the work was carried out
- Poor fixing, sealing, alignment or finishing
- Lasts for the period stated, usually from completion
- May or may not extend to materials: check the wording
Manufacturer's guarantee
- Given by the company that made the product
- Covers defects in the product itself
- A failed seal unit, a faulty mechanism, a membrane defect
- Often conditional on correct installation
- Sometimes needs registering, or regular maintenance
Your legal rights
The rules underneath any warranty
When a business supplies materials as part of a job, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 generally expects those goods to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. It also expects the work itself to be carried out with reasonable care and skill. Your contract is with the business that did the job, so that business is normally your first point of contact for a problem with the materials it supplied, not the manufacturer. The Act is summarised in plain language by Citizens Advice, and our page on your rights under the Consumer Rights Act goes into more detail.
A written warranty or guarantee is usually in addition to these rights, not a replacement for them. A warranty can make things easier, because it sets out in writing what the contractor or manufacturer will do and for how long. It does not normally take away anything the law already gives you.
The picture is different if you bought the materials yourself and asked the contractor only to fit them. Then a fault in the product is generally a matter between you and the seller, while the contractor is responsible for the fitting.
Before you accept a quote
Three questions worth asking
What does your warranty cover?
Ask whether it covers materials as well as workmanship, how long it lasts, and when it starts. Get the answer in writing, ideally in the quote itself.
Which products carry a guarantee?
Ask which main products come with a manufacturer's guarantee, for how long, and whether it needs registering in your name after installation.
What could void it?
Some guarantees depend on regular maintenance, such as keeping gutters or drainage channels clear. Ask what is expected of you, and keep a note of it.
When something fails
Who to contact, and in what order
Contact the contractor
Describe the fault in writing with photographs. They are best placed to say whether it is the product or the fitting, and your contract is with them.
Let them work out the cause
If the product is faulty, the contractor can usually take it up with the supplier or manufacturer. Keep asking for updates in writing.
Use the manufacturer's guarantee where it applies
If the contractor has stopped trading, or you bought the product yourself, contact the manufacturer directly with your paperwork and proof of purchase.
Keeping the paperwork
Four documents to file when the job is finished
When the work is complete, put four things together: the accepted quote, which shows what was supplied and fitted; the workmanship warranty terms; any manufacturer guarantee documents, with registration confirmations where needed; and the final invoice or receipt, which proves when the work was finished and who did it.
Note the product names and model details as well, if the contractor can give them. If a fault appears years later, being able to say exactly what was fitted, when and by whom saves a great deal of time. The when building work goes wrong guide covers what to do if a claim is ever needed.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your exact position depends on who supplied the materials and what your contract and warranty say.
If you use Mortaro
Your warranty terms are in your quotation
When Mortaro coordinates your project, your quotation names your contractor and confirms their warranty terms before you commit. Every contractor in our network agrees to a minimum 12-month workmanship warranty, usually running from completion, with longer periods typical on larger works such as full replacements.
If you want to know whether a particular product carries a manufacturer's guarantee, ask us and we will get the answer from your contractor. The warranty is theirs, not ours. See how quotations work and workmanship warranties explained.
Straight answers
Questions about warranties and materials
Is wear and tear covered?
Usually not. Warranties and guarantees are about faults, not the normal ageing of materials or damage from storms and other outside causes. Check the wording for your own.
How long is a typical workmanship warranty?
It varies with the job. How long does a workmanship warranty last? explains the usual range and why it differs.
Should materials be listed on my quote?
The main ones should be. It makes the warranty and any guarantee easier to rely on. See what a building quote should include.
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