Writing workmanship warranty terms

Labor warranty, product warranty and why customers confuse them

When a homeowner hears 'it's under warranty', they assume everything is covered. In home services there are usually two separate promises. The manufacturer's warranty covers defects in the equipment or materials: the compressor, the garage door opener, the shingles. Your workmanship warranty covers the quality of your installation or repair: the brazing, the wiring connections, the flashing, the spring tension.

Customers often learn the difference only when something fails, and that is when complaints start. A clear written workmanship warranty, handed over with every install and larger repair, prevents most of those arguments. It also tells customers you stand behind your work, which matters when they are spending real money: US households spent an average of $12,472 on home projects in 2025, up from $12,050 in 2024, according to Angi's survey^[3].

What federal warranty law covers

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act governs written warranties on consumer products. The FTC's guide for businesses says the Act does not apply to warranties on services, with one important exception: if a warranty covers both the repair parts and the workmanship for that repair, the Act applies^[1]. Many home service warranties do exactly that, so assume the Act may apply whenever you supply parts or equipment.

• Every written warranty on a consumer product costing more than $10 must have a title that says it is either 'full' or 'limited'^[1].
• Disclosure and pre-sale availability rules apply to written warranties on consumer products costing more than $15^[1].
• Anyone offering a written warranty cannot disclaim or modify implied warranties; a limited warranty may restrict how long implied warranties last^[1].
• Service contracts sold separately are different from warranties and must list all terms and conditions in simple, readily understood language^[1].

State laws add implied warranty rules and, in many states, specific requirements for home improvement contracts. This article is general information, not legal advice. Have an attorney who knows your state review your final wording once, then use it consistently.

Choosing a duration by trade

There is no legal standard length for a labor warranty. Choose based on how long a workmanship defect would take to show up, what competitors in your market offer, and what you can afford to honor. The ranges below are examples of what companies commonly choose, not rules.

Weigh how long you expect to be around. BLS data show that 79.6% of private establishments opened in March 2015 were still operating a year later, 50.2% after five years and 34.6% after ten^[2]. A ten-year labor promise is only meaningful if the company and its records will exist to honor it. If you offer long terms, keep job records and photos for at least the length of the warranty.

Exclusions to write down

Exclusions keep the warranty fair to you without making it meaningless to the customer. List them in short, plain lines and read them out at the end of the job.

• Defects in equipment or materials, which are covered by the manufacturer's warranty where one applies.
• Damage from misuse, accidents, weather events, pests, power surges or lack of required maintenance.
• Work changed, repaired or added to by anyone other than your company.
• Parts or equipment the customer supplied.
• Problems in existing systems you did not work on, such as old wiring beyond the circuit you replaced.
• Cosmetic issues reported after a short stated period, such as touch-up paint after 30 days.
• For refrigerant work, any later service by technicians not certified under EPA Section 608, which requires certification for anyone who maintains, services or repairs equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants^[4].

A claim process customers can follow

1. 01

   Customer contacts you

   By phone, text or email, with the job date or invoice number and a description. Ask for photos if they can take them safely.

2. 02

   You acknowledge and book

   Acknowledge within one business day and book an inspection. For safety issues such as gas, electrical or a door that will not stop, respond immediately.

3. 03

   Inspect and decide

   A senior technician inspects, compares with the original job notes and photos, and decides whether the cause is workmanship, product or something excluded.

4. 04

   Repair or explain

   If covered, repair at no charge for labor and, where your terms say so, parts. If not covered, explain why in writing and offer a written price.

5. 05

   Coordinate manufacturer claims

   If the cause is a product defect, explain the manufacturer's process and help with paperwork where you can.

6. 06

   Record it

   Log the claim, cause, cost and outcome against the original job and technician.

Sample wording

Note the title. Because the warranty covers labor only for a limited period with exclusions, it is labelled limited. Put the same text on the invoice or a warranty card, on your website and in the job record, and have the technician mention it during the final walkthrough.

Records that make claims easy

Most warranty disputes turn on what was done, when and by whom. Good records settle those questions in minutes. Build them into the job routine so technicians do not have to remember.

• Before and after photos of the work area, attached to the job.
• Model and serial numbers of equipment installed or repaired, and the parts used.
• Test readings at completion where relevant, such as pressures, temperatures or voltages.
• The warranty wording given to the customer, with the date and the technician's name.
• Any customer instructions, such as maintenance schedules or care rules, and confirmation they were explained.
• Manufacturer registration completed where the product warranty requires it.

Register equipment with the manufacturer on the customer's behalf when you can, and tell the customer you have done it. Some manufacturer warranties are shorter or void without registration, and helping with it costs a few minutes while saving a difficult conversation years later.

Example: a claim handled well

Example: eight months after a fictional company replaces a section of roof flashing, the customer reports a ceiling stain. The office acknowledges the same day and books an inspection for the next morning. The roofer finds that a sealant joint the crew applied has separated, which is a workmanship defect. The crew repairs it that week at no charge, photographs the repair and the office adds the photos to the job record. The manager also arranges for the stained ceiling to be repaired, because the warranty wording covers 'correcting the defect and resulting damage to finishes we caused'. The cause is tagged and reviewed with the crews, who change their sealant application step.

Warranty terms work best alongside a clear satisfaction guarantee for service work and a consistent complaint resolution process. Together they tell customers exactly what you promise and how you keep the promise.