Our Two-Year Limited Warranty

Among the benefits of purchasing a newly constructed home is the accompanying Limited Warranty Agreement. For two years your new home is covered against the following:

Structural defects;

Defects in wiring, piping and ductwork in the electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems; 

Faulty workmanship or materials that are defined by a designated set of construction standards based on published codes and standards used by local jurisdictions throughout the country to regulate building practices. These also include quality standards that establish minimum performance standards which often exceed local building codes.

The ten-page Limited Warranty Agreement is provided to each homeowner via Holiday Builder's Homeowners Portal. The document details coverage, exclusions or non-warrantable items, maintenance tips and instructions on making a warranty claim.

Among non-warrantable items are the following: (Note: This is not a complete list)

1. Concrete: Cracks will develop in concrete patios, walks, driveways, porches, slab floors or foundations due to expanding and contracting characteristics of concrete as changes in temperature occur; and expanding and contracting of the soil on which the concrete is placed. The cracks are not of structural significance or is there a known way of eliminating them. Note: moving vans, heavy trucks or storage containers will crack driveways.

2. Mortar Cracks: Cracks may develop in mortar used in bonding bricks or blocks together. This is due to shrinkage in either the mortar, brick, or block. 

3. Wood Cracks: Wood will shrink during the drying process and it is a natural characteristic of wood to continue to expand and contract with changing humidity.

4. Interior Wall Cracks: Plaster cracks, drywall cracks, nail pops or seams may show in new homes because of settlement and normal expansion and contraction of the wood or masonry to which it has been secured. 

5. Resilient Floors: Women's tiny steel heels and heavy furniture will cause most resilient floors to show indentation marks. Expansion and contraction of resilient materials may cause butt joints in flooring to show. These are characteristics of the material and do not affect the inherent quality of the floor.

6. Caulking: Caulking will eventually shrink, separate and deteriorate causing it to pull away from surfaces that allow air and water to infiltrate. The maintenance of caulking is a homeowner's responsibility. 

7. General: Chips, scratches and mars on any surface such as countertops, cabinets, woodwork, walls, tile, fixtures, carpeting, etc., not recognized at the time of final inspection are not warrantable. 

8. Grading: Lots and surrounding lot grades are established by professional engineers to provide drainage away from your home. Should you wish to change the drainage pattern for some reason, be sure proper drainage slope is retained. 

9 Sodding and seeding: Sodded and seeded areas become the responsibility of the homeowner from the time of certificate of occupancy or occupancy, whichever comes first. Whether or not sod roots and grows depends on the care given.

10. Asphalt Shingle Roofs: Solid-colored roofs may show some variation in shade of certain angles of reflection. This is caused by the varying absorption and reflection of light from the granules that make up the surface of the shingle.

Furthermore, the warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, damage caused by negligence, improper operation, accidents, insects or acts of God including fire, explosions, storms, hail, lightning, falling trees, aircraft, vehicles, floods, earthquakes or acts of war or terrorism.

Every homeowner is provided with a list of Trade Partners. These partners may be contacted directly to make repairs. Written notice of defects in any items under the warranty must be received by the builder with the two-year warranty term. Claims are filed on our website. 

New homes go through a period of normal settlement and shrinkage. During this period, hairline cracks, some wood shrinkage and warping and other minor matters may occur, much of which is unavoidable no matter how carefully a home is built. Continual repairs are the responsibility of the homeowner. 

The content of this blog is derived from the Home Warranty Agreement and in no way represents the entirety of the document. We've included information that we feel represents some of the more frequent questions we hear. For more information about our New Home Warranty, please ask one of our New Home Consultants.