Workmanship Warranty Template: Free Template for Contractors
Quick Answer
A workmanship warranty is a written promise that a contractor will fix defects in their own installation or labor for a set period. Include who is covered, the work and address, start date and length, what is covered, what is excluded (such as normal wear, misuse, other trades and manufacturer defects), how to make a claim, what the contractor will do and any conditions. Have an attorney review it, since state laws may add implied warranties or rules for home improvement contracts.
Customers want to know you'll stand behind your work. A clear workmanship warranty builds trust when you're bidding, sets expectations after the job and protects you from open-ended callbacks. Without one, every future problem can turn into an argument about whether it's your responsibility.
This guide includes a free workmanship warranty template and explains what to cover, how long warranties typically last, common exclusions, how claims work and how to track warranty calls.
Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Warranty rules vary by state, and some states have specific requirements for home improvement and new home construction. Have an attorney review your warranty before you use it.
What Is a Workmanship Warranty?
A workmanship warranty, sometimes called a labor warranty, covers the quality of the contractor's own work: how products were installed, built or repaired. It's separate from manufacturer warranties, which cover defects in the products themselves.
| Workmanship warranty | Manufacturer warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Your installation and labor | The product or material |
| Provided by | You | The manufacturer |
| Example claim | Leaking pipe joint you installed | Faucet cartridge defect |
| Who fixes it | You | Manufacturer, often through you |
Free Workmanship Warranty Template
[Company Name] Workmanship Warranty
Customer: __________ | Property address: __________
Work performed: __________________ | Contract / invoice #: ______
Completion date: ______ | Warranty period: [1 year] from completion
What is covered: [Company] warrants that the work described above was performed in a good and workmanlike manner. If a defect in our workmanship appears during the warranty period, we will repair or correct it at no charge for labor [and materials we supplied].
What is not covered:
• Normal wear and tear
• Damage from misuse, neglect, accidents, weather events or lack of maintenance
• Work altered or repaired by others
• Materials or products supplied by the customer
• Manufacturer defects (covered by the manufacturer's warranty, if any)
• Cosmetic issues such as minor settling cracks or color variation, as normal for the materials
• Consequential damages, to the extent allowed by law
How to make a claim: Contact [name/phone/email] in writing within [30] days of discovering the problem and before the warranty expires. Describe the issue and include photos if possible. We will inspect within [X] business days.
Our responsibility: If the problem is covered, we will repair or correct it. Repair or correction is the customer's remedy under this warranty, except as required by law.
Conditions: The warranty applies to the original customer [and is / is not transferable]. Payment in full is required for the warranty to be in effect.
Company representative: __________ | Date: ______
Have an attorney adapt the wording, especially the exclusions and remedy language, for your state.
How Long Should a Workmanship Warranty Last?
| Type of work | Common workmanship warranty periods |
|---|---|
| General repairs and service calls | 30 to 90 days |
| Remodeling and renovation | 1 year is common; some offer 2 to 5 |
| Roofing | Varies widely; often several years for workmanship |
| HVAC installation | 1 year or more on labor |
| Painting | 1 to 2 years |
| New construction | Often follows state rules or builder programs |
These are common ranges, not rules. Some states set minimum warranties for certain work, such as new homes. A longer warranty can be a selling point, but only offer what you can afford to honor.
Common Exclusions
- Normal wear and tear.
- Misuse or neglect, such as never changing HVAC filters.
- Acts of nature like storms, floods or earthquakes.
- Work by others after your job, including the customer.
- Customer-supplied materials.
- Pre-existing conditions noted before work started.
- Normal material behavior, such as wood movement or minor concrete cracks.
Be specific about exclusions, and explain them to the customer at the start of the job, not only when a claim comes in.
Manufacturer Warranties
Many products come with their own warranties, which often require registration, proper installation or regular maintenance. Help customers by:
- Registering products when required, or telling the customer to.
- Giving customers copies of product warranties and manuals.
- Recording model and serial numbers.
- Following installation instructions so warranties stay valid.
Include product warranties in your closeout package. See the construction punch list.
When to Give the Warranty
Mention your warranty in your quote and contract so it helps you win the job, and give the customer the signed warranty document at completion along with manuals and product warranties. See the contractor quote template.
Handling Warranty Claims
- Record the claim with the date, customer, job and description.
- Respond quickly and schedule an inspection.
- Inspect and photograph the issue.
- Decide if it's covered based on the warranty terms.
- Explain the decision to the customer in writing.
- Fix covered issues promptly and record the work.
- Close the claim with the customer's sign-off.
Sample response: "Thanks for letting us know. We'll have [name] out on [date] to take a look. If it's related to our work, it's covered under your warranty and we'll take care of it at no charge."
Tracking Warranty Calls
| Date | Customer | Job # | Issue | Covered? | Tech | Hours | Cost | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ | |||||||
| ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ |
Warranty work costs money: labor, materials and trips that you can't bill. Track it by crew, product and type of job, and look for patterns. Repeated warranty calls on the same kind of work point to a training, product or process issue.
Budgeting for Warranty Work
Many contractors set aside a small percentage of revenue to cover expected warranty costs. Use your warranty log to see what warranty work actually costs each year and include it in your overhead and pricing. Track warranty time separately so you know its true cost. See how to track labor costs by job.
Warranty vs. Punch List
Punch list items are unfinished or incorrect work found before the job is accepted. Warranty items are problems that show up after completion. Keep them separate: finish the punch list before final payment, and handle later issues under the warranty.
Example: A Remodeling Contractor
A remodeler offered a verbal "we'll take care of you" warranty. Two years after a job, a customer called about a cracked tile caused by a foundation shift and expected a free floor replacement. Without written terms, the dispute dragged on. The contractor created a one-year written workmanship warranty with clear exclusions, explained it at contract signing and gave it at closeout. Warranty calls became simple decisions, and customers appreciated knowing exactly what was covered.
Common Warranty Mistakes
- Verbal-only warranties.
- Vague coverage and no exclusions.
- Unlimited time or unclear start dates.
- Confusing workmanship with product warranties.
- Slow responses to claims.
- Not tracking warranty costs.
Workmanship Warranty Checklist
| Step | Done? |
|---|---|
| Write a workmanship warranty and have it reviewed | |
| Set warranty periods by type of work | |
| List clear exclusions | |
| Mention the warranty in quotes and contracts | |
| Give the warranty and product warranties at closeout | |
| Set up a claim process and warranty log | |
| Review warranty costs and patterns |
Warranty Claim Form
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Customer name and phone | |
| Property address | |
| Original job / invoice # | |
| Completion date | |
| Describe the problem | |
| When did you first notice it? | |
| Photos attached? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Best times for inspection |
A simple claim form keeps information consistent and starts the paper trail for every warranty call.
Sample Warranty Decision Letters
Covered
Hi [Name], thanks for letting us inspect the [issue]. It's related to our installation and is covered under your workmanship warranty. We'll make the repair on [date] at no charge.
Not Covered
Hi [Name], thanks for meeting with us. We inspected the [issue], and it appears to be caused by [reason, e.g., a product defect / storm damage / later work by another contractor], which isn't covered under our workmanship warranty. [For product defects: We can help you file a claim with the manufacturer.] We're happy to quote a repair if you'd like.
Stay respectful and factual, especially when a claim isn't covered.
Warranty Costs by Job Type
| Job type | Jobs completed | Warranty calls | Warranty cost | Cost per job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | ||||
| Kitchen remodel | ||||
| Roofing |
Comparing warranty cost per job by type shows which work needs better processes or higher pricing.
Preventing Warranty Calls
- Follow manufacturer installation instructions.
- Inspect work at each phase, not just at the end.
- Use quality materials you trust.
- Train crews on common failure points.
- Explain maintenance needs to customers at closeout.
Transferable Warranties
Some contractors make their workmanship warranty transferable to a new owner if the home is sold. A transferable warranty can be a selling point, especially for roofing and major remodels. If you offer it, say how the transfer works, such as written notice within a set time after the sale.
Extended Warranties
Offering a longer warranty for an extra fee is common in some trades. If you do, price it based on your actual warranty costs, put the terms in writing and track extended warranties separately so you know your obligations. Ask your attorney whether any state rules apply to selling extended warranties or service contracts.
Explaining Your Warranty to Customers
A warranty only builds trust if customers understand it. At contract signing and again at closeout, explain:
- How long the warranty lasts and when it starts.
- What's covered and what isn't.
- How product warranties work and who handles them.
- Any maintenance the customer must do.
- How to make a claim.
Sample: "Our workmanship is warranted for one year from today. If anything we installed isn't right, call us and we'll fix it. The fixtures have their own manufacturer warranties, and we've included those papers in your folder. The main thing on your end is [maintenance], which keeps everything working properly."
Warranty Records to Keep
- Signed warranty for each job.
- Contract, change orders and final invoice.
- Photos of completed work.
- Product model and serial numbers.
- Warranty claims and how they were resolved.
Keep records at least as long as the warranty period, and longer if your attorney advises. See the construction daily report for documenting work as it happens.
Warranty Work and Your Crew
Assign warranty calls to experienced techs who can diagnose problems accurately, and have the original crew review what went wrong when it's a workmanship issue. Treat warranty calls as learning opportunities rather than blame. Track warranty labor with its own code so it doesn't inflate the original job's costs or get billed by mistake.
Workmanship Warranty Quick Tips
- Put it in writing.
- Be specific about exclusions.
- Explain it at signing and closeout.
- Respond fast to claims.
- Track warranty costs.
Warranty Periods by Component
Some contractors set different warranty periods for different parts of the job, such as a longer warranty on structural work and a shorter one on finishes. If you do, list each component and its period clearly in the warranty.
| Component | Example period |
|---|---|
| Structural framing | [X] years |
| Plumbing and electrical installation | [X] years |
| Finishes (paint, trim, caulk) | [X] months |
Check whether your state sets minimums for any of these, especially on new homes.
Getting Started This Week
- Draft your warranty from the template.
- Have an attorney review it for your state.
- Add a warranty summary to your quotes.
- Set up a warranty claim form and log.
- Give the warranty with your next closeout.
A clear warranty is one of the simplest ways to stand out from competitors who only make verbal promises.
Common Questions About Workmanship Warranties
- Does the warranty start at completion or final payment? State it clearly; many start at substantial completion.
- Can I require payment in full for the warranty to apply? Many contractors do; state it in the warranty and contract.
- What if the customer used a different contractor to fix it? Many warranties exclude work altered by others; explain this up front.
- Do I have to offer a warranty? State law may imply certain warranties even if you don't write one. Ask an attorney.
Clear answers to these questions in your written warranty prevent most disputes.
Warranty Reminders Build Repeat Business
Some contractors contact customers shortly before the warranty ends to ask whether anything needs attention. It's a chance to fix small issues while they're still covered, show you care about quality and open the door to new work. A quick call or email near the end of the warranty period often leads to referrals and repeat jobs.
Add warranty end dates to your calendar or customer records so the reminder happens automatically.
Workmanship Warranty in Your Marketing
A clear written warranty is a selling point. Mention it on your website, in quotes and in conversations with customers, and explain what it means in plain words. Customers comparing bids often choose the contractor who stands behind their work in writing. Just make sure your marketing matches your actual warranty terms.
Review your warranty once a year with your attorney and update it as your services change.
A good warranty protects your customers and your business at the same time.
Start with your next closeout.
Keep it simple and clear.
Track Jobs and Warranty Work With Updoot
Updoot's project management keeps job records and closeout documents together, the employee time clock tracks warranty labor separately and the ticket system manages warranty claims until they're closed.