Two responsibilities, not one blanket promise
A manufacturer’s material warranty and a contractor’s workmanship warranty are different agreements. Coverage varies by product, installer, warranty tier and contract. StormBuddy’s actual warranty duration and terms have not been supplied; never invent them. Use the selected manufacturer’s current documents and your company’s actual written workmanship warranty.
Explain what each warranty covers
Practice script: ‘The manufacturer’s warranty addresses qualifying product defects under its written terms. Our workmanship warranty addresses the installation work described in our agreement. Here is who handles each one, how long each applies and what is excluded. Storm damage, wear or every possible leak is not automatically covered.’
- Material coverage
- Typically addresses qualifying manufacturing defects. Determine whether labor, tear-off, disposal and accessories are included and whether coverage changes or becomes prorated over time.
- Workmanship coverage
- Typically addresses covered installation errors. Identify the issuing company, duration, remedy, exclusions and claim procedure from the written agreement—not a salesperson’s memory.
- Enhanced/system coverage
- May add coverage only when specified components, installer credentials, installation conditions and registration requirements are met. Never call a standard product warranty an enhanced system warranty.
- ‘Lifetime’ language
- Read the document’s definition, eligible owner/property type and any non-prorated period. ‘Lifetime’ does not mean every expense, every cause of damage or every future owner is covered forever.
Read the limitations out loud
Explain limitations before signing, not after a leak. Warranty coverage is not the same as homeowners insurance, and an insurance policy is not a substitute for a workmanship warranty.
- Exclusions and conditions
- Check storm damage, improper installation, inadequate ventilation, maintenance, alterations and other listed exclusions. Wind or algae coverage, where offered, has its own limits and conditions.
- Transfer
- Verify whether the warranty transfers when the home is sold, along with deadlines, notices, fees and any coverage changes. Never promise automatic transfer.
- Registration
- Confirm whether registration is required, who submits it and the deadline. Obtain proof for the customer where applicable; a verbal promise is not registration confirmation.
- Claims
- Identify who to contact, required receipts/photos, notice deadlines and inspection steps. Tell the customer to report problems promptly and take reasonable safe steps to limit damage; do not promise every emergency repair will be reimbursed.
Warranty handoff checklist
Give the homeowner the selected product name, invoice and installation date, manufacturer warranty, written workmanship warranty, any applicable enhanced-coverage or registration confirmation, maintenance instructions and service contacts. Ask the customer to explain who covers a product defect versus an installation issue. If a term is unclear, verify it before promising coverage.
Knowledge check
Score 70% or higher to pass this module.
1. Are material and workmanship warranties the same thing?
2. A salesperson hears ‘lifetime warranty.’ What should they explain?
3. Before promising an enhanced warranty, verify: