Guide To Window Warranty

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Window Warranties are split up between two different parts; there is the manufacturing warranty and (often, but not always) a labor warranty. The manufacturer's warranty is on the window itself. These can vary pretty significantly based on the window frame material. So, for instance, a wood window might carry a 20 year warranty on the frame, while a vinyl window often carries a lifetime warranty on the frame. The basic idea is that the manufacturer warrants that the frame be free from manufacturing defects.

Most manufacturing warranties then go onto to cover the other parts of a window. These might include the insulated glass unit (which often carries a 20 year warranty), as well as the hardware and components (which often carry a 10, 15 or 20 year provision). There can be additional parts, such as a frame laminates, which often are only covered for 5 years from the date of installation.

Finally, manufacturing warranties often include a transferrable clause, meaning that a subsequent owner would be covered under the warranty. Often, this is where the manufacturers "win." By this, I mean that once the home title is transferred from the original owner to the new owner, the warranty is only good for 10 or 20 years from the date of installation. Because homes are bought and sold so often, the manufacturer essentially only has to cover the warranty for 20 years instead of lifetime.

Finally, there can be an accidental glass breakage provision that might be 1, 2, or 5 years. This may or may not cover the labor cost to replace the insulated glass unit.