Exterior warranties matter more than most homeowners realize — and are understood by fewer. The manufacturer warranty on your siding tells you the product won’t fail. The workmanship warranty tells you the installation was done correctly. You need both, and you need both in writing. A product with a 50-year warranty installed incorrectly is a product that will fail long before 50 years — and without proper workmanship coverage, you’ll be paying for the repair yourself.

“Warranty conversations reveal a lot about a contractor. One who says ‘we guarantee our work’ without being able to tell you what that means in writing, for how long, and how to make a claim — that contractor has no real warranty. One who hands you a written document with specific terms before you ask is a contractor who stands behind their work.”

— Dorian Tabaku @ CityPro Aluminum, exterior contracting specialist and drainage consultant with 20 years of experience in residential eavestrough design and installation across Toronto

Product and Manufacturer Warranties

What manufacturer warranty comes with the siding?

Vinyl siding warranties vary significantly by brand and product line:

  • Entry-level vinyl: 20–25 year limited warranty, often prorated
  • Mid-range architectural vinyl: 40–50 year limited warranty
  • Premium vinyl: lifetime limited warranty, transferable to new owners

Fibre cement products like James Hardie carry a 30-year limited warranty. Aluminum and steel siding typically carry 40-year or lifetime warranties.

Ask for the specific warranty document — not a summary — and understand what “limited” means in context: what’s covered, what’s prorated, and what voids the warranty.

What a good answer looks like: A named warranty product with specific terms, the warranty document available on request.

What manufacturer warranty comes with the eavestroughs?

Premium seamless aluminum eavestroughs typically carry 20–40 year warranties on the material. Ask specifically what the warranty covers — material failure, color fading, and so on — and what conditions must be met to maintain coverage.

Are you a certified installer for the products you’re recommending?

Some manufacturers — particularly James Hardie for fiber cement siding — offer enhanced warranty coverage only when installed by certified contractors using all required system components. Ask whether the contractor holds current certification and what additional warranty coverage that provides.

What a good answer looks like: Confirmed certification with documentation available, and a clear explanation of the enhanced warranty coverage unlocked.

Will products be registered on my behalf?

Many manufacturer warranties require registration within a defined period — sometimes 30–60 days after installation. If registration is missed, the warranty may default to a shorter, less favorable term. Ask whether the contractor handles registration as standard or whether that responsibility falls to you.

What a good answer looks like: The contractor handles registration and confirms it’s done, or provides you with all the information needed to register immediately after installation.

Workmanship Warranty

Do you provide a written workmanship warranty?

Ask directly, and ask for it in writing before work starts. A verbal assurance is not a warranty. A written document specifying coverage, duration, exclusions, and the claims process is.

What a good answer looks like: A written workmanship warranty included with the contract or provided at job completion.

How long does your workmanship warranty last?

Two years is a reasonable minimum for exterior work. Five years is common among reputable contractors. Ask the duration and ask for it in writing.

What does the workmanship warranty cover?

Ask specifically: does it cover water infiltration at windows or doors due to improper flashing? Siding panels that warp because they weren’t installed with proper expansion gaps? Eavestroughs that sag because of improper hanger spacing? The more specific the answer, the more confidence you can have that the contractor understands what good installation looks like.

What is excluded from the workmanship warranty?

Common exclusions: damage caused by severe weather events beyond a defined threshold, damage caused by the homeowner, and failures caused by pre-existing structural conditions not identified at the time of installation.

How do I make a warranty claim?

Who do I contact? How quickly will you respond? Is there any cost to me for a warranty inspection or repair that falls within coverage?

What a good answer looks like: A named contact, a response time commitment, and no charge for valid warranty repairs.

What happens to my warranty if your company closes?

Ask directly. A warranty backed by a company that no longer exists is worthless. Some contractors carry warranty insurance — a third-party product that honours the workmanship warranty even if the original contractor is no longer operating. Ask whether this is available.

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