Picture this: ordering a building product without a warranty. Hard to imagine, right? No builder would gamble with their project, their homebuyer’s trust, or their own reputation by choosing a product that isn’t backed by protection. Warranties aren’t just paperwork, they’re peace of mind and proof that the manufacturer stands behind what they make.
Warranties are a pillar of homebuilding and have been for thousands of years. You can go back nearly 40 centuries, back to the Code of Hammurabi, and find references to warranties on building construction (Laws 228-233). More recently, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 codified consumer product warranties into federal law, setting the stage for broader warranty standards across commercial applications.
Homebuilders depend on warranted materials. Rapid advances in material science compel manufacturers to put builders at ease in considering different products and construction methods. It’s a tribute to building product manufacturers (BPMs) that the average warranty claims rate for the 21-year period through 2023 was well below 1% (0.68%) of product sales.
That’s the kind of industry benchmark BPM pros like Brian Gerello work hard to improve upon each year.
Gerello is the senior director of customer experience and quality for JELD-WEN, a major BPM specializing in residential and commercial windows and doors. JELD-WEN and sister companies VPI Quality Windows, LaCantina, and KARONA offer comprehensive warranty services across one of the most extensive portfolios of residential and commercial windows and doors in the business.
4 Warranty Factors to Consider
“Builders want to know how their building materials partner will protect them. Yes, the warranty is crucial. But accountability is magnified through personal relationships between the builder, distributor and factory,” Gerello explains.
What else does Gerello advise homebuilders keep in mind about product warranties? He suggests four factors to consider:
- Understand the Company Behind the Warranty. How long have they been in business? What’s their reputation? “No builder wants to make a warranty claim,” the 25-year industry veteran admits. The test for the manufacturer is how they handle the claim. Top manufacturers recognize a claim is really an opportunity to deepen the customer relationship with prompt and fair resolution.
- See How the BPM Handles Field Issues. Companies like JELD-WEN invest in product experts and technology to support builder teams in real time. “We have our own technical service team on builder stand-by. It’s a virtual team they can rely on for direct assistance. By calling a phone number, builders, installers, and homeowners can remotely troubleshoot issues using the camera on their phone,” Gerello says, which helps head-off a possible warranty claim and/or project delay. Ultimately, saving time and money.
- One Size Does Not Fit All: When it comes to windows and doors, variety isn’t just a luxury, it’s essential for quality design. JELD-WEN’s vinyl windows, KARONA® interior stile and rail doors, and fiberglass exterior doors offer plentiful design options — from styles and sizes to colors and glass choices. And all three include Limited Lifetime Warranty coverage, which means the products are backed as long as the homeowner owns and lives in the home. This kind of guarantee “is designed to give builders the flexibility to customize with confidence,” says Gerello.
- Speed Matters. “An active jobsite has lots of moving parts. Accidents happen. You can’t get an occupancy permit or have subs start on the inside until the windows are in,” Gerello observes. It’s up to the BPM working through the distributor to often fast-track warranty claims rather than wait on a series of prescribed claim procedures.
Most warranties look great in writing. The real difference is the length a product manufacturer will go to meet and exceed your highest expectations. As you weigh building product options, consider the proven trust and confidence a company like JELD-WEN represents today and tomorrow.
Learn more about how JELD-WEN can help you simplify and enhance home construction.
