Documents & records
Warranty (construction)
A construction warranty is the promise that stands behind the work after the crew leaves — the contractor's guarantee of workmanship and the manufacturers' guarantees on the products installed. Each has a term, a start date usually tied to substantial completion, and conditions on what's covered. Warranties are collected throughout the job and delivered as part of closeout, folded into the O&M manual by system.
Why it matters
A warranty is only as good as the paper behind it. Many product warranties depend on proof of correct installation and, sometimes, registration — so a claim two years later can hinge on whether anyone documented that the assembly went in per the manufacturer's instructions. Missing or unexecuted warranty certificates are also a common reason final payment stalls.
What proves it
The strongest warranty file pairs the certificate with evidence the covered work was installed correctly — the approved product data and photos of the installed condition tied to its location. When a covered item fails, that installation record is what keeps a warranty claim from being denied over an installation dispute.
Related terms
- Closeout manualThe compiled package handed to the owner at project completion — as-builts, O&M data, warranties, approved submittals and final records.
- Operation and maintenance (O&M) manualThe compiled package that tells the owner how to run and maintain the installed systems — equipment data, warranties, parts and service intervals.
- Product data submittalManufacturer catalog data, cut sheets and specifications submitted to prove a proposed product meets what the specification requires.
- Substantial completionThe milestone where the work is usable for its intended purpose, even with minor punch items still open.
- Punch listThe running list of incomplete or defective work a contractor has to fix before an area is accepted and closed out.
- Nonconformance report (NCR)A formal record raised when installed work does not meet the drawings, specs or an accepted standard, and the plan to resolve it.
Knowing the term is step one. Proving it is the job.
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.