A written painting warranty should say what failures it covers, how long it runs and from what date, what it excludes, who pays for labor and materials on a repair, how to make a claim, and whether it transfers to the next owner if you sell. If those six answers are not on paper before you sign, you do not really know what you are getting.
Why doesn't the paint can's warranty cover the paint job?
Paint makers warrant their product, not the work. Sherwin-Williams' 15-year limited warranty, for example, excludes labor and the costs of applying or removing paint, and it does not apply to failures caused by improper surface preparation or improper application. Its remedy is replacement paint or a refund.
So when paint peels because the surface was not cleaned, sanded or primed properly, the manufacturer's warranty does not help. That failure belongs to the painter, which is why the painter's own workmanship warranty is the one that matters.
The Act does not apply to warranties on services. Only warranties on goods are covered.
That federal law, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, sets disclosure rules for written warranties on consumer products. A painting warranty is mostly a promise about a service, so its terms are whatever the contractor writes down. Reading them before you sign is your main protection.
What should a painting warranty cover?
Most workmanship warranties cover the failures that point back to prep or application:
- Peeling, blistering, flaking or chipping paint caused by the way the work was done.
- The surfaces the job included, interior, exterior or both, stated plainly.
- Labor and materials for the repair, or a clear statement of which one you pay for.
Look for a warranty that names the failures it covers. A promise of "satisfaction" that never names a failure is hard to claim against.
What do painting warranties usually exclude?
Exclusions are normal; hidden exclusions are the problem. A complete written warranty spells out what is not covered. Ask whether the terms you are offered cover or exclude each of these:
- Decks, railings and other horizontal or moisture-collecting surfaces.
- An exact color match on touch-ups.
- Knots, rust or cedar bleeding through the paint.
- Cracks in drywall or plaster, settling, and moisture in the surface underneath.
- Damage from fire or flood.
Two more terms change what a warranty is worth: whether it covers only the original customer named on the contract, and who pays for repair materials. Neither shows up in the length, so read for both before you compare warranties by their length alone.
What should you compare between painting warranties?
Length is the number people compare, but transfer, coverage and who pays for materials change what a warranty is worth. Ask these four questions of any warranty you are offered.
- Question
- How long does it last?
- Why it matters
- The headline number, and only one of four terms
- Our answer
- Three years
- Question
- Does it transfer to a buyer?
- Why it matters
- Some warranties cover only the customer named on the contract
- Our answer
- Yes, it passes to the next owner
- Question
- What does it cover?
- Why it matters
- Workmanship only, or workmanship and materials
- Our answer
- Peeling, blistering or chipping from improper preparation or application
- Question
- Who pays for repair materials?
- Why it matters
- Some terms leave materials to the customer, so read the exclusions
- Our answer
- We do, at no cost to you
| Question | Why it matters | Our answer |
|---|---|---|
| How long does it last? | The headline number, and only one of four terms | Three years |
| Does it transfer to a buyer? | Some warranties cover only the customer named on the contract | Yes, it passes to the next owner |
| What does it cover? | Workmanship only, or workmanship and materials | Peeling, blistering or chipping from improper preparation or application |
| Who pays for repair materials? | Some terms leave materials to the customer, so read the exclusions | We do, at no cost to you |
Our warranty is three years and transferable. If peeling, blistering or chipping paint results from improper preparation or application, we will return to fix it at no cost to you, and the coverage passes to the next owner if you sell. Whoever you hire, compare the written terms, not the headline.
Why does a transferable warranty matter when you sell?
A buyer's inspector looks hard at exterior paint and trim. A transferable workmanship warranty with time left on it is one more document for the listing file, and it tells the buyer who to call if the paint fails. If you might sell during the warranty period, ask how a new owner makes a claim and what paperwork they need.
A long warranty also says something about the work itself. A painter who stands behind a job for years has every reason to do the prep properly the first time, because a failure costs them a return visit. Ask any painter what they do to the surface before the first coat goes on. The answer tells you more about the warranty than its length does.
How do you make a warranty claim?
A warranty you cannot use is just a sentence. Before you sign, ask:
- Who do I contact, and how: by phone, by email or in writing?
- Does the warranty start on the completion date or the payment date?
- Do I need the original contract or invoice to make a claim?
- Will someone inspect before the repair, and when?
- If I sell, what does the new owner need to show?
Keep the contract, the final invoice, the product list and the colors in one folder. Together they answer most warranty questions before anyone has to argue.
Frequently asked questions
- Do painters offer warranties?
- Many do. In southern New Hampshire, published workmanship warranties commonly run two or three years, and some transfer to a new owner. Ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
- Does a paint manufacturer's warranty cover labor?
- Usually not. Sherwin-Williams' 15-year limited warranty, for example, excludes labor and does not cover failures from improper surface preparation or application. The painter's workmanship warranty is the one that covers how the job was done.
- What voids a painting warranty?
- It depends on the written terms. Common exclusions include horizontal surfaces such as decks and railings, moisture in the surface underneath, settling cracks, and fire or flood damage. Read the exclusions before you sign.
- Is New Light Painting's warranty transferable?
- Yes. Our warranty is three years and transferable. If peeling, blistering or chipping paint results from improper preparation or application, we return to fix it at no cost to you, or to the next owner.
