As participants of the Renomark program and members of The London Home Builders' Association, MelBarr Design Build Inc. provides a two year warranty on all work done within a customer's home. http://www.renomark.ca/london/index.asp

In recent months, customers have expressed a certain amount of disatisfaction with the length of this warranty. Some customers have been requesting a 5 year warranty. 

The concern that any contractor is going to have with a 5 year warranty term is it becomes difficult to discern warranty issues from wear and tear issues after such a long period of time. It would be rare for any company operator to willingly take on such a risk and liability for such a long period of time.

Don't despair.

As homeowners, we all want to be certain that after paying reasonable dollars for a renovation or new build, we will be taken care of in the event that something goes wrong.

My advice: Inform yourself in the early stages of the project, and stay involved throughout the project. Instead of insisting on lengthy warranty terms and conditions, a homeowner would do well to insist on quality materials and craftsmanship througout the construction project. For example, by insisting on proper waterproofing membranes and materials within a shower system (Schluter system for example: http://www.schluter.com/2080.aspx) you will be better assured that a warranty won't be called upon.

By the time a homeowner is looking to enforce a warranty, the damage or undersired consequences have already come to fruition. This is really too late and can be quite a hassle. If a contractor goes out of business, or refuses to honour the warranty, the homeowner could be looking at lengthy court procedures, or mediation, to get what is needed.

On the other hand, if you insist on particular materials and processes as terms within the renovation contract itself, any contractor will be less likely to deviate from those terms as the next draw or final payment hinges upon it.

If a Kerdi shower system is a term of the contract, then anything less than a Kerdi system is a breach of that contract. Providing terms within a contract that specify particular products also helps provide a checklist for what is required as the job proceeds. This creates greater certainty as the project nears completion.

It can be difficult to inform yourself of all the products that are out there. This can be avoided by hiring the proper contractor in the first place. A contractor should be educating you on the merits and benefits of using certain materials. Once you're satisfied with the selection of materials based upon a contractor's suggestions, you should demand that the use of those materials be stipulated in the written agreement or document.

There are stories of homeowner's hiring contractors to supervise contractors! This is ludicrous. Your contractor is your working partner on the project and the person you've entrusted to supervise the job. This is the very reason to hire a contractor as opposed to doing it yourself. Do the leg work to find a contractor you trust and like from the beginning.

Your contractor should be inviting you to visit each stage of the project to show you that agreed upon products have been used. DO NOT rely on inspectors to enforce terms of a written contract. A Schluter Kerdi shower system is not required by Code, and an inspector will therefore not insist on the existence of such a product. This is the case with many products that go above the requirements of the Ontario Building Code, 2006. Many projects don't require a permit and you won't have the second eyes of the inspector in such cases., either. You must be involved throughout the project.

Being involved begins with the initial meeting with a contractor. Of course there are many good contractors' names within any city or town. Some carry far more prestige and cache than others. But if you sit down with a contractor and don't have a good rapport, the name of the company is less important than the vibe you get at your kitchen table.

Building a good relationship with a contractor in the early stages, ensuring that specific products and techniques are part of the contract terms, and following up on each stage of the project, are all steps to curtail the need for warranty work.

If the work is done properly, using the proper methods and materials, a two year warranty is more than ample.