Two Warranties, Two Different Things
Every siding project has two warranties that have nothing to do with each other. The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the product — a vinyl panel that cracks without impact, fiber cement that delaminates. The labor warranty covers the installation — panels that come loose, flashing that was done wrong, caulk failures from poor application. When something goes wrong, the first question is always: is this a product problem or an installation problem? The answer determines who pays.
Manufacturer Warranties: The Landscape
- Vinyl: Typically lifetime limited warranty for the original homeowner, often prorated after a period, with fade coverage for a set number of years. "Lifetime" means the product’s expected life, not yours — read the definition.
- Fiber cement: Usually 30 to 50 years on the product, 15 years on factory finish where applicable. Strong warranties, but strict about installation compliance.
- Engineered wood: Commonly 30 to 50 years with specific installation requirements — clearances, sealed cuts, flashing. The warranty inspectors check these.
- Wood: Limited — often 5 to 15 years on the product, heavily dependent on maintenance. Wood warranties assume you do your part.
What Voids Them (Read This Part)
The exclusions list is the most important page of any warranty. Common voids across manufacturers: pressure washing; improper installation (wrong fasteners, missing clearances, unsealed cuts); painting vinyl with unapproved colors; installing over damaged substrate; failure to maintain (wood); and damage from storms, accidents, or homeowner modifications. Note the pattern: most voids are installation or maintenance issues, not product mysteries.
The Labor Warranty: Only As Good As the Company
Labor warranties in siding typically run 2 to 10 years. Here is the uncomfortable truth: a labor warranty is a promise about the future from a company that must still exist to honor it. A 10-year labor warranty from a two-year-old company is marketing. A 5-year warranty from a company with a decade of local work and a physical presence is a real commitment. When evaluating, weigh the company’s history at least as heavily as the warranty length.
Transferability
If you sell your home, does the warranty follow? Manufacturer warranties often transfer once, sometimes with reduced terms or a transfer fee and paperwork deadline. Labor warranties sometimes transfer, sometimes do not. If resale is in your plans, ask about transfer terms before the work starts — after is too late.
How to Protect Your Coverage
Keep your contract, material specifications, and warranty documents together — digitally and on paper. Follow the maintenance requirements (washing schedule, recoat intervals, clearance maintenance). Do not let anyone pressure-wash your siding. And if something fails, document it with photos and contact the installer first; going straight to the manufacturer with an installation issue wastes months.
We provide both warranties in writing with every job, explain the exclusions before you sign, and register manufacturer warranties where the product requires it. Send the form if you want to see exactly what our warranty terms look like — we will show you before you commit to anything.