Many companies offer what is called a “Limited Lifetime Warranty” for the work that they do or the products that they produce. These are offered to communicate confidence in a product that is covered by this warranty. While they seem straightforward at first, Limited Lifetime Warranty does not mean exactly what it appears to at first glance. It is important to understand all of what any of these warranties entail, so you do not find yourself in a situation where you expect coverage and in reality you are no longer covered.

Continue reading to learn what a Limited Lifetime Warranty truly means, what is covered and not covered by them, and some of the common limitations and stipulations of these kinds of warranties.

Defining Lifetime

Many people read “Lifetime” and think it means their lifetime, meaning they will never need to worry about expiration. What “Lifetime” means in this context is the expected lifetime of the product. This is determined by the issuer of the warranty, and each product will have a different definition of “lifetime”, so it is important to ask whoever is offering the warranty what the duration is.

Defining Limited

Limited in this context refers to the limitations of the warranty and what voids it. Each provider will have their own limitations or stipulations on their warranties, so it is important to know what those are before purchase. This clarity avoids situations that accidentally void the warranty and frustration down the line when you need the coverage.

What is Covered VS. What is not Covered

Part of the limited aspect is that these warranties do not cover everything. They typically only cover things such as manufacturing defects or failures that are structural or functional. Generally, they do not cover regular wear and tear, any cosmetic issues, damage due to improper installation, weather events, or homeowner neglect, and often do not offer full replacement costs.

As with any warranty, it is important to understand what is and is not covered before purchasing any product that is under a limited lifetime warranty. Be sure to ask the company you plan to purchase the product from for a copy of the warranty, so you can have full understanding of what that warranty entails.

What can Void the Warranty

Other limitations include items or actions that could void the warranty entirely. While these are not standardized, there are some that appear in more warranties than others. Below is a short list of things that could void a limited lifetime warranty and what that means for you.

1. Materials VS. Labor: it is common under a limited lifetime warranty that only materials are covered and not labor, which can be expensive and complicated to figure out.
2. Proration Schedules: many lifetime warranties only have full coverage for a certain period of time. Once that time is up, they move into prorated coverage, meaning that they cover less and less as time goes on.
3. Registration Requirements: many lifetime warranties on products require that the product be registered for the warranty within a set period of time. If this is not done, the warranty will not be offered on the product.
4. Certified Installers: oftentimes these warranties require certified contractors or companies install the product. These are specified either by the provider of the warranty or within the warranty itself.
5. Transferability: limited lifetime warranties are often not transferable to new owners. So, if any work done on your home is under one of these warranties, they typically will not transfer to a new owner if you ever sell your home.
6. Maintenance Requirements: most warranties like this will require some kind of proof of regular maintenance and will often have specific items listed within the warranty that must be done to keep coverage on the warranty.

Conclusion

Limited lifetime warranties should be understood before purchasing a product that has one on it. This leads to less confusion and frustration down the road if you ever need to use the coverage.
Have questions about a warranty on a project we’re doing for you? Reach out to our team of remodeling experts. We’ll help you understand exactly what’s covered, so you can move forward with confidence.