Q: Is my remodeling contractor required by North Carolina law to give me a warranty on the company’s work?
A: I’ll start by stating that if you have a specific concern or issue, you should consult with an attorney who has experience in construction law.
I have reviewed both the North Carolina Building Code — the Administrative Code and Policies book as well as the Building Code book — and cannot find any reference to warranty obligations for remodeling. However, most remodeling general contractors cover warranty obligations as a part of their construction contract with the homeowner. As a homeowner, I would insist on it.
Typically, the warranty is limited to defects of workmanship and restricted to items performed directly by the contractor’s employees. It is helpful to refer to the National Association of Home Builders’ Residential Construction Performance Guidelines as a third-party source for what constitutes acceptable workmanship for various construction items. Subcontractor workmanship and material warranty are generally passed through the general contractor to the homeowner.
Successful remodeling experiences begin with a detailed written scope of work documents and a clear and fair construction contract. These documents, along with the reference blueprints, detail what work will be performed, what work will not be performed, what allowances are included, as well as what level of finish detail is expected and what standard will be used to assess acceptable workmanship.
There are many other components of a construction contract that should be included, which is best left for another column with an attorney’s response.
One point to consider is a contractor who does not have an effective contract probably is lacking in other areas as well.
Having a contract should be a key qualifier in selecting a remodeling contractor. Finally, referrals are the key to success in this industry, and they require satisfied customers. In light of that, most reputable remodelers will address items you are not satisfied with, even if it is not required by the contract.
House Helper answers are provided by area industry professionals and are the opinions of our experts. Triad Homes does not make any representations as to opinions and facts.
If you have a question that can be answered by a Realtor, remodeler, builder or mortgage loan adviser, please send it to Heather L. Modlin at hmodlin@news-record.com or by fax to 373-5956.
About our contributor: Doug Bengtson is an owner of Lighthouse Construction and can be reached at 638-2316 or at www. lighthousenc.com. Lighthouse Construction provides residential design and building contracting services in Charlotte and Greensboro.
