Warranty
Standing behind the work
What a workmanship warranty covers, what seasonal wood movement is, and what honestly falls outside it.
What a workmanship warranty actually covers
A workmanship warranty covers defects in how the work was built and installed — a joint that fails, a cabinet that comes loose from its fixings, a door that was never correctly aligned, a finish that was improperly applied.
It does not cover normal wear, accidental damage, or changes caused by the building itself moving. Those distinctions matter, and a warranty that pretends otherwise is not being honest with you.
Separately, the hardware and materials in your project carry their own manufacturer warranties. Hinges, drawer slides and appliances are covered by the companies that made them, usually for longer than any installer’s cover, and we will tell you what applies to your specific components.
Seasonal movement is not a defect
This is the single most common warranty conversation in Calgary, so it is worth being explicit about it.
- What happens
- Indoor humidity in a heated Calgary house regularly falls to 15–25% in deep winter from around 40% in summer. Wood gives up moisture and shrinks across the grain. Fine lines appear at painted panel joints; solid timber develops surface checks.
- Why it is not a defect
- It is wood behaving as wood does, and it typically reverses as humidity rises in spring. Nobody can build solid wood that does not respond to a 25-point humidity swing.
- What we do about it
- We specify to minimise it: MDF for painted components, panels that float within their frames, coped inside corners, engineered panel for wide flat surfaces, and material acclimatised indoors before it is cut.
- What you can do about it
- Run a humidifier and hold indoor humidity near 35% through the heating season. It is the most effective single measure available, and it helps your hardwood floors and your comfort at the same time.
- When it IS a defect
- A joint that has separated structurally, a gap that does not close when humidity returns, a shelf that has cupped because it was sealed on one face only, or a cabinet that has moved on its fixings. Those are workmanship issues and we correct them.
Typically outside a workmanship warranty
- Accidental damage, impact, or misuse.
- Normal wear on surfaces, hardware and finishes over time.
- Damage from water ingress, flooding or leaks not caused by our work.
- Seasonal wood movement within normal limits (see above).
- Alterations, repairs or refinishing carried out by others.
- Damage from failing to maintain a reasonable indoor humidity range.
- Natural variation in wood grain and colour, including colour change from light exposure.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- How long is your warranty?
- The term is set out in your written quote and contract rather than stated here, because a warranty period is a specific commercial commitment. Ask for it in writing before you sign — with any contractor, not just us.
- Are hardware and appliances covered?
- Hinges, drawer slides, and any appliances or specialty components carry their own manufacturer warranties, which are often longer than an installer’s workmanship cover. We tell you what applies to the specific components in your project and help you make a claim if one is ever needed.
- My cabinet door has drifted out of alignment. Is that covered?
- Doors drifting slightly over time is expected as a house settles and moves seasonally — it is why we specify six-way adjustable concealed hinges, which let a door be brought back into alignment in a couple of minutes. If a door was never correctly aligned, that is a workmanship issue and we correct it.
- What if I sell the house?
- Whether a workmanship warranty transfers to a new owner is set out in your written terms. Ask before you sign if it matters to you — it is a reasonable question and it should have a clear written answer.
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