Article summary
What fencing warranties typically cover and the questions to ask your fence builder.
- Category:
- local
- Read time:
- 3 min
- Published:
- 14 February 2025
- Written by:
- My Homes Fencing Expert
Quick answer: fencing comes with two kinds of cover — a workmanship guarantee from the builder (covering their installation, e.g. posts that lean or fail because of how they were set) and a product/material warranty from the manufacturer (covering the aluminium, PVC or steel against defects). Always get the workmanship guarantee in writing, check how long it runs, and understand what's excluded — normal timber weathering and storm damage usually aren't covered.
A warranty is only as good as what it actually says, so it's worth knowing what to look for and ask. Here's how fencing guarantees really work.
As part of an established construction company, we back our installs with a written workmanship warranty.
Workmanship vs Product Warranties
There are two separate things at play. A workmanship guarantee is the builder standing behind their labour — if a post leans or a fence fails because of how it was installed (too shallow, wrong footing), that's on them to put right within the guarantee period. A product or material warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers the material itself against defects — for example a powder-coat finish failing prematurely, or a structural fault in an aluminium or PVC system.
Both matter, and they're not the same thing. A great material installed badly, or a poor material installed well, can both fail — so you want the workmanship covered by the builder and the material covered by its maker, each in writing.
What's Usually Covered — and What Isn't
Workmanship guarantees typically cover installation faults — posts working loose, framing failing, gates not hanging correctly — for a set period. Product warranties cover manufacturing defects in the material. What's generally not covered is normal wear and the effects of nature: timber greying and needing re-staining, storm and impact damage, ground movement, or damage from lack of maintenance are usually excluded.
This is why maintenance still matters even under warranty — letting a timber fence go un-stained and then rot won't be a warranty claim, because that's maintenance, not a workmanship or product fault. Reading the exclusions is as important as the headline period.
Questions to Ask Before You Commit
Before hiring, ask: Is there a written workmanship guarantee, and for how long? What exactly does it cover and exclude? What product warranty comes with the materials you're using? And — importantly — will the business still be around to honour it? A guarantee from an operator who disappears is worthless, which is another reason local, established builders are worth favouring.
As the fencing division of My Homes Construct Ltd, an established Auckland company, we provide a written workmanship warranty and use materials that carry their own manufacturer warranties, and we're happy to explain exactly what's covered before you commit. Always get the terms in writing so there's no ambiguity later.
Frequently Asked Questions
A workmanship guarantee is the builder covering their installation — e.g. posts that fail because of how they were set. A product warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers the material itself against defects. You want both, each in writing.
Usually normal wear and nature — timber greying and needing re-staining, storm or impact damage, ground movement, and damage from lack of maintenance are typically excluded. That's why keeping up maintenance matters even when a fence is under warranty.
Ask whether there's a written workmanship guarantee and for how long, exactly what it covers and excludes, what product warranty the materials carry, and whether the business will still be around to honour it. Always get the terms in writing.
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