| Every contractor who builds, repairs or remodels | | | | warranty now has to be written into your |
| homes or apartments in Minnesota knows about | | | | contract - three paragraphs of very precise |
| One, Two, Ten. | | | | language - one warranty for new construction and |
| One: Contractors have to provide at least a one | | | | a different warranty for repair or home |
| year warranty on materials and workmanship. | | | | improvement work. A copy of the warranty has |
| Two: Plumbing, electrical and HVAC work require | | | | to be left with the property owner. |
| a two-year warranty. | | | | Omit the warranty from a contract and you've |
| Ten: Any "major construction defect" is covered | | | | got trouble: On new construction, leaving the |
| for ten years. | | | | warranty out is considered a false statement and |
| All this is courtesy of the Housing Statutory | | | | makes the contractor liable for a fine up to |
| Warranties Act, Minnesota Statutes. Nearly all | | | | $10,000. Leaving the warranty out of a repair or |
| residential construction, repair and improvement | | | | home improvement contract can draw an |
| work is covered, whether a home, an apartment | | | | invitation to discuss your license with the CCLD |
| or a condominium. Install roofing, siding or flooring, | | | | (Construction Codes and Licensing Division). |
| a window or a door and you've written a one | | | | Minnesota's statutory warranty law has a few |
| year warranty. Install a water heater, a furnace | | | | exceptions. For example, yard improvements |
| or a lighting fixture and your warranty runs for | | | | such as walkways, walls and fences don't require |
| two years. On new construction, room additions | | | | a written warranty. The warranty can't be |
| and conversions, your warranty runs for ten | | | | waived. But there are options if you offer |
| years. | | | | protection underwritten by a Minnesota home |
| Both the first owner and later owners are | | | | warranty company. |
| covered by the warranty. After being notified of | | | | A breach of warranty is anything that doesn't |
| a claim, a contractor has 30 days to do an | | | | comply with Minnesota's building code (the IRC). |
| inspection and make an offer to repair. A | | | | That's a curious definition. The building code says |
| contractor who refuses to make good on the | | | | almost nothing about cosmetic defects or how |
| warranty will be liable for the cost of repairs and | | | | long materials have to last or water leakage. |
| can be found in contempt of court. | | | | Those and other performance issues are the |
| Changes | | | | most common construction defects. The IRC is |
| Minnesota's One, Two, Ten law changed in August | | | | concerned primarily with selection of materials and |
| 2009. Governor Pawlenty signed a bill that affects | | | | safety, not durability and habitability. Warranty law |
| every home construction and home improvement | | | | in most states is based on consumer |
| contract in the state.Minnesota's statutory | | | | expectations. Not so in the Gopher State. |