As the weather outside gets warmer, your daily activities as a new homeowner will likely change too. Are you an avid gardener? Do you have children who love to play in the backyard? Or do you like to just stay indoors and keep cool while enjoying some light summer reading?
Whatever your preference, unfinished exterior work or problems with your air conditioner can really get in the way of your fun. That’s why you’ll want to learn more about special situations (what Tarion refers to as “warranty exceptions”) that take effect in May.
Seasonal items
Exterior painting, along with exterior cement, concrete, mortar and stucco work, caulking and in-ground support for decks are referred to as “seasonal” warranty items. This is because this work requires warmer (and ideally drier) weather.
Seasonal items are treated differently according to when you submitted them on a warranty form to your builder and Tarion:
- If you submitted a seasonal item on a warranty form between November 16 and April 30, your builder must complete these items as soon as possible after suitable weather returns and no later than September 1.
- If you submitted a seasonal item on a warranty form between May 1 and November 15, the regular warranty claims process applies – which means your builder has 120 days to complete the work.
Special Seasonal items
Final grading, sod, driveway and walkway installations are considered “special seasonal” warranty items. Because their completion is dependent not only upon good weather but also municipal approvals and installations (such as sidewalks and curbs), they’re allowed longer timelines. If any of these items are incomplete at the time you take possession of your new home, you need to report them on a warranty form within your first year to protect your warranty coverage on them.
Your builder has 270 days of “seasonal weather” (the period that stretches from May 1 to November 15) from your warranty start date to complete special seasonal items. Since there are only 199 seasonal weather days in one calendar year, your builder’s repair period for these items will continue into the second year. If you want to know the exact date by which your builder must complete special seasonal items, check the important dates section in your MyHome account.
Air conditioning
Is the air conditioner you bought from your builder still sitting in a box somewhere? There’s no need to sweat it out all summer.
Under your new home warranty, a complete lack of cooling between May 15 and September 15 is a situation that demands faster attention. By “complete lack of cooling” we mean that your air conditioning unit has not been installed yet, or if installed, does not cool your home at all.
Bring the matter to the attention of your builder and Tarion. Your builder must resolve the situation within 30 days of your request. If not, Tarion can help.
A final note to condo owners
What if you own a condo and your air conditioning system, seasonal, and special seasonal items belong to the common elements? If this is the case, report any issues to your condominium corporation’s board of directors. They are the ones who manage the common elements warranty and can work with the builder and Tarion to get these items resolved.
Taking a moment between your favourite warm weather activities to learn about how your warranty is there for you can help ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your home this summer – inside and out.