Hardscaping warranties

The distinction is not academic. A manufacturer warranty typically covers the unit itself — that a paver is not defective. It does not cover the paver sinking, because the paver did not sink; the base under it did. That is the installer's responsibility, and it is governed by whatever workmanship warranty you negotiated, which may be nothing if you did not ask.

So ask for the workmanship warranty in writing, with a duration, a start date and a written description of what counts as a defect. Settlement beyond a stated tolerance, joint failure, drainage failure and movement in a wall are the things you want named. A verbal "we stand behind our work" is not a warranty.

Read the exclusions carefully. Common ones include settlement caused by soil conditions, damage from vehicles on a surface built for foot traffic, damage from de-icing chemicals, and failure to perform stated maintenance. That last one is why keeping records of joint sand top-ups and drain clearing matters — it removes the easiest reason to deny your claim.

Do not let a third party touch the work while a warranty is live. Hiring someone else to "just fix that corner" is frequently enough to void coverage on the whole installation. Contact the original installer in writing first and keep the correspondence.

One thing this page will not do is tell you what any specific brand's warranty says. Those terms change, differ by product line, and often depend on whether a certified installer did the work. Get the current written warranty document from the manufacturer or supplier for the exact product going into your yard, and keep it with your project file.

How to choose

Get the workmanship warranty before you sign

Duration, start date, what counts as a defect, and how to make a claim. Negotiating it after the deposit is much harder.

Keep maintenance records

Dates and photos of joint sand top-ups, drain clearing and inspections. This is the evidence that defeats a 'failure to maintain' denial.

Register product warranties

Some manufacturers require registration within a set window. Ask the supplier what's needed and do it while you still have the paperwork.

Claim in writing, to the original installer

Email, with dated photos. Bringing in another contractor first can end your coverage on the whole job.

Ask whether certification affects the warranty

Some manufacturer programs treat installation by a certified installer differently. Ask the supplier directly and get the answer in writing.