Page 453 - Construction Waterproofing Handbook

LIFE CYCLES: QUALITY, MAINTENANCE, AND WARRANTIES 11.9
● Is the warranty bondable?
● Is there a dollar limit to the repairs?
● What escape clause does the warranty contain (e.g., structural settlement)?
● Is the warranty issued jointly by the manufacturer and contractor?
● Does the warranty cover transition and termination detailing?

If necessary, proposed warranties should be reviewed by counsel, and necessary
changes should be made to protect the owner before a contractor is awarded the contract.

MANUFACTURERS

Equally important to the success of a waterproof system are the experience, assistance, and
reputation of the material manufacturer. The quality of the material manufacturing process
itself is of high importance, but choosing a manufacturer should review considerations
beyond quality, including:

● Manufacturer warranties
● Length of time product has been manufactured
● Sufficient number of previous installations
● Adequate testing of and test information on product
● Detailed installation instructions
● Availability of representatives to review installations
● Certification and training of applicators
● Maintenance instructions
● Material safety data sheets
● Manufacturer’s assistance in specification preparation and in detailing terminations and
transitions

The manufacturer’s representations for a particular product should be reviewed, and test
results compared to similar products. Test results based on recognized testing laboratories
such as ASTM should be consulted. This testing allows materials to be compared with
those of other manufacturers as well as with completely different systems.
Manufacturer warranties should also be carefully reviewed. Often a warranty only cov-
ers material failure and provides no relief for building owners in case of leakage.
Considering that all waterproof systems require field application or construction, too often
it is easy for a manufacturer to pass liability on, citing poor installation procedures.
Therefore, warranties should cover both labor and materials. This places requirements
on a manufacturer to ensure that only experienced mechanics and contractors install their
products. A labor and materials warranty from a manufacturer and contractor provides pro-
tection when one or the other goes out of business. It also prevents attempts to place blame
elsewhere when there is a question of liability for repair problems.