A warranty on concrete resurfacing sounds reassuring, but the difference between a warranty that genuinely protects you and one that’s essentially worthless comes down to the details. Broad statements like “we stand behind our work” or “5-year guarantee” mean very different things depending on what’s actually covered, what excludes the warranty, and whether the business will still be trading when you need to make a claim. This guide explains how to evaluate a resurfacing warranty properly.
Quick Answer (BLUF)
A good concrete resurfacing warranty covers workmanship defects (delamination, premature cracking, surface failure not caused by third-party damage) for a minimum of 3-5 years. It specifies what’s covered and what isn’t, who to contact for claims, and what the remedy is. A warranty from a licensed, insured contractor backed by a product manufacturer’s warranty is significantly stronger than a verbal guarantee from an unlicensed operator.
What Should a Warranty Cover?
Workmanship Warranty
This covers defects resulting from the contractor’s work, preparation failures, application errors, product mixing errors. Common items covered:
- Delamination: Overlay separating from the substrate without physical damage cause
- Premature cracking: Surface cracking attributable to application problems rather than substrate movement
- Surface failure: Coating failure (peeling, bubbling) not caused by chemical attack or physical damage
- Colour inconsistency: Patches or variation in the applied colour attributable to uneven application
A legitimate workmanship warranty runs 3-5 years for a quality installation. Anything less than 3 years on an exterior overlay suggests the contractor lacks confidence in their work.
Product Manufacturer Warranty
Separate from the workmanship warranty, leading product manufacturers offer their own warranties against product defects. A contractor who uses and is licensed to apply a branded system (e.g., a named spray-on overlay or epoxy system) can back their work with the manufacturer’s warranty as well.
Manufacturer warranties are typically conditional on the product being applied by a trained/licensed applicator according to the manufacturer’s technical specification, which is itself a reason to ask contractors whether they’re trained and licensed to apply the specific products they’re quoting.
Common Warranty Exclusions to Understand
Exclusions are as important as coverage. Watch for these:
Substrate Movement
Almost all resurfacing warranties exclude damage caused by movement in the underlying concrete slab. This is reasonable, if the slab cracks or settles after resurfacing, the overlay over it will crack too, and that’s not the contractor’s fault. However, “substrate movement” can be used as a catch-all excuse for delamination that’s actually caused by poor preparation. The burden of proof matters here.
Chemical and Physical Damage
Damage from chemical spills, vehicle impacts, dragged sharp objects, or pressure washing is typically excluded. This is reasonable for genuine third-party damage.
Maintenance Requirements
Many warranties require specific maintenance, regular sealing, approved cleaning products, avoiding specific chemical exposure. If you’ve used bleach-based cleaners on an epoxy floor that specifies only pH-neutral products, the warranty on that floor may be voided.
Pre-existing Conditions
Warranties typically cover the new work, not pre-existing issues in the substrate. If there’s a moisture problem in the slab that wasn’t identified during prep, and moisture infiltration later causes coating failure, the contractor may argue the failure is a pre-existing condition they couldn’t have predicted.
Fading and Colour Change
Most warranties exclude normal colour change from UV exposure, this is wear and maintenance, not a defect. Some warranties include an “acceptable colour change” threshold, check the wording.
What to Ask About the Warranty
- Is the warranty written? A verbal warranty is essentially unenforceable. Get it in writing, signed, and keep it with your job paperwork.
- What is the exact coverage period? And does it start from completion or from invoice date?
- What is the remedy? Repair, replacement, or refund? Repair of the affected area is the typical remedy, but if the failure is systemic, replacement may be required.
- Who provides the warranty? The contractor personally, a business entity, or the product manufacturer? A warranty from a business entity is worthless if the business closes before your warranty expires. Check the contractor’s trading history and reputation.
- Is the contractor licensed and insured? In NSW, contractors who charge more than $5,000 for residential work must hold a contractor licence. Insurance provides a backstop if something goes wrong.
The Licensed Contractor Advantage
In NSW, the Home Building Act 1989 provides additional statutory protections for licensed residential construction work. A licensed contractor’s work carries statutory implied warranties including:
- Work will be done with due care and skill
- Materials will be suitable for purpose
- Work will comply with the law
These statutory warranties cannot be contracted out of and run for 2 years (non-major defects) and 6 years (major defects). They apply regardless of what’s written in a contractor’s warranty document.
An unlicensed contractor’s written “warranty” has no backing from these statutory protections, which is a significant additional reason to always use a licensed operator.
Red Flags in Warranty Offers
- “Lifetime warranty” on a concrete coating, no honest contractor can warranty the substrate forever. This is marketing language that rarely holds up when examined.
- No written warranty, “we’ll look after you” is not a warranty.
- Warranty period under 2 years for an exterior overlay, this is below what even the statutory requirements provide for licensed work.
- Warranty voided by any resealing, some contractors include clauses that void the warranty if you apply any maintenance sealer. This is unreasonable and essentially manufactures warranty void conditions.
What to Do If You Need to Make a Warranty Claim
- Document the defect in writing and photographs as soon as you notice it.
- Contact the contractor in writing (email is ideal, creates a timestamped record) describing the defect and requesting inspection.
- Allow a reasonable time for response, typically 10-15 business days.
- If the contractor disputes the claim: NSW Fair Trading can assist with home building disputes. For significant disputes, an independent building consultant can provide an expert opinion on whether the defect constitutes a workmanship failure.
FAQs
My resurfacing has failed after 2 years, is that a warranty issue?
It depends on the cause. If the overlay has delaminated without physical damage, that’s a workmanship or preparation failure and should be covered under warranty. If a specific area has cracked over an existing substrate crack that was moving, that may be excluded. Document it, contact the contractor, and request an inspection before agreeing to any characterisation of the failure.
The contractor has gone out of business, what are my options?
If the contractor was licensed, you may have access to NSW Fair Trading’s Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) for losses from incomplete or defective work. Check whether the original work was covered under HBCF, residential work over $20,000 must be covered by a contractor with an HBCF certificate.
Is a 5-year warranty good for concrete resurfacing?
5 years is a reasonable benchmark for a quality exterior overlay system. Better contractors in the industry offer 5-7 year workmanship warranties. Less than 3 years should prompt questions about the contractor’s confidence in their work quality.
Can I void my warranty by pressure washing my driveway?
Check your warranty document. Some warranties specify maximum PSI for cleaning, typically 1,500-2,000 PSI. Pressure washing with commercial-grade equipment (4,000+ PSI) can void warranties on thinner overlay systems. Read the maintenance requirements before cleaning.