The time to ask about complaint resolution is before you sign — not when you're standing under a leaking roof six months after the job.
What a real process looks like
A legitimate contractor should be able to tell you: who you call, how quickly they respond, what qualifies as a warranty claim vs. normal maintenance, and what happens if they go out of business mid-warranty.
Get it in writing
The warranty section of your contract should spell out: the exact duration of the workmanship warranty, what is and isn't covered, what voids the warranty, and the process for making a claim. A verbal warranty is unenforceable.
Ask about bonding or surety
Some contractors back their workmanship warranties with a surety bond — meaning if they go out of business, a third party covers your claim. This is a meaningful differentiator, especially for longer warranty periods.
Vague answers like "we'll take care of you" with nothing in writing. If they haven't thought through their own warranty process, they haven't planned for problems.
