Marvin window and door warranty breakdown: Coverage, length, exclusions (Article)

When you bought your home, it was newly renovated. How can the windows be falling apart already? 

Often, house flippers will replace old windows with brand-new, cheap windows to give them a fresh look before putting them on the market. This explains why your windows are failing you in less than five years. 

So you decide to invest in new, efficient windows and choose Marvin. 

Marvin offers three collections to fit any aesthetic, from sleek modern to traditional and classic: SignatureⓇ, ElevateⓇ, and EssentialⓇ. Their windows are manufactured to last and are a lifelong solution. 

Whether you’re looking to Marvin for replacement windows or currently have issues with your Marvin window, you want to know what your warranty covers and if they will fix it. 

Southwest Exteriors has been a window replacement contractor for over 30 years. We’ve been to thousands of houses with windows that fail before their promised lifetime. We chose to install Marvin windows because they are some of the best in the industry. A lifetime warranty for installation and labor backs up our work. If anything goes wrong with your new windows for your life in your home, we will do all we can to make it right. 

Because a window replacement is a big investment, you want to know your Marvin windows will last. If anything happens to them, you must be familiar with the warranty to rest assured they have your back. 

This article will provide a breakdown of Marvin’s warranty, including what parts of the window are covered, how long they are covered, and exclusions. 

After reading, you will better understand your Marvin windows’ warranty. Then, you will know exactly what is covered and when you should file a claim. 

What is included in Marvin’s window and door warranty? What is the lifetime of the coverage?

Marvin offers a fully transferable, limited warranty. The lifetime of the warranty begins on the date of purchase. 

Each window component has a different length of coverage and restrictions. All parts include coverage against manufacturing defects. This means that any problems that arise because the product was not manufactured properly are covered under warranty. 

Under this warranty, Marvin will repair or replace the product or component of the window or provide a refund. The route that is taken to resolve the issue is up to Marvin. Removal, installation, finishing, refinishing, and disposal costs and services are not included. 

This means that Marvin will only provide the materials for the repair or replacement. 

How does the Marvin warranty relate to glass components?

Coverage for glass in windows applies to factory-installed or Marvin-supplied glass installed by Marvin-authorized personnel. 

Seal failure caused by manufacturing defects resulting in visual obstruction in standard insulating glass with stainless steel spacers is warranted. For glass sizes up to 60 square feet, seal failure is covered for 20 years. For glass over 60 square feet, it is covered for ten years.

Stress cracks caused by manufacturing defects in non-tempered glass are covered for ten years. Stress cracks typically occur due to extreme temperature changes or shifting soils that cause foundation issues. 

How are non-glass components covered?

Non-glass components consist of the window, door’s hardware, and other non-glass components. They are warranted against manufacturing defects for ten years. 

Stainless steel hardware and hardware with a PVD finish installed in coastal areas are warranted against manufacturing defects and abnormal deterioration of the finish for ten years. A PVD finish stands for physical vapor deposition, a surface coating resistant to many chemicals and corrosion. 

Other hardware finishes are not warranted in coastal environments.

Exterior cladding finish coverage

Knowing the type of finish of your windows and doors is essential to understand the warranty coverage you will receive. 

Manufacturing defects on exterior aluminum cladding finish are covered for 20 years. Defects include chalking, fading, and peeling. 

For five years, Anodized and other exterior finishes are warranted against manufacturing defects. This type of finish is not warranted in coastal areas. 

In coastal areas within one mile of a saltwater source, exterior aluminum finishes are warranted for ten years. This protects against manufacturing defects and damage to the finish caused by corrosion and loss of defects.

The standard exterior composite clad finish is warranted for ten years. 

Interior finish coverage

Like exterior finishes, different interior finishes have different levels of coverage.

Wood interior

Marvin factory-applied interior wood finishes are warranted against finish defects for five years. Defects include cracking, peeling, delamination, blistering, flaking, excessive chalking, and checking. Checking is when the wood starts to separate or split lengthwise.

Fading or changing paint color is also covered under normal interior environmental conditions for five years. Factor-applied primer is not covered under warranty. 

The appearance of raised grain in the wood is not considered a defect. 

Aluminum interior

Aluminum finish interior is warranted against manufacturing defects for 20 years. An aluminum interior with an anodized finish is warranted for five years. 

Sensors

Factory-installed sensors are covered against manufacturing defects for 20 years. These sensors do not protect against or prevent property loss or damage, personal injury, or death. 

Marvin is not responsible and does not warranty any third-party sensors. 

To sum all that up, any manufacturing defects are warranted for all components of the window. However, each component has a different length of life and exceptions to the coverage. 

When getting your new Marvin windows, it’s important to keep track of the finishes and material of components to know what coverage you have. 

Highlighting the conditions specific to the products you purchased, whether on a digital or physical copy, will make it easier for you to reference your warranty. This makes it easier to know what is covered and if you can file a claim. 

Now that you know what is covered under Marvin’s warranty, you must also understand what is not covered. 

What is excluded in Marvin’s window and door warranty?

Exclusions in warranties are just as important as inclusions. You will know when to file a claim once you know the warranty’s inclusions and exclusions. 

Here, we will break down exclusions and explain what is not covered in your Marvin window and door warranty. 

These exclusions are problems that may occur outside Marvin’s control. Some issues have specific requirements to be deemed defective.

Improper installation

Issues that arise from the installation that do not align with Marvin’s instructions will void the warranty. Improper installation covers non-standard installation, like a window upside down or out-of-square.

Problems from improper installation often happen from a low-quality contractor or a DIY job. This is why choosing a high-quality contractor for your project. 

Lack of maintenance

Neglecting maintenance and care set forth by Marvin will void the warranty. Neglect includes misuse, abuse, modification, alteration, or product accidents.

Failure to properly treat, seal, and maintain exposed wood finishes is not covered under warranty. The use of inappropriate cleaners or chemicals is also not covered. 

Normal wear and tear of products is not considered a lack of maintenance but is also not covered. 

Acts of God

Acts of God refer to any weather or climate conditions beyond human control. Examples include tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, naturally occurring fires, and earthquakes. 

Other extreme weather conditions or unusual atmospheric conditions are not covered under warranty.

Moisture management

If products are installed in walls without proper moisture management, like synthetic stucco, without effective drainage systems are not warranted. 

Thermal efficiency

Multi-pane windows can be filled with argon gas or other inert gases for insulation. This gas can dissipate over time, decreasing the window's energy efficiency. 

Marvin does not warranty a constant thermal efficiency level maintained by inert gas, glass coatings, or other energy-efficient features. 

Condensation

Condensation, frost, mold, mildew, or fungus on product surfaces is not covered. This is because these are naturally occurring conditions caused by humidity.

Corrosion 

Failure or corrosion of aluminum cladding, anodized, and other specialty finishes, hardware, or other components due to air pollutants, acid rain, chemicals, salt, sand, or other corrosive substances are not covered. 

However, aluminum exteriors within one mile of a saltwater source are protected against corrosion for ten years. 

Overall, conditions that are not covered include improper installation, lack of maintenance, Acts of God, insufficient moisture management, thermal efficiency, condensation, or corrosion. 

What if you need to file a claim on your Marvin windows?

If any seal failure, glass stress cracks, or manufacturing defects occur in your Marvin windows during the lifetime of your warranty, you can file a claim to have the component repaired, replaced, or refunded. 

Your claim must be made within 60 days after you notice the defect. All claims will be made through your Marvin distributor or contractor. 

Because Marvin does not cover the installation cost, choosing a contractor with a quality warranty to back up their workmanship is crucial. 

How can you ensure your windows and doors will be backed by their warranties?

Finding the right contractor to provide you with a high-quality window and door replacement is key to ensuring the warranty. 

At Southwest Exteriors, we offer a lifetime warranty for your windows for your life in your home. If anything goes wrong with your windows, we will cover the cost to repair them as long as you live in your home. 

When you work with us, we build a lifelong relationship with you, and compassion and communication are two of our most important values. We assure you that you will receive the highest quality project installation and service.