What Does DR Horton’s Warranty Cover: Coverage Years and Exclusions

The D.R. Horton warranty covers a new home on a “1-2-10” schedule: one year for defects in workmanship and materials, two years for the distribution portions of major mechanical systems, and ten years for major structural defects. D.R. Horton acts as the warrantor for the first two years, and Western Pacific Mutual Insurance Company (WPMIC) takes over for years three through ten. The program is administered by Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC), and the specific thresholds for every covered item are listed in the RWC warranty book provided at closing.¹

Year One: Workmanship and Materials

The first year is the broadest period of coverage and the one most homeowners actually use. D.R. Horton is responsible for correcting defects in workmanship and materials that fall outside the “allowable tolerances” set out in the warranty standards.¹ Whether a given issue qualifies depends on whether it exceeds the listed threshold, not simply whether the homeowner finds it annoying.

Covered items include doors that stick, bind, or fail to latch because of faulty workmanship; door warping that exceeds a quarter inch; and weather-stripping gaps that let in daylight or the elements. Garage doors that fail to fit or operate properly are covered, as is screen mesh that was damaged before move-in.

Flooring has its own thresholds. Concrete floors in finished areas must be corrected if the surface is uneven by more than three-eighths of an inch within a 32-inch measurement. Cracks in concrete that damage or significantly impair floor coverings are covered. Floor squeaks caused by defective joists or improperly installed subflooring are covered, though the builder is only required to reduce the squeaking “to the extent possible” without tearing out existing floor or ceiling finishes.¹

Year Two: Mechanical Systems

During the second year, the builder remains the warrantor but coverage narrows to specific portions of the home’s major mechanical systems.² The covered components are:

Heating, cooling, and ventilation: ductwork, refrigerant lines, steam and water pipes, registers, convectors, and dampers.
Electrical: wiring, electrical boxes, and connections up to the house side of the meter base.
Plumbing: pipes and fittings within the home, gas supply lines, and vent pipes.³

Read that list carefully. The two-year coverage is for the distribution systems inside the walls and floors, not for the equipment attached to them. The HVAC unit, the furnace, the water heater, and similar appliances carry their own manufacturer warranties, and the builder’s warranty does not stand in for those. A defect, for purposes of year two, is any condition that exceeds the allowable tolerance in the warranty standards.

Years Three Through Ten: Major Structural Defects Only

Once the first two years expire, D.R. Horton’s direct obligations end and WPMIC becomes the warrantor. The scope narrows sharply: only “Major Structural Defects” are covered.¹ A condition has to meet all three of these criteria at once:

Actual physical damage to a specified load-bearing component.
Failure of that structural component.
An effect on load-bearing function serious enough to materially affect the physical safety of the occupants.³

The load-bearing components the warranty names are roof framing (rafters and trusses), floor framing (joists and trusses), bearing walls, columns, lintels (excluding those that only support veneers), girders, load-bearing beams, and foundation systems and footings.¹ Cosmetic cracks, routine settling, and minor foundation movement that doesn’t threaten structural safety don’t meet the standard.

If the builder goes out of business or defaults during the first two years, WPMIC also steps in as warrantor for that earlier period.¹

What the Warranty Does Not Cover

The exclusion list is long, and several of the items on it are things homeowners commonly assume are covered.¹

Appliances and equipment such as stoves, dishwashers, and water heaters. Those claims go to the manufacturer.⁴
Consequential and incidental damages, including temporary shelter, food, storage, transportation during repairs, personal property damage, and bodily injury.
Damage from natural events and external forces: floods, earthquakes, sinkholes, hurricanes, lightning, wind-driven rain, insects, rodents, and acts of war or terrorism.
Any defect caused by or aggravated by moisture, mold, mildew, fungus, wet or dry rot, or rust, regardless of the source.
Site improvements such as driveways, walkways, fences, landscaping, recreational facilities, detached garages (unless they house essential utility systems), and off-site improvements like streets and sidewalks.
Telephone, cable, intercom, computer, and security system wiring.
Normal wear and conditions treated as normal, including concrete pitting, scaling, and color variation; floor squeaks not caused by construction defects; and truss uplift with associated cosmetic drywall cracking.
Swimming pools, elevators, and solar panels.
Damage related to radon, formaldehyde, or toxic substances rendering the home uninhabitable.

Coverage also contracts after year one for structurally attached decks and balconies, and for elements not built as part of the foundation, such as chimneys and basement or garage concrete floors.¹ Code violations that don’t produce a separately covered defect are excluded as well.

Roofing is one of the more frequently misunderstood areas. Installation defects fall under the one-year workmanship warranty. After that, the shingles and underlayment are covered by the shingle manufacturer’s own warranty, typically 15 to 20 years depending on the product.⁵ Roof framing stays covered through year ten as a load-bearing component, but only if damage meets the Major Structural Defect test. The roofing material itself is not part of the ten-year coverage.

Maintenance That Can Void Coverage

The warranty puts significant maintenance responsibility on the homeowner, and neglecting it can cut off coverage for resulting damage.⁴ The main obligations:

Maintain all interior and exterior caulking for the life of the home. Water damage from failed caulking that the homeowner didn’t repair is excluded.
Maintain proper grading and drainage away from the foundation. Planting too close to the foundation, using water-retaining edging, or ignoring downspout discharge can void foundation leak coverage.
Monitor humidity in both the living space and the attic. Damage from uncontrolled humidity is not covered.
Apply grout sealer after closing and keep it maintained. Water infiltration from unsealed or cracked grout is not a warranty defect.
Seal exterior concrete annually, and avoid salt and de-icing chemicals. Damage from petroleum products, fertilizers, or pet urine is excluded.
Fill cracks and apply a seal coat to asphalt driveways at least once a year. Driveways are designated for passenger vehicles; damage from heavy trucks, chemical spills, or sharp objects is excluded.
Keep the attic empty. Insulation must be replaced over the access panel after every entry, and damage from improper attic use or altered ventilation is excluded.

What Happens If You Sell the Home

The RWC warranty transfers automatically to subsequent owners for whatever time remains on the ten-year term. There are no fees and no forms.⁶ A new buyer does not get a fresh ten years; they inherit the remaining balance. Foreclosure is the exception and can void the warranty entirely.

Filing a Claim

Workmanship and systems claims during the first two years go through the D.R. Horton Customer Portal.⁷ You enter the home’s zip code, select the address, describe your concerns in the detail field (minimum ten characters), attach any photos, and provide contact information. The request routes to the local Customer Care team.

Major structural defect claims go through RWC directly and must be submitted in writing, either by email to warranty.resolution@rwcwarranty.com or by certified mail with return receipt requested. An email submission needs a confirmation receipt number; if none arrives within 48 hours, call RWC at 717-561-4480.¹ Do not hire a contractor and fix the problem before receiving written authorization from RWC. The cost of unauthorized repairs is not reimbursable.

The warranty caps total aggregate liability at the final sales price of the home as listed on the Application for Warranty, and it disclaims other express and implied warranties (including implied warranties of merchantability and habitability) to the extent state law allows.¹ State-specific addenda modify the standard terms for homes in different jurisdictions, so the warranty book delivered with your home is the controlling document for your situation.⁸

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DR Horton. RWC Limited Warranty Book
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RWC Warranty. What’s Covered
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FlippingBook. RWC Limited Warranty Book
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DR Horton. Maintenance Tips
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DR Horton. FAQ
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RWC Warranty. Homeowners
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DR Horton. Warranty Request
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DR Horton. Documents and Guides