What structural issues does a home warranty cover?
Standard home warranty plans generally do not include coverage for structural issues. Instead, they protect major home systems and appliances, such as HVAC units, plumbing, electrical systems, water heaters and kitchen appliances. Structural coverage may be available as part of a premium plan or as an add-on, but usually only when the home is on the real estate market.
In the home warranty industry, structural protection typically refers only to the main load-bearing components — also called designated load-bearing elements — that keep a house upright and stable, not the house’s broad interior surfaces or cosmetic parts.
However, a homebuilders warranty, new home warranty or structural warranty is different from a home warranty for existing properties. These warranties are designed for new construction and cover structural issues, often for up to 10 years. (Unlike home warranties, builders warranties generally do not cover appliances, although they do cover HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems.)
A new home, structural or homebuilders warranty may cover issues such as foundation movement, a cracked slab, bowing walls, roof framing damage, or floor sagging. However, a standard home warranty typically will not.
What is a 1-2-10 warranty?
A 1-2-10 warranty is a common tiered structure for homebuilders warranties. It protects your new home against construction defects for specific periods of time after construction is complete.
Covered for one year: Workmanship and materials, such as drywall, cabinetry, doors, roofing, and concrete
Covered for two years: Mechanical systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical
Covered for 10 years: Major structural defects
Potential exclusions to home warranty coverage for structural issues
Even if your home warranty plan or homebuilders warranty covers structural issues and defects, there are still some reasons your claim could be denied.
Here are some things home warranties don’t cover that can lead to your claim being denied:
Windows
Non-load-bearing walls
Pet, pest or animal damage
Cosmetic damage
Acts of God (typically handled by homeowners insurance)
Damage due to neglect or misuse
Older homes vs. newly built homes: Exclusions and caveats
Older homes may face more exclusions due to pre-existing conditions, wear and tear or prior structural modifications that don’t meet current building codes. Home warranty companies may limit coverage for older properties if they believe the structural issue existed before the policy began.
Newly built homes can also have exclusions, even when they’re protected by a builders warranty. Damage caused by homeowner neglect, additions, alterations or other events outside the warranty terms may be excluded. To avoid unexpected claim denials, it’s critical to understand the specific language in your contract.
Coverage caps
Most home warranty companies set coverage caps on structural components. That means the company pays only up to a certain amount, and you are responsible for any remaining expenses. Many companies have a set limit of combined costs per coverage term.
For example, if your contract has a $3,000 coverage cap and your structural repair costs $5,000, you must pay the remaining $2,000 out of pocket.
If multiple structural items share one combined limit — say you need a roof repair and a door repair — the items will draw from the same cap. So, if your roof repair costs $2,000 and the door repair costs $500, but the cap is $1,500, you’ll need to pay the extra $1,000.
What to do if your home warranty doesn’t cover structural issues
If you find out your home warranty doesn’t cover structural issues, you still have options to explore. You can upgrade to a higher-tier plan that covers it, or see if your home warranty company offers an add-on rider that does, although these options are exceptionally rare. If available, they can also raise your home warranty costs, but it may be worth it.
If your home is relatively new, you could also look at your homebuilders warranty. Builders warranties are meant to cover construction defects, and many include a structural warranty period of about 10 years for major structural defects in load-bearing parts of the home. These warranties provide extensive coverage on the cost of repair work for defective work or materials.
FAQ
What does a home typically warranty cover?
Home warranties usually cover large appliances, built-in microwaves, water heaters and systems like HVACs, plumbing, ductwork, pool heaters and well pumps. Some plans also cover additional items like pest control, septic systems, central vacuums, sump pumps and more.
What is a structural warranty?
A structural warranty is a contract covering load-bearing elements of the home, such as roof framing, walls, beams and columns, and floor framing.
What is the difference between a structural warranty and a home warranty?
Home warranties typically cover a wide range of systems and appliances, while a structural warranty covers the home's load-bearing parts. They cover different problems and often come from different providers.
What is considered structural in a home warranty?
In the home warranty context, "structural" usually refers to the foundation, footings, load-bearing walls, roof framing and support beams and columns. Non-load-bearing features like drywall, trim, doors, windows and other cosmetic items usually don’t qualify.
Bottom line
In the long run, a home warranty, structural warranty or builders warranty may save you thousands of dollars in repair costs. These warranties cover your home's most important structural components and help ensure it remains structurally sound and safe for years to come.
If structural protection matters to you, read your contract closely and confirm whether the policy covers the foundation, load-bearing walls, roof framing and other core structural parts of your home. Coverage for these elements is rare in standard home warranties, but common in homebuilders warranties.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
Federal Trade Commission, “Warranties for New Homes.” Accessed Oct. 3, 2026.
Federal Trade Commission, “Warranties.” Accessed Oct. 3, 2026.
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, “Home Builder Warranties.” Accessed Oct. 3, 2026.
