Understanding Cladding Product Warranties
When specifying façade materials, warranties provide critical protection for your project. Fairview warranties consist of two main components:
- Product Warranty – Covers the structural integrity and manufacturing quality of aluminum composite material
- Finish/Coating Warranty – Guarantees finish performance and standards on factory applied coatings.
We encourage you to review manufacturer warranties before specifying or purchasing façade cladding products. This allows you to make informed decisions and ensures the warranty aligns with your project requirements.
Important: Be cautious of warranties that exceed paint manufacturer guidelines or make claims that contradict industry testing standards. Understanding warranty terms helps you distinguish between reliable commitments and unsubstantiated promises.
Types of Warranties
Manufacturing Warranty
A comprehensive manufacturing warranty should clearly specify:
- Product name and model
- Material thickness and core composition
- Coverage terms and duration
- Exclusions, such as:
- Improper installation
- Incorrect storage or handling prior to installation
- Exposure to abnormal weather conditions or environmental factors
These conditions protect both the manufacturer and the customer. Review them carefully to understand your responsibilities in maintaining warranty coverage.
Finish/Coating Warranty
Just as the product should be clearly identified, finish warranties must specify:
- Finish name and manufacturer code
- Warranty period and coverage terms
- Performance guarantees – the surface coating will not exhibit the following when properly maintained and exposed to normal weather:
- Flaking
- Blistering
- Checking
- Cracking
- Peeling
Industry Standard: Exterior cladding panel coatings should meet AAMA 2605 high-performance specifications. This standard requires a minimum 70% fluoropolymer resin-based (Kynar 500®) coating. These coatings offer superior resistance to:
- Humidity and moisture
- Color change and fading
- Gloss reduction
- Environmental chemical influences
Your supplier should provide documentation of AAMA 2605 compliance upon request, allowing you to verify performance claims.
Maintenance Requirements
Protecting Your Investment
To ensure panels and finishes perform for the full warranty period and beyond, regular cleaning according to the manufacturer’s care and maintenance guidelines is required.
Critical: Failure to follow maintenance guidelines may void your warranty. Review these requirements before finalizing your product selection to ensure they align with your project’s long-term maintenance capabilities.
Why Warranty Matters More Than Price
Warranties often:
- Exclude labor and tear-down costs
- Pro-rate material value over time
- Limit coverage to finishes only, not product failure
- Become void after ownership transfer
When a failure happens years down the road, the real cost isn’t the panel—it’s removal, reinstallation, inflation, and downtime.
Fairview Architectural Warranty Savings Calculator
See what a façade failure could really cost you over time.
Most façade warranties look good on paper until you read the fine print. Compare standard, pro-rated, and finish-only warranties against Fairview Architectural’s Non-Prorated Repair & Replacement, Transferable Product & Finish Warranty, and uncover the true financial exposure competitors leave up to you.