Maritimes · Roof warranties explained
Metal roof warranties, explained
A roof usually carries three warranties: material (from the manufacturer), finish, and workmanship (from the installer). The number of years matters less than who the warrantor is, whether coverage shrinks over time, what's excluded, and how it transfers. On an Interlock® roof, the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty covers material and finish, and our 10 Year Limited Labour Warranty covers the installation. Neither is storm insurance.
Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, Director of Marketing, The Interlock Group · Updated October 8, 2026
Material
Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty
From the manufacturer; original purchaser; transfers once.
Finish
30 Year Alunar® Coating Warranty
On the factory finish.
Workmanship
10 Year Limited Labour Warranty
From our Maritimes company (Form 5290 NS).
A roof usually carries three different warranties
Material
Covers the roofing product itself against defects. Issued by the manufacturer, or sometimes by the contractor reselling it. Read who the warrantor is: a manufacturer's warranty stands even if the contractor stops trading.
Finish (coating)
Covers the paint, measured against stated limits. It is often a separate document with its own term.
Workmanship (labour)
Covers the installation: flashing, fastening, details. Only the installer can issue it, and most material warranties exclude workmanship entirely.
Wind, fire and impact ratings
Wind coverage, fire ratings and impact ratings usually depend on the roof being installed to the manufacturer's specification. Ask what installation the rating assumes, and which profiles it applies to.
What a "50-year" warranty can mean
A number of years on a roofing brochure tells you the longest possible term, not what you'll be paid in year 30. Before you compare warranties, find the answers to these in the warranty document itself, not the sales sheet.
- Is coverage reduced over time (pro-rated)? If so, how much is left at year 10, 20 and 30?
- Does it cover material only, or labour to replace the material too?
- Who is the warrantor, and in which province or country is it based?
- Does it transfer when you sell, how many times, and is there a fee or a deadline to register the transfer?
- What is excluded: storm damage, salt or chemical exposure, ice damming, cosmetic dents, foot traffic?
- How, and how quickly, must a claim be made?
The warranties on an Interlock® roof in the Maritimes
| Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty | 10 Year Limited Labour Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Interlock Roofing, the manufacturer | Maritime Metal Roofing Ltd., the installer |
| Covers | The aluminum roofing material and its factory finish | The workmanship of the installation |
| How long | As long as the original purchaser owns the home | 10 years from the Substantial Completion Date, while a purchaser named on the certificate owns and lives in the home |
| Register | Within 60 days of installation | Certificate issued with the job |
| Transfer | Once, to the next registered owner, with coverage to 50 years from installation; notice with proof of purchase within 60 days of the sale and a $300 fee | Not transferable |
| Report a problem | In writing to the warrantor, with your registration number, photographs and a description | Within 10 days of finding a workmanship issue |
| Exclusions to know | Workmanship; severe weather and Acts of God; hail larger than 38 mm (1.5 in); condensation; ice-damming; normal wear including minor scratches and dents; installation not to manufacturer specification | Among others: hurricane-force winds, wind storms, hail damage, ice damming, snow and ice shedding, high-pressure washing, and home-maintenance issues (a minimum $250 inspection fee can apply) |
| Claims | guardian@interlockroofing.com | mprservice@interlockroofing.com · 1-866-588-7663 |
From the Guardian warranty and the Maritimes labour warranty certificate (Form 5290 NS, which covers Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI). The finish also carries a 30 Year Alunar® Coating Warranty. Read the full documents before you sign.
Roofs covered by these warranties
Recent Interlock® roofs installed in the Maritimes by our own company. Tap a roof to see all of its photos.
Storms and your roof warranties
Read this before a storm, not after: roof warranties are written for defects in the material and in the installation; they are not storm insurance. Damage from a hurricane, a post-tropical storm or a winter coastal storm is a matter for your home insurance.
On an Interlock® roof, the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty warrants wind resistance to 193 km/h (120 mph) installed to manufacturer specification, and excludes severe weather and Acts of God. Our 10 Year Limited Labour Warranty covers workmanship and excludes hurricane-force winds, wind storms, hail damage, ice damming and snow and ice shedding. After a storm, photograph any damage, call your insurer, and call us if you want the roof inspected.
Your rights before you sign
A warranty is only as good as the contract it comes with. If a roofing contract is sold to you at your home, all three Maritime provinces give you 10 days to cancel, and require the seller to be licensed as a direct seller: in Nova Scotia under the Direct Sellers' Regulation Act, in New Brunswick through the Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB), and on Prince Edward Island under the Direct Sellers Act. Ask to see the licence, and read the cancellation terms in the contract before you sign.
Neither warranty limits a right you have under the laws of your province that can't be excluded by contract.
Questions, answered
What does a 50-year limited roof warranty cover?
It depends entirely on the document. Many 50-year roofing warranties cover the material only, reduce coverage over time, and exclude workmanship. Check whether it is pro-rated, whether labour to replace material is included, who the warrantor is, and how it transfers.
What does the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty cover?
The aluminum roofing material and its factory finish, for as long as the original purchaser owns the home. It transfers once, to the next registered owner, with coverage to 50 years from installation. Workmanship is excluded, and severe weather and ice damming are stated exclusions.
Does a roof warranty cover hurricane or storm damage?
Don't count on it. Roof warranties are written for defects, and storm damage is a matter for your home insurance. The Guardian warranty excludes severe weather and Acts of God, and our labour warranty excludes hurricane-force winds and wind storms. Call your insurer first after a storm.
Who stands behind the installation?
Maritime Metal Roofing Ltd. does, with a 10 Year Limited Labour Warranty from the Substantial Completion Date, on one certificate (Form 5290 NS) that covers Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. It covers the workmanship, for a purchaser named on the certificate while they own and live in the home.
Is a metal roof warranty transferable when I sell?
The Guardian material warranty transfers once, to the next registered owner, with coverage to 50 years from installation, on notice within 60 days of the sale and a $300 fee. Our labour warranty does not transfer.
Does any roof warranty cover ice dams?
Ours don't: ice damming is a stated exclusion of both. Ice dams come from heat loss into the attic and from ventilation, which is why we look at both with you before the roof goes on.
How do I make a warranty claim?
Material and finish: in writing to guardian@interlockroofing.com, with your registration number, the installation date, photographs and a description. Workmanship: mprservice@interlockroofing.com or 1-866-588-7663 within 10 days of finding it.
Sources
- Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty (full terms)
- 10 Year Limited Labour Warranty (Form 5290 NS: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI)
- Both warranties side by side
- Government of Nova Scotia: Buying from a direct seller, your rights
- Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB): Direct Sellers
- Prince Edward Island: Direct Sellers Act, Direct Sales Contract Regulations
Product specifications are the manufacturer's (Interlock Roofing). Install counts are from our own job book. Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, October 8, 2026.
Read the warranties with us.
A fixed price in writing after one visit, at your home or on Zoom. Maritime Metal Roofing Ltd. · 101 Thornhill Dr #105, Dartmouth, NS B3B 1S2
