How to Transfer a Roofing Warranty When You Sell Your Home
Quick answer
Some roofing warranties transfer to a new homeowner and some do not — the certificate's transfer clause decides. Interlock's Guardian Warranty transfers one time: within 60 days of the sale, the new owner sends proof of purchase and a $300 transfer fee to Interlock Roofing Ltd., and receives a confirmation email as proof. The second owner then holds 50 years of material coverage from substantial completion, with the coating warranted 30 years.
Which roofing warranties actually transfer?
Whatever the sales pitch said, the answer lives in one place: the transfer clause of the warranty certificate. Roofing warranties across the industry vary widely here — some transfer once, some allow a transfer only within a short window early in the roof's life, some reduce the coverage term for subsequent owners, and installer-issued workmanship warranties often do not survive a sale at all. Before you list a home (or make an offer on one), read three lines of the certificate: how many transfers are allowed, what the deadline is, and what it costs. The Guardian Warranty's answer to all three is explicit: one transfer, 60 days, $300.
Transferring the Guardian Warranty: step by step
Step 1 — close the sale. The transfer runs from the original purchaser to the first subsequent registered owner of the property. Step 2 — within 60 days of the purchase, the new owner sends proof of purchase of the property together with the $300 transfer fee, payable to Interlock Roofing Ltd., to 9969 River Way, Delta, BC V4G 1M8. Step 3 — Interlock issues a confirmation email, which is the second owner's proof of warranty transfer. Keep it with the home's records alongside the original warranty certificate number. That is the entire process — no inspection is required to transfer, and the roof's substantial-completion date does not reset.
What the second owner receives
Once transferred, the second owner's limited material warranty runs 50 years from the roof's substantial completion date, with the Alunar coating warranted 30 years from the same date. Under the transferred warranty the manufacturer covers its material costs to repair, refinish, or replace nonconforming product; labor costs are the second owner's responsibility. The certificate's standard exclusions continue to apply, and the warranty cannot be transferred a second time. Sellers should hand over the warranty certificate number at closing — the new owner needs it for the transfer and for any future claim.
Why a transferable roof warranty matters at resale
The roof is the largest single exterior component a buyer inherits, and on most homes it is a countdown clock: an asphalt roof in year 15 is a looming five-figure expense that shows up in inspections and negotiations. A lifetime metal roof with a documented, manufacturer-backed warranty that transfers in writing turns that liability into a selling point — the buyer gets 50 years of material coverage from a manufacturer that has been making the product since 1998, verified by a certificate rather than a verbal assurance. Real-estate conversations about the roof become one sentence: it's an Interlock, and the warranty transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a roofing warranty transfer to a new homeowner when a house is sold?
If the certificate says so. The Guardian Warranty transfers one time to the first subsequent registered owner: proof of purchase plus a $300 fee to Interlock Roofing Ltd. within 60 days of the sale, confirmed by email. The second owner then holds 50 years of material coverage.
How long do I have to transfer the warranty after buying the home?
60 days from the purchase of the property. Send proof of purchase and the $300 transfer fee to Interlock Roofing Ltd., 9969 River Way, Delta, BC V4G 1M8. The confirmation email you receive is your proof of transfer.
What happens if the warranty is never transferred?
The manufacturer is relieved of its obligations to the second owner. The transfer is simple and inexpensive relative to what it protects — put it on the closing checklist next to the utilities.
Does the transferred warranty cover labor?
No — after transfer, coverage is materials only: the manufacturer covers its material costs to repair, refinish, or replace nonconforming product, and labor costs are the second owner's responsibility. The original purchaser's coverage includes the manufacturer's material and labor costs.
Sources
- Interlock Roofing Ltd. — Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty — Transfer clause and 2nd Owner terms, governing text
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Last reviewed 2026-08-03 · Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, Director of Marketing