Is Your New Lehi Home Still Under Warranty, and What Does That Mean for Remodeling It?

Lehi's population went from around 47,000 in 2010 to nearly 80,000 today, driven largely by Silicon Slopes tech growth, and most of that growth shows up as new construction in neighborhoods like Traverse Mountain, Canyon Point, and Thanksgiving Point. That means a huge share of Lehi homes are still inside their builder's warranty period, which changes what a remodel should actually cost and who's responsible for what.

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How Long Does a Builder's Warranty Actually Last in Utah?

Most new Utah homes come with a tiered builder's warranty, and the coverage window shrinks fast depending on what's affected:

Coverage type Typical warranty period
Labor and materials (paint, trim, finishes) 1 year
Mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) 2 years
Structural defects 10 years

Source: standard new-home builder warranty structure, as documented by consumer legal resources on new construction warranties. Individual builder contracts vary and should be checked directly.

Utah also recognizes an implied warranty of workmanship and habitability for new construction, established by the Utah Supreme Court in the 2009 Davencourt decision. That means even if your builder's written warranty has expired, defects tied to workmanship, materials, or design that make a home unsafe or unfit for habitation may still have legal recourse, separate from the standard contractual warranty.

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What Do We Actually Find When We Open Up a Newer Lehi Home?

Utah issued permits for roughly 18,000 new single-family homes in 2019 alone, and Lehi has taken a large share of that growth. Rapid-build volume at that scale means builders are working on tight schedules across many homes at once, and it's not unusual for a remodel to uncover things that were rushed or missed the first time, even in homes just a few years old:

  • Breaker panels with cheaper components than code or the building plans called for
  • Incomplete connections on systems like snowmelt or gutter drainage
  • Cosmetic issues like uneven drywall or off-center windows that were never corrected
New home inspection fact What it means
65% of new-home buyers Who had an inspection found at least one issue with their newly built home
24% of new homes Did not pass their first inspection
14% of buyers Skip a home inspection entirely on new construction

Source: National Association of Realtors, citing a Clever Real Estate survey. National data, not Lehi-specific.

If your home is still within its one or two-year warranty window when we find something like this during a remodel, it's worth raising with your builder before the coverage expires rather than paying to fix it yourself. We flag anything that looks like it should have been caught at the original build stage, since fixing it under your existing warranty is a lot cheaper than fixing it as part of the remodel scope.

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Should I Remodel Now or Wait Until My Warranty Expires?

If you're planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel in a Lehi home that's still under warranty, timing matters. Any pre-existing issue we find, whether it's a plumbing rough-in problem or an electrical panel that doesn't match spec, is worth raising with your builder while it's still their responsibility, before it becomes part of your remodel's cost.

Once your warranty has expired, that distinction disappears, and any issues we find get folded into the remodel scope like anything else. Either way, we walk you through what we find and where it stands before pricing the project.

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What Are My Rights if My Builder Won't Fix Something?

Utah has historically made it difficult for new-home buyers to get builders to honor warranty claims, and consumer reporting has documented buyers being denied fixes for things like structural cracks and undersized electrical components. Utah's Davencourt ruling helps here, since it means even outside your written warranty, defects affecting a home's safety or habitability aren't automatically your problem to absorb.

We're not attorneys and can't give legal advice, but if we find something during a remodel that looks like it could fall under implied warranty protection, we'll tell you plainly and suggest you get it documented before we touch it, so you have the option to pursue it separately if you choose to.

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What Should a Lehi Remodel Quote Account For?

A quote for a newer Lehi home should account for the possibility that something behind the walls doesn't match what the plans or code called for:

  • Ask whether your home is still within its 1, 2, or 10-year warranty window
  • Ask what happens if a pre-existing issue is found during demo
  • Get an itemized quote that separates remodel work from any warranty-eligible repair

This isn't about assuming your builder cut corners. It's about not paying twice for something someone else is still responsible for.

Tell us how old your Lehi home is and we'll walk through what's still your builder's responsibility before we price anything.

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Lehi Renovation FAQs

How do I find out if my Lehi home is still under warranty?

Check your original purchase paperwork for a builder's warranty document, or contact your builder directly. Coverage windows vary by system, so a home can be past its finish-warranty period but still covered for mechanical or structural issues.

Will you file a warranty claim on my behalf?

We're not able to file claims for you, but we'll document and point out anything we find that looks warranty-eligible so you have what you need to pursue it yourself.

Does finishing my basement affect my home's warranty?

Finishing an unfinished basement shouldn't void your builder's structural or mechanical warranty on the rest of the home, but check your specific warranty document, since terms vary by builder.

What if my builder denies a legitimate warranty claim?

That's a legal question outside what we can advise on, but Utah's implied warranty protections may still apply to safety or habitability defects even after a written warranty expires. Consulting a real estate attorney is worth considering if you're denied.

Is remodeling a brand new Lehi home common?

Yes, more than people expect. Homeowners often remodel within a few years to finish an unfinished basement, upgrade builder-grade finishes, or fix a layout that didn't work as well in practice as it looked on paper.

What Does a Renovation in Lehi Typically Cost?

Renovating in Lehi means more than just refreshing a space — it’s about adapting your home to the way you live now, increasing your property’s long-term value, and keeping up with the pace of a fast-growing city. With a mix of newer developments, custom builds, and unfinished basements, many Lehi homes are primed for smart, design-forward upgrades.

Project Type Typical Cost Range ROI (Avg.)
Minor Kitchen Renovation $35,000 – $55,000 Up to 96%
Upscale Kitchen Renovation $80,000+ ~38%
Midrange Bathroom Renovation $20,000 – $35,000 ~66%
Basement Finishing / Remodel $55,000 – $100,000+ ~70–75%
Whole-Home Renovation $150,000 – $350,000+ Varies
Home Addition $200–$350 per sq. ft. ~50–60%

Your actual cost will depend on your home’s layout, the finishes you choose, and how extensive your renovation is — especially when finishing a basement or redesigning a kitchen. We keep the entire process transparent, with detailed quotes and no surprises.

Source: Zonda’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report