The standard structure
Most production builders offer a tiered warranty, commonly '1-2-10': one year on workmanship and materials (the broadest coverage, finishes, fit, function), two years on major systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC distribution), and ten years on major structural elements (typically load-bearing failure, narrowly defined). Read your specific documents, coverage definitions, not marketing labels, control everything.
What surprises people
Appliances aren't covered by the builder, they carry their own manufacturer warranties, which you must register separately. Cosmetic issues are generally only covered if documented at the blue-tape walkthrough. Concrete cracking within stated tolerances, normal settling, caulk shrinkage, and sod survival are usually excluded or time-limited. The ten-year 'structural' coverage is narrower than most buyers assume, it typically covers actual load-bearing failure, not every crack that appears.
What can void or limit coverage
Unpermitted modifications, improper drainage changes (regrading, new beds against the slab), owner-caused damage, and missed maintenance obligations. Warranty documents include a homeowner maintenance list, gutters, caulking, irrigation practices near foundations. In Central Texas clay soils, foundation-watering guidance appears in many warranties, and ignoring it can jeopardize the structural coverage that matters most.
Filing claims that work
Submit in writing, through the official portal or process, phone conversations with a superintendent are not claims. Document with photos and dates. Batch non-urgent items sensibly, but never sit on anything approaching the one-year workmanship deadline: file before the anniversary, because the postmark date matters, not the repair date. Chapter 11's eleven-month inspection exists precisely to feed this deadline.
Reporting note: Ask whether the warranty is administered by the builder directly or by a third-party warranty company, the claim experience differs meaningfully, and the answer belongs in your builder comparison before you buy, not after.