When you buy a new car, you expect a warranty. When you buy a new home, you should expect the same peace of mind. Yet in Michigan, the state-required minimum warranty for a new home is surprisingly limited: just one year for workmanship and materials, and two years for mechanical systems. Only after those periods expire does the one-year structural warranty provision kick in — and even then, it is minimal compared to what experienced custom builders provide voluntarily.
At Oaks of Tyrone, Big Sky Development offers a 10-year in-house structural warranty on every home they build — nine times longer than Michigan's state-required minimum. For buyers considering new construction in Fenton, Tyrone Township, or anywhere in Livingston County, that difference is not a footnote. It is one of the most important factors in choosing a builder.
Here is what the warranty actually covers, why Big Sky offers it, and why you should care about the difference between a third-party warranty and a true in-house guarantee.
What Michigan law requires for new home warranties
Michigan's construction warranty law (MCL 125.1531) sets a baseline that every builder in the state must meet. Under the Michigan New Home Warranty Act, builders are required to warrant:
- One year from the date of possession for defects in workmanship and materials.
- Two years from the date of possession for defects in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
- One year from the date of possession for structural defects — meaning after year one, the structural warranty has already expired.
That means for the vast majority of new homes built in Michigan, after 12 months, there is no longer any structural warranty coverage at all. The builder has no legal obligation to repair foundation issues, roof framing defects, or structural settling. This is the legal floor — and it is a low one.
What Big Sky Development's 10-year warranty covers
Big Sky Development was the first builder in Southeast Michigan to offer a true in-house 10-year structural warranty, and it remains one of the most comprehensive in the region. Unlike the state minimum, Big Sky's warranty covers structural defects for a full decade from the date of possession.
Structural defects covered by the warranty include:
- Foundation and load-bearing walls: Cracks, settling, and structural movement that affect the integrity of the home.
- Roof framing: Truss and rafter defects that compromise the roof structure.
- Floor systems: Structural issues with floor joists, subfloors, and load-bearing supports.
- Exterior wall systems: Structural-grade defects in exterior framing and sheathing.
- Basement and crawlspace structural components: Walls, footings, and support structures.
The key word is "in-house." Big Sky develops, administers, and stands behind this warranty directly — it is not a third-party product sold to the builder. That means when a homeowner needs to make a claim, they deal with the builder who built their home, not an insurance adjuster who has never seen the property.
In-house vs. third-party warranty: Why it matters
Many builders offer extended warranties, but the structure matters as much as the duration. A third-party warranty is essentially an insurance policy: you pay a premium (usually built into the home price), and if a covered defect occurs, you file a claim with the warranty company. The warranty company investigates, decides whether to approve the claim, and arranges for repairs — often through a contractor you have never met.
An in-house warranty, by contrast, means the builder puts their own name and reputation on the line. Big Sky Development's 10-year structural warranty is administered by Big Sky itself. If a structural issue arises, you call the team that built your home, and they take responsibility directly. There is no third party to negotiate with, no insurance adjuster to convince. The builder who designed and constructed your home is the same builder who stands behind it.
This distinction matters for a practical reason: a builder who offers an in-house 10-year warranty has a powerful incentive to build homes that will not need warranty claims in the first place. Sloppy foundation work or substandard framing that might slip past a third-party inspector will not slip past a builder who must personally cover the cost of repairs for the next decade.
Why 30 years of history matters for warranty reliability
A 10-year warranty is only as good as the company behind it. Big Sky Development has been building homes continuously in Southeast Michigan since 1994 — more than 30 years through two recessions and a pandemic without ever pausing operations. That track record matters because a warranty from a builder who has been in business for three decades is far more reliable than one from a company that started last year or may not be around in five years.
Big Sky has completed more than 20 communities across Livingston County, Genesee County, and Oakland County. The same family leadership that founded the company in 1994 still oversees every home built today. The founder, Tino Pulice, personally visits active jobsites to inspect quality standards. When you buy a Big Sky home, you are backed by a company with a 30-year track record of standing behind its work.
How the warranty protects your investment at Oaks of Tyrone
At Oaks of Tyrone, every new construction home package — from the Firethorn ranch starting at $619,900 to the Oakview 1.5-story starting at $899,900 — includes the full 10-year in-house structural warranty as a standard feature. There are no upgrades, add-ons, or additional fees for this coverage. It is part of how Big Sky Development builds, not an extra you have to ask for.
For buyers comparing new construction to existing resale homes in the Fenton, Tyrone Township, or Livingston County area, this warranty gap is worth noting. A resale home has no builder warranty at all — whatever defects exist at the time of sale become the buyer's responsibility the day they close. An older home's foundation issues, roof problems, or structural settling may have already occurred, or may develop years later without any recourse.
A new construction home at Oaks of Tyrone comes with a decade of structural protection — and that protection is backed by a builder with a 30-year track record of standing behind every home they have built.
What about workmanship and systems coverage?
Beyond the structural warranty, Big Sky Development also meets or exceeds Michigan's minimum warranty standards for workmanship, materials, and mechanical systems. Every home is inspected during construction — and the owner's personal oversight of active jobsites provides an additional layer of quality assurance that most builders do not offer.
Combined with the 10-year structural warranty, Big Sky's warranty package gives buyers coverage that most production builders in Michigan do not match. When you consider that many national production builders offer extended warranties only as paid upgrades — and that those upgrades are typically third-party policies administered by warranty companies — the value of a true in-house 10-year warranty from an established Michigan builder becomes clear.
Frequently asked questions
What does Michigan law require for a new home warranty?
Michigan requires builders to provide a 1-year warranty for defects in workmanship and materials, a 2-year warranty for mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), and a 1-year warranty for structural defects. After the first year, there is no state-required structural coverage.
How long is Big Sky Development's structural warranty?
Big Sky Development offers a 10-year in-house structural warranty on every home at Oaks of Tyrone — nine times longer than Michigan's state-required minimum. It covers structural defects including foundation, roof framing, floor systems, and load-bearing walls.
Is the 10-year warranty a paid upgrade?
No. The 10-year in-house structural warranty is a standard feature included with every Big Sky Development home at Oaks of Tyrone at no additional cost — just like the high-efficiency Carrier HVAC systems and 2x6 exterior wall construction.
What is the difference between an in-house warranty and a third-party warranty?
An in-house warranty is administered directly by the builder who constructed your home. A third-party warranty is an insurance policy administered by an external company. With Big Sky's in-house warranty, you deal directly with the builder — no insurance adjusters or third-party contractors.
Does a resale home have any warranty coverage?
No. When you buy an existing resale home, the original builder's warranty has typically expired. Any defects — structural or otherwise — become the buyer's responsibility at closing. This is one of the key advantages of new construction with a builder like Big Sky Development.
How long has Big Sky Development been in business?
Big Sky Development has been building custom homes in Southeast Michigan since 1994 — more than 30 years of continuous operation. The company has completed over 20 communities and builds with more than 96% American-made materials and labor.
See the difference a 10-year warranty makes
The best way to evaluate a builder is to see their work in person. Walk the homesites at Oaks of Tyrone, review the standard features and warranty documentation, and talk through any questions with Rob Moen. He has helped hundreds of buyers build custom homes in Livingston County and across Southeast Michigan.