The Structural Warranty Process
From purchasing cover to receiving your 10-year Certificate of Insurance - here’s exactly how the Protek structural warranty process works, step by step.
OVERVIEW
How the process works from start to finish
When you purchase a Protek structural warranty, we check your project from the design stage through to completion. We do this either through a technical audit - where a nominated surveyor inspects your project - or by incorporating building control, where our partnered approved inspector fulfils both the statutory building control and warranty inspection functions simultaneously.
At the end of the process, once all inspections are complete and a building control completion certificate has been issued, Protek issues your 10-year Certificate of Insurance - transferable to future owners and accepted by major UK mortgage lenders.
TWO ROUTE OPTIONS
Technical Audit Route
Your existing building control provider handles statutory approvals. Protek’s nominated surveyor separately checks the design and carries out stage inspections for warranty purposes.
Integrated Building Control Route
Protek’s partnered approved inspector handles both the statutory building control and the warranty inspection simultaneously, with an additional remote audit carried out by our technical auditor. Typically more cost-effective, with one point of contact on site.
Note: Every quote from Protek includes both a warranty and a site insurance quotation, but these can always be purchased separately.
THE PROCESS
Step by step - from purchase to certificate
Follow the journey from taking out your structural warranty to receiving your 10-year Certificate of Insurance.
Purchase Your Cover
Purchase your structural warranty approximately two to three weeks before site clearance works commence. This gives the technical auditor or building control provider time to be notified and make contact with you directly.
Surveyor Makes Contact
Once notified, your nominated surveyor will contact you to request copies of your working drawings, sections and calculations. These will all be checked as part of the design review.
Schedule Agreed
The surveyor will identify your proposed construction schedule and advise you on which stages they need to inspect. This ensures the inspection process is planned around your programme from the outset.
Stage Inspections Carried Out
Your surveyor carries out a series of site-based inspections throughout the build. After each visit, a site inspection report is issued to you confirming progress and highlighting any issues that must be resolved before the next stage proceeds.
Issues Resolved and Signed Off
Any remedial works required are carried out and confirmed. The surveyor’s ongoing involvement means problems are identified and resolved during construction - not after completion.
Completion Certificate Issued
Once all inspections are complete and building control has issued a completion certificate, the property is deemed acceptable for warranty provision.
Certificate of Insurance Issued
Protek issues your 10-year Certificate of Insurance - transferable to future owners, accepted by major UK mortgage lenders, and signifying the start of your cover from the date of completion.
TECHNICAL AUDIT
The Technical Audit process in detail
When you choose the Technical Audit route, Protek’s nominated surveyor works alongside your own building control provider to inspect the project for warranty purposes.
5
Working Days to Surveyor on Site
Upon receiving your instruction, Protek aims to have a surveyor on site within 5 working days. You’ll receive a clear briefing on exactly what we require from you and what to expect.
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Design Review First
Your working drawings, sections and calculations are reviewed before work starts on site. Your architect or system supplier can send these directly to the surveyor.
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Ongoing Stage Reporting
After each site inspection, a report is issued to you highlighting any issues that need to be addressed before the next stage. You are kept informed throughout the process.
SAVE MONEY
Combine building control with your warranty
If you haven’t yet arranged building control for your project, Protek can incorporate it directly into the structural warranty process through our partnered approved inspector. This removes the need for two separate surveyors inspecting your project simultaneously.
When building control is arranged alongside the structural warranty, the quote will show the cost of both elements together - and there is no requirement for a separate technical audit fee. This is typically the most cost-effective solution.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Single surveyor covers both building control and warranty inspections
No separate technical audit fee required
Often the most cost-effective solution overall
Stage payment certificates available for mortgage drawdown
Available for self-build, extension, renovation and conversion projects
One point of contact for both the statutory and warranty requirements
Inspection requirements
Whichever inspection route you take, these set out exactly what we will need to see at each stage of the build.
Route one
Technical Audit inspection requirements
What our surveyor needs at each stage if you are taking the technical audit route alongside your own building control arrangement.
Download the PDF ›Route two
Building control assessment requirements
What is required at each stage where building control is combined into the warranty through one of our partnered approvers.
Download the PDF ›FAQS
Frequently asked questions
Purchase your warranty approximately two to three weeks before site clearance works begin. This gives the surveyor or building control provider time to be notified, make contact with you, and review your working drawings, sections and calculations before work starts on site.
The surveyor will need copies of your working drawings, sections and structural calculations. These can be sent by you, your architect, or your system supplier directly to the surveyor. The surveyor will also need to understand your proposed construction schedule so they can plan the stage inspection programme.
At each stage of construction, the surveyor attends site to inspect the works. After each visit, Protek issues a site inspection report and inspection tracker to you confirming progress and highlighting any issues that must be resolved before the next stage proceeds. Any remedial works are agreed and signed off before the build continues.
A technical audit is the process by which Protek’s nominated surveyor physically checks your project from design through construction for warranty purposes - it is separate from statutory building control. When building control is incorporated alongside the structural warranty, our partnered Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA) fulfils both functions simultaneously, which removes the need for two separate surveyors onsite.
The Certificate of Insurance is issued once all inspections have been satisfactorily completed, any defects identified have been resolved and a building control completion certificate has been issued. This marks the start of your 10-year cover. The exact timing depends on when your project reaches completion, but the process is straightforward once all stages have been signed off.
Yes. After the first 12 months, the warranty automatically transfers to any successor in title. This is one of the key reasons mortgage lenders insist on structural warranties - the cover follows the property, not the original owner, providing protection for future buyers throughout the 10-year period.
FREE RESOURCES
Download our free guides
Our guides explain the process and your options in plain English.
FREE PDF GUIDE
Structural Warranty Guide for Self-Builders
Everything you need to know about structural warranty cover for self-build projects - what’s covered, how the inspection process works, and why your lender will require it.
Download Free GuideFREE PDF GUIDE
Site Insurance & Warranty Brochure
A combined guide covering both self-build site insurance and structural warranty - ideal for understanding how the two products work together to protect your project.
Download Free GuideGet your structural warranty quote online
Purchase your warranty approximately two to three weeks before site clearance begins - our team will take care of the rest.
