Since 2005, I am still battling my builders and their insurance company. To refresh your memory, there was a number of builders defects on my house. Mainly, no moisture barrier on part of the south side, second and first floor of my home. And again other defects such as no insulation in the attic and more.
It is located approximately 1500 feet from the Gulf of Mexico in Crystal Beach, Destin. This defect, of course, was not discovered until the 2005 hurricane season after two years of horrid storms and nothing drying anywhere. Mold, mold everywhere.
I have worked with my builder and his insurance company to no avail for a year, then as they continued to delay and delay. After I complained to the Okaloosa / Walton builders associatio, I received an e-mail from one of the partners of he building company that I was a back stabbing... and they were never going to step foot on my property again.
At this time, I was forced mitigate my damages as best as I could, and tried to repair the house, financing the entire venture to the tune of several hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I filed a lawsuit over a year ago, which delay after delay has been a common problem.
The court system does not work here. The game is not to do the right thing, but to see who can make the other person go broke first.
In 8 days, I basically lose my home. Not because of non payment, the payments are current, but because now my insurance has non-renewed my policy and there is no one who is wiling insure a damaged non- repaired house. The bank is not wiling to continue to carry a mortgage on a property that is not worth the collaterial and not insured on top of it.
I have spent thousands of dollars trying to repair my home. Nothing seems to work, too many defects, code violations, etc. The mold continues to return for one reason or another, relating to the building defects of the house.
On top of it all, I am allergic to mold and I have now life long debilitating illnesses like diabetes, neuropathy and many more from living in the house as long as I did. This has limited my ability to work long hours and limited my ability to get out of bed each morning welcoming a new day. Sometimes, I don't even want to wake up and feel the constant agony each day. Even my pet was ill. At this time, I can no longer afford to seek expert medical care. It is very expensive to travel to receive care.
I am not independently wealthy and could not pick up and move out of my house and cannot afford to be doing it now. However, also, I cannot afford the financial burden of paying two mortgages, utilities, etc on a house that no one lives in and rent, utilities on a rental house to be healthy in.
Finally at the first part of December I abandoned the house and everything in it, including everything I had assembled as a symbol of my lifelong accomplishments. It is very hard to leave your life behind, very emotional. After 4 months, I am facing financial ruin. It is heartbreaking to me and would be to you if this happened to you.
This has become a very hard time for me because I have worked very hard, and been honest, and upstanding in the community regarding my business and as a resident. I can't believe this is happening to me, or to anyone. And I would not wish this on my worse enemy.
If only my builder would have stepped up to the plate and fixed the problem he caused, this would not have been a problem. Life would have gone on, not depression and an unsure futurel The lifelong problems I am facing possibly would not have been an issue.
But, the builder, who is still building houses, has changed his tune and is denying everything. He has insurance that pays for legal expenses. HOW can you deny a house built against code, especially one with NO MOISTURE BARRIER. I had walls which crumbled in my hands, construted of OSB or a similar material with NO MOISTURE BARRIER. Just vinyl siding nailed right on these walls.
Had they only come up to the plate, admitted the mistake and done what it takes to fix the problem.
Why are people like that anymore. What happened to integrity? What happened to honesty. What happened for caring for others? How can some people sleep at night.
Walking through the grocery story or any store for that matter would be helful.
Thank you for taking your time to listen to this story, but remember. The same thing could happen to you and you may be facing the same uncertain future I am.
I will welcome any comments and answer any questions posted here.
Replies
155Beach FanaticAuthor
Yippie,
I have been a little backed up lately. I have not had time to read this entire thread but do understand you have been ill. Very sorry to hear about this. Was your home constructed without a moisture barrier between the siding and the plywood?
Yes. Part of the home had vinyl siding nailed to plywood with no moisture barrier and part of the home had vinyl siding nailed to an OSB type compressed board with no moisture barrier.
margarita brocolia
Prunes..lotsa prunes.
sorry I couldn't give you rep for this one ... I guess I haven't been spreading enough.----------------------
Yippie,
Regarding the lack of moisture barrier - wouldn't that be easily proved just by having someone official checking what was there or taken out?
It would seem that the builder would have to own up to it (even if it was a subcontractor's shoddy work). It appears so obvious! Or am I missing something?
.
Beach FanaticAuthor
----------------------
Yippie,
Regarding the lack of moisture barrier - wouldn't that be easily proved just by having someone official checking what was there or taken out?
It would seem that the builder would have to own up to it (even if it was a subcontractor's shoddy work). It appears so obvious! Or am I missing something?
.
No, Rita, you are right on the money. We have all the proof, photos, etc. It just so happens this builder did not want to fix the problem unless he was assured HIS insurance company was going to repay him.
It has been said earlier, and I agree, we all make mistakes in business, but it all comes down to how we handle the mistake.
The builder did NOT fix the problem the he caused, but left me with the burden of filing a lawsuit against him. He did not step up to the plate and that is all it would have taken. Stepped up to the plate and corrected the defect and the damage it caused. As I said earlier, I tried to work with his insurance company for over a year before I attempted to have the problem fixed, and financed it myself. And the problem just multiplied as we began to attempt to repair it. It was much worse than anyone thought.
I would not be in the shape I am in now had the builder simply stepped up and said, we made a mistake, let me fix it. Instead, he admitted the mistake by filing claims with his insurance company, but did not correct the problem. He was too concerned with whether his company was going to reimburse him.... his back pocket, instead of having the integrity to step up to the plate.
Now, it is costing everyone a bundle and is wrapped up in court. Of course, they have brought in several subcontractors, when ultimately, IT WAS THEN, AND STILL IS NOW, ULTIMATELY THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS AND HIS SUBCONTRACTORS WORKMANSHIP AND ACTIONS.
Thanks Rita for bringing the obvious of this nightmare to light.
Beach Fanatic
Is this house on a slab?
Is it possible that the plastic pipe used in the sewer system is broken, allowing moisure to wick itself up through the slab? Slabs are supposed to have vapor barriers but have holes all in them from pipes, tears, seams, etc. Conventional foundations allow for a visual inspection.
The photos I looked at seem to imply a constant source of water. It does not rain down there 365 days per year and drier weather tends to make the mold less. So the mold should come and go to some extent. This makes me wonder if the issue is vapor barrier related or not. Hard to diagnose with relatively little information related to the locations, relationship of the mold " hot spots" to the exterior walls, plumbing, etc.
The sewer pipes can be video taped by any number of plumbers for a relatively modest fee. You can easily see faults in most of the system.
BTW, newer construction codes in many areas require that the sewer pipes be supported by the slab using stainless steel hanger so that if the soil under the slab sinks differentially, the pipes will be supported by the slab and do not move relative to the slab. This differential movement is what breaks the pipes (unless they were damaged during construction). Sewer systems in most code areas are required to be smoke tested before the slab is poured but not after. Slab pouring can be brutal on the underground pipes, with insipient faults that may not manifest themselves for years. These faults can come from rising/falling water tables, roots, etc.
I know that you have spent a ton of money on this thing and don't relish the thought of more, but a really good registered professional mechanical engineer might be of some value.
PS: The duct board ducts are notorious for leaking cold wet air. If they leak enough, that could also be a source for the the moisture to fed the mold. FYI, the best system is NO internally insluated suct, use metal duct and seal ALL joints using duct mastic. Duct tape does NOT hold up, I don't care what the installer says. Is this more expensive? Of course, but in a bid situation with good contract documents, 3% of the HVAC cost.
Is it possible that the plastic pipe used in the sewer system is broken, allowing moisure to wick itself up through the slab? Slabs are supposed to have vapor barriers but have holes all in them from pipes, tears, seams, etc. Conventional foundations allow for a visual inspection.
The photos I looked at seem to imply a constant source of water. It does not rain down there 365 days per year and drier weather tends to make the mold less. So the mold should come and go to some extent. This makes me wonder if the issue is vapor barrier related or not. Hard to diagnose with relatively little information related to the locations, relationship of the mold " hot spots" to the exterior walls, plumbing, etc.
The sewer pipes can be video taped by any number of plumbers for a relatively modest fee. You can easily see faults in most of the system.
BTW, newer construction codes in many areas require that the sewer pipes be supported by the slab using stainless steel hanger so that if the soil under the slab sinks differentially, the pipes will be supported by the slab and do not move relative to the slab. This differential movement is what breaks the pipes (unless they were damaged during construction). Sewer systems in most code areas are required to be smoke tested before the slab is poured but not after. Slab pouring can be brutal on the underground pipes, with insipient faults that may not manifest themselves for years. These faults can come from rising/falling water tables, roots, etc.
I know that you have spent a ton of money on this thing and don't relish the thought of more, but a really good registered professional mechanical engineer might be of some value.
PS: The duct board ducts are notorious for leaking cold wet air. If they leak enough, that could also be a source for the the moisture to fed the mold. FYI, the best system is NO internally insluated suct, use metal duct and seal ALL joints using duct mastic. Duct tape does NOT hold up, I don't care what the installer says. Is this more expensive? Of course, but in a bid situation with good contract documents, 3% of the HVAC cost.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
Is this house on a slab?
Is it possible that the plastic pipe used in the sewer system is broken, allowing moisure to wick itself up through the slab? Slabs are supposed to have vapor barriers but have holes all in them from pipes, tears, seams, etc. Conventional foundations allow for a visual inspection.
The photos I looked at seem to imply a constant source of water. It does not rain down there 365 days per year and drier weather tends to make the mold less. So the mold should come and go to some extent. This makes me wonder if the issue is vapor barrier related or not. Hard to diagnose with relatively little information related to the locations, relationship of the mold " hot spots" to the exterior walls, plumbing, etc.
The sewer pipes can be video taped by any number of plumbers for a relatively modest fee. You can easily see faults in most of the system.
BTW, newer construction codes in many areas require that the sewer pipes be supported by the slab using stainless steel hanger so that if the soil under the slab sinks differentially, the pipes will be supported by the slab and do not move relative to the slab. This differential movement is what breaks the pipes (unless they were damaged during construction). Sewer systems in most code areas are required to be smoke tested before the slab is poured but not after. Slab pouring can be brutal on the underground pipes, with insipient faults that may not manifest themselves for years. These faults can come from rising/falling water tables, roots, etc.
I know that you have spent a ton of money on this thing and don't relish the thought of more, but a really good registered professional mechanical engineer might be of some value.
PS: The duct board ducts are notorious for leaking cold wet air. If they leak enough, that could also be a source for the the moisture to fed the mold. FYI, the best system is NO internally insluated suct, use metal duct and seal ALL joints using duct mastic. Duct tape does NOT hold up, I don't care what the installer says. Is this more expensive? Of course, but in a bid situation with good contract documents, 3% of the HVAC cost.
There have been no problems with the slab that we know of and nothing has given me any indication of water rising from anywhere. The first floor is mostly tile in the affected area, carpeting in the back bedrooms. The carpet was replaced and there was no indication of a moisture problem on the slab.
The majority of the problems stemmed from the second floor, south side of the house where there were no moisture barrier. Only vinyl siding nailed up on part plywood and part OSB type board. Additional problems because there was no insulation in the second floor attic. (No AC or plumbing in this attic). The plumbing, sewer, none are run in that location. This house is approximately 1500 feet from the Gulf of Mexico facing South. There is no virtually no protection from the elements in this areal There is a small roof over hang, but it is so high that it offers no protection.
Does this answer your question ? If not PM me and I will answer it as best as I can. I am not a general contractor, but at this point, I know a lot about the building process.
Had the mold started on the first floor then migrated to the second, it would be something to think about, but all the boards on the south side, second and first floor were so warped when we took the siding off from water. And again, no moisture barrier on the SECOND floor and part of the first floor.
There are additional photos, but I hesitate to post them at this point.
Beach Fanatic
Good luck.
Beach Fanatic
Building a home without a moisture board between the siding and plywood is a huge issue. Now you throw in osb board and it just gets worse. IMO, that stuff should be banned on any part of the home that could receive moisture.
This is a real shame. I have always found you to be a very straight up business person and I do hope your builder thinks about things and does the same for you.
Good luck!
This is a real shame. I have always found you to be a very straight up business person and I do hope your builder thinks about things and does the same for you.
Good luck!
Beach FanaticAuthor
Frankly, I am amazed at how long the builder has allowed this to continue. It is obvious that the builder has no conscience. It has become a waiting game to see who is going to run out of money first and we all know, since this is NOT COSTING THE BUILDER A DIME, (as his insurance company pays for his attorneys), they simply don't give a dam#. I am funding all my part by myself. My homeowners insurance does not cover builders defects and by the way people, your's doesn't either[/I], if you have any insurance.
They bring in several subcontractors into the lawsuit which further complicates everything. Granted, I can understand from their insurance companies standpoint to bring in other parties for their sake, but there is nothing that says that I have to continue to be tied up in this mess after they have brought them into the case as a third party complaint. This was been done months ago. This was all they needed to do to go after their workers.
At any time, the builders could go to their attorneys and instruct them to settle this case with me and let me go on with my life without facing anymore financial hardship because now, the other parties are involved and their people can go after what they think their portion is, again, without me being involved any further, ASK ANY ATTORNEY, THEY WILL VALIDATE THIS STATEMENT.
I am not suing any subcontractors, they didn't work for me, they worked for the BUILDER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR WORKMANSHIP. AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE MY HOME WAS BUILT TO CODE
But, I guess they enjoy seeing a fellow business person and a fellow resident suffer because of mistakes they made and they would not come forward and fix.
At least, when I can close my eyes at night with a clear conscience.
What has happened to people? Does anyone care about others anymore or have we become such a cold society that no one cares?
All I can say is beware. BEWARE. And they continue to pull building permits.
THIS COULD HAPPEN TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND IF IT DID YOU WOULD LIVE THE SAME NIGHTMARE.
They bring in several subcontractors into the lawsuit which further complicates everything. Granted, I can understand from their insurance companies standpoint to bring in other parties for their sake, but there is nothing that says that I have to continue to be tied up in this mess after they have brought them into the case as a third party complaint. This was been done months ago. This was all they needed to do to go after their workers.
At any time, the builders could go to their attorneys and instruct them to settle this case with me and let me go on with my life without facing anymore financial hardship because now, the other parties are involved and their people can go after what they think their portion is, again, without me being involved any further, ASK ANY ATTORNEY, THEY WILL VALIDATE THIS STATEMENT.
I am not suing any subcontractors, they didn't work for me, they worked for the BUILDER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR WORKMANSHIP. AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE MY HOME WAS BUILT TO CODE
But, I guess they enjoy seeing a fellow business person and a fellow resident suffer because of mistakes they made and they would not come forward and fix.
At least, when I can close my eyes at night with a clear conscience.
What has happened to people? Does anyone care about others anymore or have we become such a cold society that no one cares?
All I can say is beware. BEWARE. And they continue to pull building permits.
THIS COULD HAPPEN TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND IF IT DID YOU WOULD LIVE THE SAME NIGHTMARE.
Beach Fanatic
Sorry for your trouble. Building inspectors are a good idea before buying. Good ones will even inspect behind siding.
Beach Comber
If only the builder had stepped up to the plate over 2.5 years ago, made the repairs bad workmanship, whoever working under him doesn't matter, I would not be losing my life in 6 days.
Above was posted on the 10th? As SoWalGayBoi pointed out something's very fishy about this whole thread.
Inflamation causes diabetes???
Mold causes excruiating muscle pain???
Voluminous updates
Perhaps Yippie's taking a lot of naive gullable people for a ride to try and bolster his/her case. Every now and then the courts are right.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Sorry for your trouble. Building inspectors are a good idea before buying. Good ones will even inspect behind siding.
It was a NEW home. A BRAND NEW HOME. After going through this, you could not pay me enough money to purchase a home that I was not on site every day.
This makes all builders jobs harder. When you get burned by someone, especially like this, then the good guys get hurt just as bad. It's like that in every business.
"So, Mr. New Builder, I have had a very bad experience with a builder who I thought had a good reputation, but he failed to perform up to his reputation. How do I know you would not do the same?"
Dishonesty hurts everyone involved. That's a fact and as far as I am concerned, all other builders should be pointing their fingers asking my builder why they are making their industry look like thugs.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
Above was posted on the 10th? As SoWalGayBoi pointed out something's very fishy about this whole thread.
Inflamation causes diabetes???
Mold causes excruiating muscle pain???
Voluminous updates
Perhaps Yippie's taking a lot of naive gullable people for a ride to try and bolster his/her case. Every now and then the courts are right.
You got it a little backwards.
Inflammation is a cause of type 2 diabetes.
Mold causes inflammation, especially in people who are allergic to mold.
I don't think muscles were mentioned, but nerve damage which is caused by diabetes.
.....06/17/02
New research presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association shows inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of type 2 diabetes....
Google it.
Edited
Beach Crab
I have multiple allergies but I'm glad the mold is not one. I feel so sorry for you.
How did you discover that you house wasn't built to code? I would have never thought to look under the siding. Did it get damaged in a hurricane or something? Wasn't there a LOT of storms in the early 2000's.
How did you discover that you house wasn't built to code? I would have never thought to look under the siding. Did it get damaged in a hurricane or something? Wasn't there a LOT of storms in the early 2000's.
Edited
Beach Comber
You got it a little backwards.
Inflammation is a cause of type 2 diabetes.
Mold causes inflammation, especially in people who are allergic to mold.
I don't think muscles were mentioned, but nerve damage which is caused by diabetes.
.....06/17/02
New research presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association shows inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of type 2 diabetes....
Google it.
OK, I did Google it. Did you miss this part in the same news release: "He points out that eating induces an inflammatory state in everyone. Normally, inflammation occurs for three or four hours after eating but will then taper off. Though people can't avoid eating, Dr. Dandona says they can avoid what and how much they eat. He says, "If people eat McDonald's-type meals every three or four hours, and many do, they spend most of their time in a pro-inflammatory state."
Have you also been eating for the last 2.5 years? I just think that taking the jump from mold causing inflamation, to inflamation causing diabetes, to diabetes causing neuropathy which causes excruiating pain is a pretty twisted trail. It sounds to me like someone trying to creatively bolster their damages. But that's just my opinion and you did say: "I will welcome any comments and answer any questions posted here."
Beach FanaticAuthor
OK, I did Google it. Did you miss this part in the same news release: "He points out that eating induces an inflammatory state in everyone. Normally, inflammation occurs for three or four hours after eating but will then taper off. Though people can't avoid eating, Dr. Dandona says they can avoid what and how much they eat. He says, "If people eat McDonald's-type meals every three or four hours, and many do, they spend most of their time in a pro-inflammatory state."
Have you also been eating for the last 2.5 years? I just think that taking the jump from mold causing inflamation, to inflamation causing diabetes, to diabetes causing neuropathy which causes excruiating pain is a pretty twisted trail. It sounds to me like someone trying to creatively bolster their damages. But that's just my opinion and you did say: "I will welcome any comments and answer any questions posted here."
And your medical degree is from where? I listen to my physicians. Do you know more than they know?
No, I didn't give up eating the last 2.5 years, but I don't eat McDonald's-type meals every three or four hour either. Now. go google Mold & Inflammation. Maybe add the word allergy to it.
Glad you figured out that muscle pain and neuropathy are not the same thing.
I respect your opinion, but wouldn't it be nice if they had fixed the house that was defectively built, against code and this entire thread would not exist.
Getting back to the basics is doing the right thing. They did not properly build my house and did not step up to the plate, accept their responsibilities and do the right thing.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
I have multiple allergies but I'm glad the mold is not one. I feel so sorry for you.
How did you discover that you house wasn't built to code? I would have never thought to look under the siding. Did it get damaged in a hurricane or something? Wasn't there a LOT of storms in the early 2000's.
I discovered the mold by the SMELL! Horrible smell. When we went to find and repair the mold, we took the siding off and discovered there was no moisture barrier. That is how the moisture got in part of the house that caused the mold.
I notified the builder of the smell, had he sent a crew over to investigate, he would have discovered it. It would have been much better if he had stepped up to the plate at that time instead of hiding behind the insurance company and letting the problem continue to worsen.
Beach Comber
And your medical degree is from where? I listen to my physicians. Do you know more than they know?
No, I didn't give up eating the last 2.5 years, but I don't eat McDonald's-type meals every three or four hour either. Now. go google Mold & Inflammation. Maybe add the word allergy to it.
Glad you figured out that muscle pain and neuropathy are not the same thing.
I respect your opinion, but wouldn't it be nice if they had fixed the house that was defectively built, against code and this entire thread would not exist.
Getting back to the basics is doing the right thing. They did not properly build my house and did not step up to the plate, accept their responsibilities and do the right thing.
OK, my last post on this topic. And I'll be frank. Something's screwy about your posts. For someone who was supposed to be dead 3 days ago, you're a very lively poster. If I had "6 days to live" as you posted 10 days ago, the last thing I would be doing is wasting my last moments on earth posting on SoWal. I like the site, but not that much. Second, I'm pretty certain I know who you are (court records aren't that hard to search). So how about you answer a few questions honestly in this open dialog that you've encouraged. Does your builder have any other dissatisfied clients or are you you the only one? I think he/she's been in business a long time. Seems like by now they would be rallying to your cause and falling over each other to trash him/her. I haven't seen a single other post from a dissatisfied customer, only people defending his/her reputation. Have you ever been involved or are you currently involved in any other litigation? Have you been involved in any disputes with neighbors or city/county/government officials?
Answer honestly, everyone's watching.
SoWal Expert
1st in 59, you are assuming that good contractors don't make mistakes. Everyone, including myself, has made a mistake at some point in time. I don't know the builder or the homeowner, but to think that someone who has been in business for a long time and gets compliments from some people, cannot make a mistake, is bad math. I'm not saying the builder did mess up this particular build, but I am saying that it is possible for even good builders to screw it up on occasion.
Beach Fanatic
I know it may not help but I am truly sorry that you are going through this nightmare right now.
Thank you for this information and if you could, please tell me what to look for if I am going to have a house built in the near future so that I do not face the same type of problems.
Thank you for this information and if you could, please tell me what to look for if I am going to have a house built in the near future so that I do not face the same type of problems.
SoWal Insider
1st in 59, you are assuming that good contractors don't make mistakes. Everyone, including myself, has made a mistake at some point in time. I don't know the builder or the homeowner, but to think that someone who has been in business for a long time and gets compliments from some people, cannot make a mistake, is bad math. I'm not saying the builder did mess up this particular build, but I am saying that it is possible for even good builders to screw it up on occasion.
Everyone and I mean everyone screws up from time to time. IMO, anyone planning to build a home or hire someone for any big job should always ask references about what problems have come up and how they were resolved! Smart & gracious problem solving is the mark of a good builder, contractor, or anything for that matter.
margarita brocolia
1st in 59 - I have followed Yippie's posts through this thread and find him/her to be very straight forward, logical, and seems to have been wronged by her/his builder and his insurance company. I don't see exaggerations or anything that would lead me to believe he/she's not on the up & up. jmo.
.
.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
1st in '59;377206]OK, my last post on this topic. And I'll be frank. Something's screwy about your posts. For someone who was supposed to be dead 3 days ago, you're a very lively poster. If I had "6 days to live" as you posted 10 days ago, the last thing I would be doing is wasting my last moments on earth posting on SoWal. I like the site, but not that much. Second, I'm pretty certain I know who you are (court records aren't that hard to search). So how about you answer a few questions honestly in this open dialog that you've encouraged. Does your builder have any other dissatisfied clients or are you you the only one? I think he/she's been in business a long time. Seems like by now they would be rallying to your cause and falling over each other to trash him/her. I haven't seen a single other post from a dissatisfied customer, only people defending his/her reputation. Have you ever been involved or are you currently involved in any other litigation? Have you been involved in any disputes with neighbors or city/county/government officials?
To begin with, I think you are hanging on a few word a little much aren't you?
I'll answer your questions.
1. Does my builder have any other dissat...... I don't know and I am not concerned if they do. What they have done to me was and is wrong. I am dissatisfied and that is what this discussion is about.
2. I know how long they have been in business and there are a lot of people in this area who have been in business that long and a lot longer. What difference does that make? What they did at my home was wrong and the way they handled the situation, too, is wrong.
3. About the rallying part, are you assuming everyone across the panhandle reads and post on this website?
4. Frankly, I haven't seen that many people defending or deflating their reputation. I have seen a lot of opinions on right and wrong and other comments.
5 & 6. Neither of those questions are really any of your business, but anyone in business or frankly who exist has been involved in a didpute or a few, including the builder. Since court records are not that hard to search, and they are public knowledge, I think you can see disputes from not only myself, but the builder as well. AND MORE THAN LIKELY YOU TOO!
You didn't answer my question on where your medical degree is from? Why don't you answer that question? Answer it honestly, everyone is watching!!!
And I will agree with Smiling Joe, everyone makes mistakes and you assuming that this builder, who you obviously know, has never made a mistake isn't an assumption I would make. You remember what assumption means don't you?
Had the builder stepped up to the plate and accepted responsibility for his "mistake", then we would not be in this discussion right now. And, I probably would not be one of their dissatisfied clients. I would be tickled pink that they admitted their error and had the integrity and ethical principles to correct the problems they caused. Unfortunately, they did not do that and we are still discussing it, aren't we?
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
I know it may not help but I am truly sorry that you are going through this nightmare right now.
Thank you for this information and if you could, please tell me what to look for if I am going to have a house built in the near future so that I do not face the same type of problems.
I would have to agree with the above poster. Talk to previous clients, ask for references, etc.
Unfortunately, when I purchased my home, they had not been in business that long. I was new to the area and frankly stupid enough to "assume" if a house was brand new, it should be built to at least minimum standards.
I have learned a LOT from this nightmare and I hope others have second thoughts too about who they would hire to build their home.
Again, one bad apple upsets the apple cart in any business. Just makes it more difficult for the others in the same business.
Edited
SWGB
As much as I don't want to further this thread I do have to interject some facts.
I am going to be as vauge as possible and am not posting any links to information. Unless the need arises.
The building in question was built in 1994 and purchased in 1995. You are the first and only owner of this building. I am not disputing the fact that a moisture barrier may or may not have been installed or installed improperly. However I do have to ask if anyone else on here with building experience finds it reasonable that a builders liability ends at a certain point?
The building in question went thru the following hurricanes and tropical storms:
1995
Tropical Storm Allison
Tropical Storm Dean
Hurricane Erin (Category 2)
Hurricane Opal (Category 3)
1996
Tropical Storm Josephine
1998
Hurricane Earl (Category 1)
2000
Tropical Storm Helene
2001
Tropical Storm Allison
Tropical Storm Barry
2002
Tropical Storm Arthur
2004
Tropical Storm Bonnie
Hurricane Frances (Category 2)
Hurricane Ivan (Category 3)
1.) When was the mold first discovered?
2.) Even with the moisture barrier would it not seem reasonable that the house would in fact have some water intrusion from the above listed storms?
3.) Are any other houses in the area/neighborhood affected?
4.) When the photographed items (drywall, duct work, etc.) were removed from the house were they wet and was there evidence of current water intrusion?
I understand a builders overall liability, however I also understand any person/business entity protecting themselves. In this instance I believe that the builder is doing the correct legal action to file with his insurance company against the subcontractor who most likely was responsible for the lack of moisture barrier.
I am going to be as vauge as possible and am not posting any links to information. Unless the need arises.
The building in question was built in 1994 and purchased in 1995. You are the first and only owner of this building. I am not disputing the fact that a moisture barrier may or may not have been installed or installed improperly. However I do have to ask if anyone else on here with building experience finds it reasonable that a builders liability ends at a certain point?
The building in question went thru the following hurricanes and tropical storms:
1995
Tropical Storm Allison
Tropical Storm Dean
Hurricane Erin (Category 2)
Hurricane Opal (Category 3)
1996
Tropical Storm Josephine
1998
Hurricane Earl (Category 1)
2000
Tropical Storm Helene
2001
Tropical Storm Allison
Tropical Storm Barry
2002
Tropical Storm Arthur
2004
Tropical Storm Bonnie
Hurricane Frances (Category 2)
Hurricane Ivan (Category 3)
1.) When was the mold first discovered?
2.) Even with the moisture barrier would it not seem reasonable that the house would in fact have some water intrusion from the above listed storms?
3.) Are any other houses in the area/neighborhood affected?
4.) When the photographed items (drywall, duct work, etc.) were removed from the house were they wet and was there evidence of current water intrusion?
I understand a builders overall liability, however I also understand any person/business entity protecting themselves. In this instance I believe that the builder is doing the correct legal action to file with his insurance company against the subcontractor who most likely was responsible for the lack of moisture barrier.
SoWal Expert
In this instance I believe that the builder is doing the correct legal action to file with his insurance company against the subcontractor who most likely was responsible for the lack of moisture barrier.
Sounds like you are very familiar with this case. Maybe too familiar. If the general contractor is going after the subcontractor, I'd guess that he too is liable for the work. He can delegate jobs, but he cannot delegate responsibility. If the sub failed to put on the vapor barrier on parts of the home, the Gen. Contractor should go after him, but that shouldn't stop the home owner from pursuing action against the Gen Contractor. The General Contractor is the one who was paid for building the home. That sounds pretty cut and dry from an outside point of view.
For the record, I have family and friends in the construction business, and I am not picking on builders. Just telling you how I see it.
BTW, I know of plenty of homes in this area which also weathered those storms without these problems of mold.
Edited
Thread locked
This conversation is read-only until a moderator unlocks it.