Originally Posted By: Debbie Slocombe This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
We built our home 11 months ago. We live in Dallas, Texas. We are on expansive clay. What is your opinion? We are on highest lot in area with good drainage. Were lots of trees on lot when we built primarily where we see what we call sinking. Home inspector suggested calling in a SE. Opinions please.
Originally Posted By: jgibbs This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I believe my first call would be to the builder. Otherwise a good foundation engineer would be a good choice. If you are in north Dallas I can recommend a great engineer in Allen. Call me at 972-822-7898 if you would like his number.
Originally Posted By: mmasek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Call an engineer and have them evaluate and prepare a plan to correct this situation, and an estimate of cost if possible. Call the builder and have them see what is happening to your house.
Originally Posted By: rwashington This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I believe your builder.What is their reaction? Action? Inaction? In Texas, the builder is required to warrant the structural integrity of your home for a minimum of 10 years.
Originally Posted By: Debbie Slocombe This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thank you so much for all of your input. We had an inspector come out because we are at our 12 month warranty stage and wanted to get another professional’s opinion on everything before our warranty period ran out. The company that built our home has been pretty good about fixing all warranty issues. (Including replacing about 2200 sq. ft. of our hand scraped hardwood flooring after a water leak destroyed them.) So that being said we are hoping that they will do the right thing with the structural issues that we are bringing to their attention.
Based on your experience does it look serious? Also, I know you are not realtors, but will it affect the resale value of our home even when corrected since we will have to disclose foundation repair. The reason I ask is that the builder has offered to buy back another house in the neigborhood and we really don't know what to do if that becomes an issue. We love our home, but have had plumbing (flood downstairs due to nail being shot through hot water pipe with nail gun, and toilets were not seated correctly on tile upstairs resulting in a leak through ceiling downstairs, wiring in circuit box 4 neutral wires had insulation melted off, electrition said all circuits needed at least half a turn with a screwdriver and was surprised we didn't have problems before hand, and now the structural.)
Sorry it's long...but your opinions have really helped .
Originally Posted By: Matthew T. Gray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Deb-
To answer your question, yes, I do consider the cracking to be "serious." The cracking in the photos is unusual for a home less than a year old. Seek the advice of a good structural engineer.
Originally Posted By: mbazzo This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
this is a structrual issue that needs to be addressed by a qualified structural engineer that is familair with the soil conditions in your area, with the engineers report in hand I would contact the builder to discuss what corrective actions he plans to take. from reading your last post, it sounds to me as if your builder was using less then qualified tradesman in many phases of construction and it may help to find out what was wrong with the home he bought back from the other homeowners.