This is another post of the never-ending complaints home inspectors have about common sense.
This is a rear porch which was installed recently on a house I inspected last fall. It was not put on by the builder, but a custom porch company, well known in the area.
People often ask me if this or that is a good builder or remodeling company. My answer is usually something like, "Well, it depends on the foreman on site everyday, and the crew."
They called me long after they started having problems with this porch. The problems started even before the floor was stained and finished.
They chose a beautiful, virgin mahogany floor. It is a top of the line product. But it was installed when it was very cold. But it was left unprotected by the plastic you see now - for weeks. It was snowed on and rained on and water froze on it. When the company came to stain it, the stain would not hold. So they stained it again. Then they put an exterior poly finish on it which bubbled. They sanded the bubbles off and re-coated just those spots! So, obviously, the finish looked quite erratic. The homeowners have known me for years from three past inspections. They called. Whatever could be the problem? I could almost tell them over the phone, sight unseen. But I went over to see it anyway.
Well, the flooring wasn't the only problem! There were many issues with just how the porch was constructed. For one example, in the photo above, you can see that a downspout drains right beside the bottom of the stairs. That downspout represents about 2,000 square feet of rain water from the main house and porch. Look closely. The stair case is already sinking on the lower right side. Wood is cracking as the assembly moves. But I digress.
They did not dream that there were any of the other issues that I came up with on my inspection. They were interested only in the flooring. It was cupping, warping, water stained, had erratic coats of colored stain and poly, and it was separating as some of the flooring swelled and some shrank. My moisture meter registered everywhere from 37% in the center to 89% near the screens, and this on a sunny day. It goes on and on.
The company was called to come and fill some holes and dings that they had created during installation. The two photos below show what color they selected to fill the holes. It is a mahogany floor - they chose white putty!
In addition to white putty, the "repair" crew got something on their shoes. They tracked it all over the floor. I don't know what it is, but this is how they left it. It dried and is not coming off easily.
Further, in the photo to the right, they filled nail holes (how nail holes got there I don't know) and did not even attempt to clean the residual off the floor but left it to dry.
I know there are perhaps a couple of dozen putty colors, and crayons, available to try to match to the various colors of flooring. A careful floor professional would take the time to do that before the finish coat, especially when the floor costs as much as this one. For all I know, that stuff above is wall spackle! After they were done, they left many, many "repaired" spots in the condition you see above!
What do you say? What can you say?
I sent them my letter of inspection details. They were horrified when they saw I had 18 inspection concerns in addition to the floor problems. They called me to say the porch company is giving them a hard time about the floor! Giving THEM a hard time? Something tells me this isn't the last time I will be called upon to offer my findings and opinions as to this porch!
My recommendation: Even if a remodeling company is well known in your area, ask them for plans and a flow chart that shows the order that things will be done in. Then have that flow chart reviewed by a professional to determine if it is logical and makes sense. Common sense is often very uncommon.
Jay,
Wow this is unbelievable! I would be all over this remolding company to make it right., even if it meant them to redo the whole project!
Jay, You just can't make these stories up and with pictures the proof is in the pudding. I don't envy you your job!
Dorie - I have a feeling they will be making it right, one way or the other.
Barb - My job is very fun. The problems people face, as brought on by other people, are not!
Can we assume that you did not reccomend this construction company? Maybe they should have called you before and during installation.
Margaret - Woulda, coulda, shoulda... I would not recommend them now!
Sounds like they have a construction claim on their hands. I hope they didn't sign away their rights in the construction contract!
I think many decks and porches wouldn't pass inspection. I always get nervous if there are too many people on a deck. Or dancing on a deck.
Jay, thanks for the fascinating post! I can't emphasize enough to my Buyers how important an inspection is, even on new construction! Your post just drives the point home!
Jay,
That is a good motto that, unfortunately, seems to be seldom followed.
We are being told to be sure permits were pulled for additions and major remodels when we list houses. Wonder if the porch builders had permits?
Lanna - I haven't read their contract. Not my purview!
Russ - I don't know if the county has come back for their final yet or not. Probably not. The porch is yet unfinished.
Teresa - You should know that I have more problems on new construction than old...
Steve - no motto is worth its salt if not followed! Be Prepared...
Team Honeycutt - Permits would not have caught a lot of this. But the county certainly would not be interested in whether or not the flooring was finished properly, or that the finish carpentry inside was split here and there, or that the gutter was not inclined properly toward the downspout (not visible in the picture), or a lot of other things. They are primarily interested in seeing that the porch looks like the drawing they approved! And that it hasn't fallen down before they come over...
Jay it sure seems like a waste of perfectly good mahogany to me:)
Jay, shame you can't do more than advise your client. The company should be made to pay. I really hate being put into those situations.
Charlie - cover it up, or finish it right away. Dont' let it sit there for weeks and soak in the weather! It is a beautiful floor, just a mess at this point. They called a flooring expert who told them the same things I did.
Jack - the company admits there are problems by continuing to send people out to "repair" things. Funny, all this family wants is a new floor, properly installed, which I think they deserve. The company gets its back up, as most do, even though they can see how bad the floor is. The company charged them $3500 for the floor installation. I don't know what the materials cost.
Another issue is my letter identifying other problems too. That apparently really made the company mad! For example, one thing they did was bump a gas fireplace exhaust (you know the one, a protruding, round screened dealie that sticks straight out about 12"). Doing so created a crack and the vinyl siding has begun to melt at the crack. The company of course will say they did not bump it. When I got there, instructions for poly-sealing the floor and tools were laying on top of that metal exhaust. They had spilled so much poly on the instructions that they had been soaked with it, were wrapped around and stuck to the exhaust screen and the tools were stuck to the instructions!! So you see how careful this company was...
Another indicator of their careful nature would be the footprints and hammer dings on and nail holes (nail holes !!) through the flooring.
When is the avatar coming out with the two laughing dogs?
Oh Jay...I agree with Charlie...fine wood should be revered. It is such a shame to see "crap-entry" saved by putty and caulk and painted over to fool people into thinking these people have craft...but to desecrate a fine wood....
Bill - it's interesting that after I went to that house for the porch review, I went to a scheduled inspection nearby on a house built in 1917. Their front porch, exposed to the weather, was properly-finished mahogany and old (I don't know how old, but old) and in very beautiful condition! It is possible to install it correctly!