If ever a builder used Murphy's Law ("WHATEVER CAN GO WRONG, WILL GO WRONG") as their principle guide for constructing a house, it would have to be this one.

Probably the biggest mistake you can make is have this builder customize your home. We realized this when they could not even get the footings in correctly. From there it just got worse and we had to be present practically every day of this pitiful construction.

Here is a list of some of the errors that only we caught during the construction of our home because they had absolutely no site supervision and for that matter no common sense either.

[b]1.Our foundation wall is nine feet high, 8 foot poured concrete and 1 foot 2 X 4 knee wall on top This required by building code, an engineered lateral support wall prior to back filling and framing. The builder ignored the code and completely back filled the foundation up to 7 feet high, then completely framed the 3100 sq. ft. structure. As you can imagine this placed extreme loads on this flimsy knee wall where even the foundation anchor bolts were never tightened down to support it. The load caused the 12 inch knee wall to act like a hinge and cantilevered outward 2 inches out of plumb! The extreme load caused the concrete wall to move 2 inches inward and of course that much movement has produced sloping floors. All this resulted initially in 2 large mirror image 9 foot long diagonal leaking structural cracks at each end of the foundation. Then another structural crack at a corner of two walls that should be the strongest part of the wall. This foundation even with a support wall continues to crack and leak over 3 years later.

2. Footings installed incorrectly with front entrance footing inset 3 feet to far into house.

3. No footing for fireplace.

4. Foundation wall poured with incorrect window placements.

5. The foundation wall poured incorrectly, garage entrance not centred, have brick fill in on one side not patched and parged

6. Drains laid incorrectly, not routed to the revised plumbing stack locations. Even though they were made aware they decided to run drain from the ensuite bathroom along the basement ceiling for 14 feet adding multiple fittings to reach the standard plan location.

7. Sump pump pit placed in wrong location, not to plan, then moved to a second incorrect location in the path of a entranceway to the furnace area. The builder obviously can't count and stated the sump was moved 3 times. Anyone with a brain would know that the original sump location is not considered as being a moved location.

8. Sump pump motor installed so low the sump cover cannot be removed. Of course a person with reasonable intelligence would have measured the pipe to ensure the required clearance space. Unfortunately for us this kind of rational thinking must have been an option during the construction of our house we were not made aware of.

9. Water meter placed in wrong location, in the path of a entranceway. Moved over to side wall but connections were not inspected by the city as required. Water leaking through the concrete patch.

10. Basement floor not poured in time, delayed installation of 2X6 perimeter lateral stud wall to support 9' high basement causing major foundation leaking cracks.

11. Installed 2X6 lateral support wall in basement cold cellar not required.

12. Supply air heat run missing in basement.

13. Several basement windows bowing in, not operating properly, will not open, can’t remove some windowpanes.

14. Builder omitted our selected accent brick; we had to correct it with bricklayers.

15. Bricklayers laid 200 sq. ft. of wrong brick (brown & black random) on front & east wall and surrounded with my red brick, we had to complain to get it torn down.

16. Bricklayers installed quoined corner below porch slab, does not match up with anything.

17. Two-second floor downspouts mounted crooked on front wall, all others appear to be straight.

18. Electrical outlet installed in garage ceiling for door opener not on separate circuit.

19. Electrical outlet for central vacuum installed 12 feet from vac location.

20. Railing for stairs from garage to laundry room made out of rough timber, splinters all over. Wouldn’t use this wood for anything let alone a handrail.

21. Multiple main floor framing errors.

22. Main floor office/laundry room partition wall out of position by 1.5'.

23. Powder room partition wall out of position by 1.5'.

24. Front living room windows framed off centre by 6".

25. Main floor office window framed too large and 2' off centre.

26. Kitchen window framed too large.

27. Kitchen floor uneven in several locations, I had to use self-levelling cement to correct when installing custom tile.

28. Pass thru in family room wall framed 1' off centre.

29. Fireplace opening framed off centre.

30. Staircase not framed for being open to basement.

31. No proper support in stud wall to secure end of staircase railing.

32. Cuts in hallway, dining room and kitchen sub floor not patched, flooring laid over.

33. Thermostat placed in small main floor office room where it is exposed to direct sunlight creating above average temperatures of 3 degrees or more tricking furnace into not running for several hours.

34. Supply air vent missing on main floor.

35. Main floor and basement stairs not up to code.

36. Flooring installed to early, ruined by trades, builder had to rip up and replace 640 sq. ft. of damaged flooring.

37. Multiple 2nd floor framing errors.

38. No proper support in stud wall to secure end of staircase railing, railing loose, moves 8” side to side.

39. Semi ensuite doorway not framed for main bathroom.

40. Sitting room archway not framed.

41. Dressing room archway not framed.

42. No support in stud walls for master ensuite pedestal sinks; has been corrected but builder has refused to install fixtures and faucets contracted for to this day, 3 years later.

43. Master ensuite window framed off centre.

44. Upper hallway window framed too low on wall.

45. Cut in dressing room sub floor not patched, carpeted over.

46. Only single water supply and drain installed for double sink vanity in main bath.

47. Two vanity lights wired off centre based on incorrect vanity length in main bath.

48. Switches for entrance to master bedroom closet area located in room behind swinging door, not as per our plan.

49. Two bathrooms have exhaust vents directing air back at opening windows cause major icing on windows in winter.

50. Return air vent in 2nd floor bedroom not connected to return air system.

51. Return air vent in 2nd floor hallway not connected to return air system.

52. Drywall was installed on 2nd floor before insulation was inspected, these covered areas have never been inspected.

53. Mechanical chase provided for the shortest heat run (15 feet with 1 elbow) to 2nd floor dressing room was ignored. The duct was routed the longest possible route adding 9 feet of additional duct and 2 more elbows. This area is now 5 F colder than master bedroom.

54. Main bathroom tile floor not to code, tile cracking.

55. Ensuite bathroom tile floor bot to code. The builder stated to city inspector all their tile floors laid this way. Massive building code violations resulting from this. Order to comply issued for my house but the building department is not dislosing any information to other affected home owners.

56. Fireplace firebox not centred in mantle space, upgraded granite surround not evenly applied.

57. Builder had their labourers deliver our upgraded water heater to the house. No stairs were available at this time of construction and when they were lifting it up through the garage entrance into the house, they dropped the water heater 4 feet onto garage floor.


These are careless mistakes and only the most incompetent of builders would let this happen. [/size]

I bought a "brand new home" which was supposedly built in a "workmanlike manner" according to TARION. When I went to the City for an explanation why there were more than 200 building code violations in my house I was told it's "Buyers Beware". What crock, I was not buying a car. I don't know what City you live in but it's time we question the City's inspectors. It was Bill 124 which gave the responsibility of inspectors to the cities. This has to change. We should all get together and ask Queen's Park to change this ACT. We would be better served if Builders hired their inspectors and produce reports at 4 level of construction and then the City issue an occupancy permit only on receipt of an official sealed report by a professional engineer. Cities would save millions on wages and overhead costs (no more little white vans parked at Tim Hortons)and taxpayers as well as homebuyers would be happy. I heard that a local consciencous big builder is already doing just that. So there is hope for us after all.

I live in Barrie, where are you? The city inspectors I dealt with are the most incompetent I have ever seen. They missed 25 health and safety violations we know of. There of course are many other violations but the city states they only check about 5%, focusing on health and safety issues! If this is there idea of focus I would hate to see what would happen if they are distracted. The municipality is however responsible under the act for enforcing all code violations whether they see them or they are brought to their attention. Orders to comply must be issued on valid violations and if they are not then the city is as liable If they issue an order but due not enforce it again they are liable as the builder is in court.

We know a couple who live in Barry and are having the new home syndrome just like you and us. Their case is horrendous and there getting nowhere fast. I live in the National Capital Region and after nearly 3 years we continue to find code violations and counting, 260 range, only 40% have been fixed. We are still fighting like the devil in holy water. With the builder, the City and TARION. We know the only way new home buyers will be protected is if the Warranty Program is under the Ombudsman in Ontario. It's election time. Find out what those politicians are going to do to help us.

New Home Victim wrote:
If ever a builder used Murphy's Law ("WHATEVER CAN GO WRONG, WILL GO WRONG") as their principle guide for constructing a house, it would have to be this one.

Probably the biggest mistake you can make is have this builder customize your home. We realized this when they could not even get the footings in correctly. From there it just got worse and we had to be present practically every day of this pitiful construction.

Here is a list of some of the errors that only we caught during the construction of our home because they had absolutely no site supervision and for that matter no common sense either.

[b]1.Our foundation wall is nine feet high, 8 foot poured concrete and 1 foot 2 X 4 knee wall on top This required by building code an engineered lateral support wall prior to back filling and framing. The builder ignored the code and completely back filled the foundation up to 7 feet high, then completely framed the 3100 sq. ft. structure. As you can imagine this placed extreme loads on this flimsy knee wall where even the foundation anchor bolts were never tightened down to support it. The load caused the 12 inch knee wall to act like a hinge and cantilevered outward 2 inches out of plumb! The extreme load caused the concrete wall to move 2 inches inward and Of course that much movement has produced sloping floors. All this resulted initially in 2 large mirror image 9 foot long diagonal leaking structural cracks at each end of the foundation. Then another structural crack at a corner of two walls that should be the strongest part of the wall. This foundation even with a support wall continues to crack and leak over 3 years later.

2. Footings installed incorrectly with front entrance footing inset 3 feet to far into house.

3. No footing for fireplace.

4. Foundation wall poured with incorrect window placements.

5. The foundation wall poured incorrectly, garage entrance not centred, have brick fill in on one side not patched and parged

6. Drains laid incorrectly, not routed to the revised plumbing stack locations. Even though they were made aware they decided to run drain from the ensuite bathroom along the basement ceiling for 14 feet adding multiple fittings to reach the standard plan location.

7. Sump pump pit placed in wrong location, not to plan, then moved to a second incorrect location in the path of a entranceway to the furnace area. The builder obviously can't count and stated the sump was moved 3 times. Anyone with a brain would know that the original sump location is not considered as being a moved location.

8. Sump pump motor installed so low the sump cover cannot be removed. Of course a person with reasonable intelligence would have measured the pipe to ensure the required clearance space. Unfortunately for us this kind of rational thinking must have been an option during the construction of our house we were not made aware of.

9. Water meter placed in wrong location, in the path of a entranceway. Moved over to side wall but connections were not inspected by the city as required. Water leaking through the concrete patch.

10. Basement floor not poured in time, delayed installation of 2X6 perimeter lateral stud wall to support 9' high basement causing major foundation leaking cracks.

11. Installed 2X6 lateral support wall in basement cold cellar not required.

12. Supply air heat run missing in basement.

13. Several basement windows bowing in, not operating properly, will not open, can’t remove some windowpanes.

14. Builder omitted our selected accent brick; we had to correct it with bricklayers.

15. Bricklayers laid 200 sq. ft. of wrong brick (brown & black random) on front & east wall and surrounded with my red brick, we had to complain to get it torn down.

16. Bricklayers installed quoined corner below porch slab, does not match up with anything.

17. Two-second floor downspouts mounted crooked on front wall, all others appear to be straight.

18. Electrical outlet installed in garage ceiling for door opener not on separate circuit.

19. Electrical outlet for central vacuum installed 12 feet from vac location.

20. Railing for stairs from garage to laundry room made out of rough timber, splinters all over. Wouldn’t use this wood for anything let alone a handrail.

21. Multiple main floor framing errors.

22. Main floor office/laundry room partition wall out of position by 1.5'.

23. Powder room partition wall out of position by 1.5'.

24. Front living room windows framed off centre by 6".

25. Main floor office window framed too large and 2' off centre.

26. Kitchen window framed too large.

27. Kitchen floor uneven in several locations, I had to use self-levelling cement to correct when installing custom tile.

28. Pass thru in family room wall framed 1' off centre.

29. Fireplace opening framed off centre.

30. Staircase not framed for being open to basement.

31. No proper support in stud wall to secure end of staircase railing.

32. Cuts in hallway, dining room and kitchen sub floor not patched, flooring laid over.

33. Thermostat placed in small main floor office room where it is exposed to direct sunlight creating above average temperatures of 3 degrees or more tricking furnace into not running for several hours.

34. Supply air vent missing on main floor.

35. Main floor and basement stairs not up to code.

36. Flooring installed to early, ruined by trades, builder had to rip up and replace 640 sq. ft. of damaged flooring.

37. Multiple 2nd floor framing errors.

38. No proper support in stud wall to secure end of staircase railing, railing loose, moves 8” side to side.

39. Semi ensuite doorway not framed for main bathroom.

40. Sitting room archway not framed.

41. Dressing room archway not framed.

42. No support in stud walls for master ensuite pedestal sinks; has been corrected but builder has refused to install fixtures and faucets contracted for to this day, 3 years later.

43. Master ensuite window framed off centre.

44. Upper hallway window framed too low on wall.

45. Cut in dressing room sub floor not patched, carpeted over.

46. Only single water supply and drain installed for double sink vanity in main bath.

47. Two vanity lights wired off centre based on incorrect vanity length in main bath.

48. Switches for entrance to master bedroom closet area located in room behind swinging door, not as per our plan.

49. Two bathrooms have exhaust vents directing air back at opening windows cause major icing on windows in winter.

50. Return air vent in 2nd floor bedroom not connected to return air system.

51. Return air vent in 2nd floor hallway not connected to return air system.

52. Drywall was installed on 2nd floor before insulation was inspected, these covered areas have never been inspected.

53. Mechanical chase provided for the shortest heat run (15 feet with 1 elbow) to 2nd floor dressing room was ignored. The duct was routed the longest possible route adding 9 feet of additional duct and 2 more elbows. This area is now 5 F colder than master bedroom.

54. Main bathroom tile floor not to code, tile cracking.

55. Ensuite bathroom tile floor bot to code. The builder stated to city inspector all their tile floors laid this way. Massive building code violations resulting from this. Order to comply issued for my house but the building department is not dislosing any information to other affected home owners.

56. Fireplace firebox not centred in mantle space, upgraded granite surround not evenly applied.

57. Builder had their labourers deliver our upgraded water heater to the house. No stairs were available at this time of construction and when they were lifting it up through the garage entrance into the house, they dropped the water heater 4 feet onto garage floor.


These are careless mistakes and only the most incompetent of builders would let this happen. [/size]

New Home Victim wrote:
New Home Victim wrote:
If ever a builder used Murphy's Law ("WHATEVER CAN GO WRONG, WILL GO WRONG") as their principle guide for constructing a house, it would have to be this one.

Probably the biggest mistake you can make is have this builder customize your home. We realized this when they could not even get the footings in correctly. From there it just got worse and we had to be present practically every day of this pitiful construction.

Here is a list of some of the errors that only we caught during the construction of our home because they had absolutely no site supervision and for that matter no common sense either.

[b]1.Our foundation wall is nine feet high, 8 foot poured concrete and 1 foot 2 X 4 knee wall on top This required by building code an engineered lateral support wall prior to back filling and framing. The builder ignored the code and completely back filled the foundation up to 7 feet high, then completely framed the 3100 sq. ft. structure. As you can imagine this placed extreme loads on this flimsy knee wall where even the foundation anchor bolts were never tightened down to support it. The load caused the 12 inch knee wall to act like a hinge and cantilevered outward 2 inches out of plumb! The extreme load caused the concrete wall to move 2 inches inward and Of course that much movement has produced sloping floors. All this resulted initially in 2 large mirror image 9 foot long diagonal leaking structural cracks at each end of the foundation. Then another structural crack at a corner of two walls that should be the strongest part of the wall. This foundation even with a support wall continues to crack and leak over 3 years later.

2. Footings installed incorrectly with front entrance footing inset 3 feet to far into house.

3. No footing for fireplace.

4. Foundation wall poured with incorrect window placements.

5. The foundation wall poured incorrectly, garage entrance not centred, have brick fill in on one side not patched and parged

6. Drains laid incorrectly, not routed to the revised plumbing stack locations. Even though they were made aware they decided to run drain from the ensuite bathroom along the basement ceiling for 14 feet adding multiple fittings to reach the standard plan location.

7. Sump pump pit placed in wrong location, not to plan, then moved to a second incorrect location in the path of a entranceway to the furnace area. The builder obviously can't count and stated the sump was moved 3 times. Anyone with a brain would know that the original sump location is not considered as being a moved location.

8. Sump pump motor installed so low the sump cover cannot be removed. Of course a person with reasonable intelligence would have measured the pipe to ensure the required clearance space. Unfortunately for us this kind of rational thinking must have been an option during the construction of our house we were not made aware of.

9. Water meter placed in wrong location, in the path of a entranceway. Moved over to side wall but connections were not inspected by the city as required. Water leaking through the concrete patch.

10. Basement floor not poured in time, delayed installation of 2X6 perimeter lateral stud wall to support 9' high basement causing major foundation leaking cracks.

11. Installed 2X6 lateral support wall in basement cold cellar not required.

12. Supply air heat run missing in basement.

13. Several basement windows bowing in, not operating properly, will not open, can’t remove some windowpanes.

14. Builder omitted our selected accent brick; we had to correct it with bricklayers.

15. Bricklayers laid 200 sq. ft. of wrong brick (brown & black random) on front & east wall and surrounded with my red brick, we had to complain to get it torn down.

16. Bricklayers installed quoined corner below porch slab, does not match up with anything.

17. Two-second floor downspouts mounted crooked on front wall, all others appear to be straight.

18. Electrical outlet installed in garage ceiling for door opener not on separate circuit.

19. Electrical outlet for central vacuum installed 12 feet from vac location.

20. Railing for stairs from garage to laundry room made out of rough timber, splinters all over. Wouldn’t use this wood for anything let alone a handrail.

21. Multiple main floor framing errors.

22. Main floor office/laundry room partition wall out of position by 1.5'.

23. Powder room partition wall out of position by 1.5'.

24. Front living room windows framed off centre by 6".

25. Main floor office window framed too large and 2' off centre.

26. Kitchen window framed too large.

27. Kitchen floor uneven in several locations, I had to use self-levelling cement to correct when installing custom tile.

28. Pass thru in family room wall framed 1' off centre.

29. Fireplace opening framed off centre.

30. Staircase not framed for being open to basement.

31. No proper support in stud wall to secure end of staircase railing.

32. Cuts in hallway, dining room and kitchen sub floor not patched, flooring laid over.

33. Thermostat placed in small main floor office room where it is exposed to direct sunlight creating above average temperatures of 3 degrees or more tricking furnace into not running for several hours.

34. Supply air vent missing on main floor.

35. Main floor and basement stairs not up to code.

36. Flooring installed to early, ruined by trades, builder had to rip up and replace 640 sq. ft. of damaged flooring.

37. Multiple 2nd floor framing errors.

38. No proper support in stud wall to secure end of staircase railing, railing loose, moves 8” side to side.

39. Semi ensuite doorway not framed for main bathroom.

40. Sitting room archway not framed.

41. Dressing room archway not framed.

42. No support in stud walls for master ensuite pedestal sinks; has been corrected but builder has refused to install fixtures and faucets contracted for to this day, 3 years later.

43. Master ensuite window framed off centre.

44. Upper hallway window framed too low on wall.

45. Cut in dressing room sub floor not patched, carpeted over.

46. Only single water supply and drain installed for double sink vanity in main bath.

47. Two vanity lights wired off centre based on incorrect vanity length in main bath.

48. Switches for entrance to master bedroom closet area located in room behind swinging door, not as per our plan.

49. Two bathrooms have exhaust vents directing air back at opening windows cause major icing on windows in winter.

50. Return air vent in 2nd floor bedroom not connected to return air system.

51. Return air vent in 2nd floor hallway not connected to return air system.

52. Drywall was installed on 2nd floor before insulation was inspected, these covered areas have never been inspected.

53. Mechanical chase provided for the shortest heat run (15 feet with 1 elbow) to 2nd floor dressing room was ignored. The duct was routed the longest possible route adding 9 feet of additional duct and 2 more elbows. This area is now 5 F colder than master bedroom.

54. Main bathroom tile floor not to code, tile cracking.

55. Ensuite bathroom tile floor bot to code. The builder stated to city inspector all their tile floors laid this way. Massive building code violations resulting from this. Order to comply issued for my house but the building department is not dislosing any information to other affected home owners.

56. Fireplace firebox not centred in mantle space, upgraded granite surround not evenly applied.

57. Builder had their labourers deliver our upgraded water heater to the house. No stairs were available at this time of construction and when they were lifting it up through the garage entrance into the house, they dropped the water heater 4 feet onto garage floor.


These are careless mistakes and only the most incompetent of builders would let this happen. [/size]