Know What You Want Before you buy from this builder ...Be Careful
This builder says he builds a quality home....but if you have a problem...all he says is, "it meets the code"...the minimum standard. We had paid extra for bigger windows in an area of the basement where we were going to put a family room and a basement....he puts the floor drain in the bedroom...about 45' from the sump and furnace area.If the sump overflows, it, the water has to run across the total length of the basement. The PEX plumbing is a mess and not installed according to the manufacturer's installation instruction....the factory rep (IPEX) couldn't believe how bad the potable PEX Plumbing was installed. The PEX is colour coded, and I have red pipes running into blue pipes, fittings that are not installed right ...some plastic ones with undo stress on them ...they could fail anytime.
When they were sealing the drywall, the painter sprayed, and all the interior window trim (vinyl) were covered by overspray. It took them six weeks to get back in and get to clean off the overspray off the vinyl trim, the painter used a scouring pad and removed the overspray along with the smooth factory finish off the vinyl trim ...what a mess they left. Imagine if you were buying a new truck, or auto and the dealer oversprayed the new vehicle, and then when you complained ...he used a scouring pad on the finish ...and implied that it will be OK. I really don't think this builder has a clue to what he is doing.
We asked for safety grab bars in the bathtub and shower...they were, the tub and shower were not ordered with the reinforced backs from the factory to attach the grab bars....full vinyl tub and shower, The tub manufacturer says if safety grab bars are installed, or holes made in the unit...the warranty is void. When the plumber installed the shower fixture in the shower, he put it towards the rear off centre...I ask him why? ...his answer there was a stud in the way. My whole back basement wall has 55' of sewer ABS across it, they were too lazy to dig it in before basement floor was poured. I had water on my floor after I moved in, and when investigating behind the insulated wall I found a crack where water had leaked .... he wouldn't fix the crack as per the structure rules. All he did was give me an extra two year warranty that if it leaked again...he states he will fix it. On the Tarion site, it says if a wall or floor crack in the cement "has" leaked...it must be repaired. The crack was there before they studded and insulated the basement wall. "New Correction", the wall leaked again, and I contacted the builder, and within a week, the concrete wall repair contractor was there to fix it. He used a 2 part epoxy resin
The baseboard trim was never cleaned or sanded before painting...... it was like rough sand paper after been painted..... Quality was not in their vocabulary
A neighbours house which has a main arched window...it is off centre from the roof peak. When you are purchasing the home...they don't offer any help...if you don't ask...they will not reccomend any upgrades. He never told the purchasers of the ravine lots about sidewalks going across their lawns and so on and so ...I would never reccommend this builder to anyone.
About the county building inspectors, including the Chief Inspector who states, "he is the one who interpids the Building Code in Norfolk County" when I showed him faults with the plumbing waste and potable water systems. He told me he dosen't care what the Ministry of Housing says about the code. I have an email from the engineer who handles Part 7 of the Building Code (plumbing) at the Ministry of Housing, who states that PEX plumbing is to be installed as to the Manufacturer's Installation Instructions. The builder, the plumbing contractor, and the county building inspectors disagree. So beware of the county inspectors ...they are not looking after your interest.
Right now all the complaints are in the hands of a local lawyer. The hardest part about trying to get comments from professional people (plumbers etc) thy don't want to get involved because it could affect their work by the building inspectors.
This was going to be our last home, and it is the first one we had built. We are both in our 70's ...and the whole thing just makes me sick. I will never refer this builder to anyone...even my worse enemy. If anyone would like to inspect and see my house ...leave a message...you would be welcomed.
