Any home builders here? New house warranty questions need help!

[Sam T]

Hey guys looking for some help from knowledgeable homebuilders here. I purchased a new construction home here on the Laguna in Corpus Christi. It is an elevated home. About 6 months ago the subfloor started feeling spongy and you could see/feel what seems to be the plywood coming up where they are joined together under the vinyl flooring. There are some spots that are extremely weak feeling and it seems to be getting worse. I've reached out to the builder and he reached out to engineers with the city. His solution is to pull all the flooring, and install carpet. He says because of new regulations and code, the underside of the house has to be completely sealed, and it looks like that combined with the the vapor barrier and vinyl flooring is creating a moisture issue which is rotting the plywood subfloor.

My questions are, is he legally and financially liable for any of this? He was notified of the problem approximately 6 months after we closed on the house. There was an inspection and it found no issues at the time of closing. To my knowledge we did not sign any extra structural warranties of any kind.

Any thoughts on what a remedy to this problem would be or what kind of flooring besides carpet that would be able to allow the built up moisture to pass through? In the three bedrooms with carpet there are no issues whatsoever with this. He thinks the carpet is allowing the flooring to breathe therefore not causing this issue under the carpet.

If I'm on the hook for the repairs, so be it, just want to get some knowledge gathered here before I make any decisions.

Feel free to PM me on the matter, thanks for the help!


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[clintb]

We warrantee the houses we build around here for one year after closing. As long as we buy it, install it or build it. We will guarantee it for a year.

[Bassdeer]

must be a way to vent it on the sides of the house? or maybe not, would have to vent between every joist.

[Sam T]

We warrantee the houses we build around here for one year after closing. As long as we buy it, install it or build it. We will guarantee it for a year.

That's what I keep hearing about most builders, the builder has not said he will cover it but he seems like he is going to help. I don't want to pressure him if I have no legal grounds and have him turn his back, but also not looking to pass blame, I just want to get this fixed.


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[Sam T]

must be a way to vent it on the sides of the house? or maybe not, would have to vent between every joist.

My first thought as well. Must be a way to allow condensation to escape without compromising the building code or insulation.


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[Kingfisher747]

Who's the architect and what's the plan call for?

[Sam T]

Who's the architect and what's the plan call for?

Not sure on that info, need to get with the builder for that


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[BMowatt]

Keep on the builder, make them correct the issue

[Hydestik]

It almost sounds like the subfloor is not fastened down to to the floor joists at the seams. I don't see how you could get wood rot in that time frame .

[Eagle19]

I'm a homebuilder. If I were to build a house and an issue like that arise I would have to cover it.

Most builders should have a 1 year (minus paint and sheetrock) and a 10 year structural backed by the engineer.

[Eagle19]

It almost sounds like the subfloor is not fastened down to to the floor joists at the seams. I don't see how you could get wood rot in that time frame .

I agree with this, unless it's near by a shower/sink and there's a constant leak.

[Moose]

PM Dhall he's a home builder on here.... a dang good one too.

[Sticks&Strings]

Lol, um no, carpet is not the solution. How high off the ground is the home? Is there insulation underneath your subfloor? If so, what kind? He should warranty it. It shouldn't be an expensive repair for him as his trades should provide free labor. I'm a homebuilder and to me it sounds like they didn't properly brace a joint. Hire your own engineering before you accept a carpet fix.

[Sam T]

Lol, um no, carpet is not the solution. How high off the ground is the home? Is there insulation underneath your subfloor? If so, what kind? He should warranty it. It shouldn't be an expensive repair for him as his trades should provide free labor. I'm a homebuilder and to me it sounds like they didn't properly brace a joint. Hire your own engineering before you accept a carpet fix.

House is about 8' off the ground. I'm unsure of the insulation type under the subfloor. And you're right carpet is not the answer and will not be the fix no matter what the outcome.


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[Sam T]

I agree with this, unless it's near by a shower/sink and there's a constant leak.

There's no visible leak from under the house and it is happening on every seam that's not covered in carpet.


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