#864 - 05/20/06 10:42 AM
Family Takes Action Against Builder Of Moldy Home
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RemodelingGuy
Super Do It Yourselfer
Registered: 03/02/01
Posts: 914
Loc: Houston, Texas
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Here's an article to share that you may find interesting!
Maronda Officials: Company Wants To Complete Repairs
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The following is an exact transcript of Nancy Burton's report as it appeared on NBC 4 at 6 p.m. on May 18, 2006.
It was once their dream home, but now a local couple said mold has turned their lives into a nightmare.
They want the builder to do something about it. But today, the builder went to court in hopes of keeping those homeowners quiet.
SLIDESHOW: Images Of Home
Only NBC 4 was in court for that hearing. NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported that the judge had some pretty harsh words for that company.
Nancy Burton: The judge says he was shocked that Maronda Homes wanted the homeowners to take down signs around the house and not talk to anyone about their problems at home. The judge said that request was a clear violation of freedom of speech.
Jennifer Cosner, homeowner: It's unbelievable.
Burton: This is still home for the Cosners, but they don't live here because they say it's not safe.
Cosner: There's fungus in the vent.
Burton: And in the basement, too.
Cosner: Every time I come down here, I see more white fungus.
Burton: Three months ago, the Cosners paid for an independent inspection.
Cosner: They said there were five different molds.
Burton: Jennifer Cosner told Maronda Homes the mold was making her little boy so sick, they moved out.
Did they tell you they would pay for the hotel?
Cosner: Yes, they said they'd cover our expenses. They have not. Now they're refusing to cover the hotel.
Burton: The Cosners think water could be coming in through this window or steel joist. The Cosners say Maronda came and took down part of the stucco exterior, but that's all.
Cosner: They kept saying they'd fix the problems, but it's been 13 months and nothing's been fixed.
Burton: Although the Cosners have not been able to prove that the mold resulted from the way Maronda Homes built their house, they're so frustrated they put up these signs and hired an attorney.
Cosner: We've never been able to agree on what's wrong with the house.
Burton: For a month, Chris Cooper has been working with Maronda Homes. In a prepared statement, Maronda Homes says it's committed to resolving these problems to the Cosner's satisfaction and regret that the current dispute has escalated to the courtroom. Maronda lawyers came to court today to get a judge to order the Cosners not to talk about their house and take down these signs.
Judge Dale Crawford: Are you really serious? You want me to enjoin them from talking to the media? You want me to enjoin them from talking to friends and relatives about this problem?
Chris Conard, Maronda Homes attorney: No. That's not the scope, your honor.
Crawford: That's what you said in your motion.
Chris Cooper, attorney for the Cosners: A lot could be resolved if we dealt with these issues and my clients' ability to exercise their freedom of speech.
Burton: The judge denied Maronda's request. The lawyer for Maronda Homes says there is no toxic mold in the Cosner's home and an independent expert says the greatest concentration of mold was located outside the house. Maronda says it wants to continue to take steps to complete the warranty repairs for the Cosners and hopes the family will work with Maronda in a reasonable manner to allow Maronda to complete the repairs to their home as soon as possible.
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Jimmy McDonald http://www.StartRemodeling.comJimmy@StartRemodeling.com http://www.ToxicMoldUSA.comMcMoldMan@ToxicMoldUSA.com Jimmy McDonald ( RemodelingGuy) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
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#2571 - 01/04/08 03:44 PM
Re: Family Takes Action Against Builder Of Moldy Home
[Re: RemodelingGuy]
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have a Maronda home located in Leechburg Pennsylvania. We have a water problem in our basement. The walls are all wet. Fortunately for us our basement is unfinished and we saw the problem. We are also fortunate that we have an unfinished basement because we wont have mold like those that do have finished basements. Maronda is attempting to remedy this problem, but we won't know for sure if is indeed fixed until the spring when we have more rain. I wander how many other Maronda home owners are experiencing the same problem. So far maronda has put flashing where the house meets the sill plate; It didn't help. They removed the weep vents in the brick; it helped some, but we are still wet. (weep vents dont even make sense..all they are is an open hole for water to get in.) Now they removed the brick on the entire right wall to tar the block behind the brick. Will this be the answer? only time will tell.
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#2668 - 01/21/08 06:30 PM
Re: Family Takes Action Against Builder Of Moldy Home
[Re: Anonymous]
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provip
Super Do It Yourselfer
Registered: 03/03/01
Posts: 1153
Loc: Victoria, BC, Canada
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What they are doing may help.... redoing the waterproofing on the block foundation. Not being there it's hard to assess. The weep holes in the bricks are there so that the wall can drain if water gets behind the brick. This can occur around window/door frames or other openings such as vents, etc. Closing them up may not be a good idea. Other considerations are high water table, poorly sloped grade away from the exterior wall, poorly installed or inadequate drain tile, etc.
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Bart Blainey, B.E.R. Consultant/Journeyman Carpenter Building Envelope Specialist Master Renovator provip@prodeck.org http://www.prodeck.orgBarton Blainey (provip) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
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Moderator: RemodelingGuy, provip
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