<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ramik:
We purchased our 1790 house in November 1999 in CT from a contractor who was responsible for the full renovation of the property prior to purchase. Two months after moving in, it became obvious the new roof around the new chimney leaked, causing the wooden floor below to warp. In addition, the town building inspector informs us the chimney was not built to code. Is the contractor responsible for the repair? What are my rights if he refuses?
[This message has been edited by ramik (edited July 09, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by ramik (edited July 09, 2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The contractor is responsible as Seller and home renovator for proper renovation work and code compliance. Specifically in this instance, the roof should not have leaked and should have been constructed in accordance with general construction standards and required building codes.
If he refuses to correct the problem, you an sue him for breach of contract, warranties etc. Roof penetration areas such as chimneys are prone to leakage due to improper design and construction of the flashing joints. Have the project architect and a licensed fireplace/chimney contractor complete an inspection to detail corrective action. A roof leak may not be the only problem you have. Improper construction of the chimney may cause back drafting/leakage of fumes into the home, strucural problems, fire hazards etc.
