coffeebean
Member
California
California
Hello,
We had this project (all up to code and with licensed GC, architect and engineer) to transform about half of our garage into living space. Many other homes in my block have done the same with no issues.
A few months after end of construction the hardwood floor boards started cupping. Obviously there was moisture. Contractor initially brushed off the problem, wanted to just sand and refinish. I had a 3rd party come in and do an assessment and they did find gaps on my external wall, things were not flashed right, etc... I insisted my GC to fix, and to not just look at the report from 3rd party but make sure there were no other sources of moisture. And and asked to replace flooring after fixed. He said he took care of the problem, said that was the only source of water, he flashed it and we were good to replace wood. By the way there were black mold that had to be remedied.
Months later it's cupping again. He again says let's wait a bit, resand, refinish...I insisted he needed to investigate more, take reading, etc... After a lot of back and forth, I suggested to go into the neighbors house which is vacant and for sale and investigate. I always had to be pushing him. He found a gap on the external wall and with a water test concluded rain was probably pouring there and diverting into my foundation walls and under the flooring. He has patched, and the last water tests and rain, didnt show water. But he now claims it's not his responsibility to fix it, that he could not have known. Of course he could if he had done more water tests, taken readings, investigated more either before the project started or the 1st time we had the problem.
My insurance won't cover, says rain is exclusion. My neighbor has passed away, and the house has been sold.
What should I do? Sue the insurance?
Sue GC at small claims, sue structural engineer, architect? Reach out to children of my former neighbor?
I now do understand that building below grade can present risks, etc...but none of the professionals I hired advised me against it.
Thank you very much
California
Hello,
We had this project (all up to code and with licensed GC, architect and engineer) to transform about half of our garage into living space. Many other homes in my block have done the same with no issues.
A few months after end of construction the hardwood floor boards started cupping. Obviously there was moisture. Contractor initially brushed off the problem, wanted to just sand and refinish. I had a 3rd party come in and do an assessment and they did find gaps on my external wall, things were not flashed right, etc... I insisted my GC to fix, and to not just look at the report from 3rd party but make sure there were no other sources of moisture. And and asked to replace flooring after fixed. He said he took care of the problem, said that was the only source of water, he flashed it and we were good to replace wood. By the way there were black mold that had to be remedied.
Months later it's cupping again. He again says let's wait a bit, resand, refinish...I insisted he needed to investigate more, take reading, etc... After a lot of back and forth, I suggested to go into the neighbors house which is vacant and for sale and investigate. I always had to be pushing him. He found a gap on the external wall and with a water test concluded rain was probably pouring there and diverting into my foundation walls and under the flooring. He has patched, and the last water tests and rain, didnt show water. But he now claims it's not his responsibility to fix it, that he could not have known. Of course he could if he had done more water tests, taken readings, investigated more either before the project started or the 1st time we had the problem.
My insurance won't cover, says rain is exclusion. My neighbor has passed away, and the house has been sold.
What should I do? Sue the insurance?
Sue GC at small claims, sue structural engineer, architect? Reach out to children of my former neighbor?
I now do understand that building below grade can present risks, etc...but none of the professionals I hired advised me against it.
Thank you very much