If you've read our other pages, like
the EIFS
Siding page, Omega
Siding page, Letter
page, HUD
page and many others, you've seen the discussion about Syncon Homes'
application of the siding on our house. We've shown that their
installation was defective since they did the following:
-
Omega Diamond Wall Siding:
Failed to follow the mandated installation instructions,
-
ICC-ES Evaluation Report:
Failed to comply with the directions to follow Omega's instructions so that code compliance and product performance
is ensured,
-
2003 Building Codes:
Failed to comply with
building codes that require the installation instructions to be
followed, and
-
Department of Housing and
Urban Development: Failed to meet the
standards established by the Government of the United States of
America that require compliance with Omega's installation
instructions.
Syncon Homes has ignored the fact
that they violated the installation instructions, created a serious construction
defect, and caused significant habitability problems for us. Instead, they
have engaged in diversionary tactics designed to misdirect everyone's
attention to what the siding category should be called rather than how it
was defectively installed.
The bottom line is that it doesn't
matter what the siding category is called. It matters that their
installation failed to follow instructions mandated by multiple sources
and that their lack of good workmanship has led to serious habitability
problems.
Nonetheless, we decided to
investigate the use of the term, "one coat stucco."
Perhaps it might shed some new light on the issue that really matters, the
issue of the installation. Here is what we found . . .
What does the National
One Coat Stucco Association reveal?
Since it seems like there are all
kinds of associations for just about any product used in the
construction industry, it was no surprise when we found one for "one coat
stucco." It is the National
One Coat Stucco Association (NOCSA).
When we went to the site, what did
we find? We discovered a NOCSA technical article that was very clear
on the subject of Syncon Homes' installation of the siding on our
house. They confirmed that Syncon Homes'
installation was defective when they wrote that:
"One Coat Stucco
. . . must be . . . installed per
the manufacturer's
approved specifications and details."
Here is a screen shot of the source
document, which you can also click to go to the original page for credit:
Just like with all the other
documents we've presented throughout our website:
How clear does it need
to be?
It's as crystal clear as crystal clear can
be!
Syncon Homes didn't follow the
directions they were required to follow. It's as simple as that.
What does it prove?
Just like with every other document
we've presented, the NOCSA technical report proves that Syncon Homes'
installation of the siding on our house
is completely, utterly, and without question defective. They failed
to comply with every instruction and direction they were mandated to
follow,
It can't be denied!
It can't be more
clear!
What was Syncon Homes
required to do, but failed to do?
Since the NOCSA directs that the
Omega Diamond Wall siding "must be . . . installed per the
manufacturer's approved specifications and details," what are those
specifications and details? They are the same instructions and
diagrams/details we've been presenting throughout our website.
This detail comes directly from
the installation requirements for the Omega Diamond Wall Siding System and
show what Syncon Homes was required to do:
What did Syncon Homes
do?
So what did Syncon do? They
didn't assemble the components as shown above. Instead, they built
it as show in the below pictures.
The left picture shows the wall hanging off the foundation in
violation of the manufacturer's instructions. The wall is supposed
to be on the foundation which allows the siding to lay next to the
foundation and protect the interior of the foundation.
The result of Syncon Homes'
defective installation causes the problem seen in the right picture.
It exposes the interior of the wall to the elements to allow wind,
weather, heat, cold and vermin access to the house. It's a situation
that we cannot see doing anything other than increasing the heating and
cooling costs for the home, causing premature structural deterioration and
raising health concerns when water accesses the interior of the wall.
These construction defects are not
the kind of thing that can be fixed with the application of a Band-Aid
repair as Syncon Homes has been offering to other homeowners in the La
Costa tract. It doesn't fix the underlying defect and it will
increase the maintenance costs for the homeowner.
The Syncon Band-Aid repair can be
seen on this
page.
Syncon Homes - You can
run but you can't hide!
Syncon Homes has tried to run away
from their construction defect by misdirecting attention to what their
siding product should be called. However, we've proven that they
can't hide from the truth. At every turn they have run directly into
the truth of their defective installation.
-
First, we showed that they
didn't follow the Omega Diamond Wall installation
instructions. However, they refused to accept the true extent
of their defective construction.
-
Next, we proved they didn't
comply with the evaluation report for the Omega Diamond Wall
installation instructions. Yet, they still refused to
acknowledge the severity of the defect.
-
Then, we showed various
building codes that they violated. Again, they failed to
acknowledge their culpability.
-
Again we showed they failed to
comply with their own mandates in the construction documents they
presented to the Building Department for approval. They
remained defiant and called the defect only "cosmetic."
-
Finally, we found a U.S.
Government Materials Report that repeated the requirement of
complying with Omega's instructions. Again, they failed
acknowledge their lack of good workmanship.
During each turn of events,
they continued with their efforts to misdirect attention away from
the truth of their defective construction and towards an issue that
means nothing. It's a tactic designed to absolve them of any responsibility for
their defective construction and lay responsibility for it directly
in the laps of their homebuyers.
At every turn, Syncon Homes
workmanship has been proven to be defective. They can't deny
it. They can't run from it. They can't avoid it. They
can't hide from it. The NOCSA has now confirmed it.
What does Syncon Homes
need to do?
Syncon Homes needs to:
-
Take responsibility for
their defects,
-
Stop offering
Band-Aid repairs that do not fix the defect and only hide it,
-
Stop their misdirection,
-
Acknowledge
their mistake so it doesn't happen to other homebuyers, and
-
Resolve our
problem as we have already presented to them.
Questions to ponder
The questions now become:
-
Do you want to take a
chance with a company that has proven to have built serious construction
defects into our house?
-
Do you want to take a
chance with a company who has also failed to own-up to their lack of
good workmanship with us?
-
Do you want to buy a house
from a company that has employed diversionary tactics to
avoid fixing their defect on our house?
-
Do you want to buy a home
from a company who has proven their willingness to burden us with the ultimate
and long-term responsibility for failures we did not cause?
-
Do you want to buy a home
from a company that has significantly misrepresented their product
to us?
We think the answers are obvious,
but you'll need to answer those questions for yourself. We just
recommend that you take the time to review our website so that you can
make an informed decision.
Further information
For a complete picture, be sure to
review other pages on our website. Our HUD
page, Omega
Siding page, Letter
page, Band-Aid
page and Right
Way page come to mind. There are others that will provide more information,
so please feel free to take your time so you don't get caught in the
ethical challenges Syncon Homes has displayed.
