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!!!WARNING FOR
BUYERS !!!
EIFS SIDING AND ITS INSTALLATION!!!
Syncon installed it
wrong, in violation of the Manufacturer's and Independent Testing
Organization's Directions!!!
New information has just come to
light about the siding problem we just discussed. Syncon
Homes personnel have revealed that the siding applied to this, and
other homes, in the La Costa Development is a product made by Omega
Products.
Working under the assumption that
their statement is truthful, the specific siding model is known as the Diamond Wall that
the company calls an "Insulated Exterior Stucco System." It
appears to be little different, if any different at all, than the general
category of EIFS siding we just discussed. There is an (E)xternal (I)nsulation
component, it is a (F)inish on the house, and in total it is a (S)ystem,
aka EIFS. You know what's said,
"A rose by any other name . . . ."
It's "important"
because we no longer need to depend on the general installation instructions, as
established by the EIMA, to see that
there's a serious problem with Syncon
Homes' installation of the siding and its relationship with the other
components. Instead, we can look directly to Omega
Products and the independent testing they directed that establishes
the correct installation of their product. The report will either
prove that Syncon Homes
installed the product correctly, or it will require that they admit to a
significant construction defect and dictate that they correct it.
The independent testing organization
is known as the ICC Evaluation Service,
Inc. (ICC-ES). The company evaluates "building products for
compliance with code." In the ICC-ES's
own words:
ICC-ES is a nonprofit,
public-benefit corporation that does technical evaluations of building
products, components, methods, and materials. The evaluation process
culminates with the issuance of technical reports that, because they
directly address the issue of code compliance, are extremely useful to
both regulatory agencies and building-product manufacturers . . . The
report process begins when a company submits an application for an
evaluation report.
Why is the product specific
report important? It's important because the
report generated on the product used by Syncon
Homes to side our residence, and others in the La Costa
development, shows that Syncon Homes
failed
to install the siding as required by the manufacturer.
It proves that a significant construction defect exists in our house in
respect to the siding and its relationship to the foundation and interior
wall structure. There is no question as to Syncon
Homes' culpability.
To show that the report applies to
the product Syncon Homes claims
that they installed on our house, here is the top of the title page of the
report. The entire report can be reached at this
link.:
So, how does Omega
Products and ICC-ES require the
bottom of their wall system fit in relation to the foundation and the sill
plate? Here it is. It's a clip from page 9 of the report:
Then, how does Omega
Products and ICC-ES require the
weep screed at the bottom of the siding to be installed in relation to
the shear panel (sheathing)?
For clarification, the weep screed is the metal
covering plate beneath the siding. It's shaped like a "J"
with the tall part going up behind the siding. The shear panel
(sheathing) is
the wood product that is attached to the framing to give it strength.
Here's the way they show it needs to
be done. It's a another clip from page 9 of the report:
It shows the bottom edge of the
shear panel (sheathing) being covered by the weep screed. The tall part of the
weep screed goes behind the shear panel (sheathing). Please remember,
this is
the method of installation dictated by the siding independent testing lab,
by request of the manufacturer. Who
would know better than they as to the proper installation of their product
so that it works as designed and remains a functional component of the
home for the final purchaser?
Just for the heck of it, here's
another picture confirming and showing the correct placement of the weep
screed and shear panel (sheathing). Again, it's from page 9 of the report:
Finally, if there's someone out
there who's still not convinced, like maybe someone from Syncon
Homes who might want to see something directly from
the manufacturer, all I have to say is . . . "okay. Here it
is." I'm not going to discuss each clip individually since it
already been done about the ICC-ES
report that was commissioned by the manufactured. I'll just identify
each item.
This is the title page clip from the front
Page of the Omega
Diamond Wall Insulating System detail instructions to show the
document that produced the installation drawing. It came directly
from their website at this
link.
Next, this clip from the Omega
instructions shows how the siding is to fit against the
foundation: It looks familiar, doesn't it?
Finally, here's a detail from the Omega
instructions showing how the siding is supposed to sit within the
"J" shaped weep screed:
All anyone needs to do is just
compare the pictures we've provided with the instructional drawings from
the manufacturer to see that they don't match. They're not even
close.
Here's one of the pictures of Syncon
Homes' job, as a reminder. The green edge is the bottom of the shear
panel (sheathing) that's not being protected. It also shows the
sill plate that's not placed as required by the manufacturer so that the
siding can sit adjacent to the foundation.
BTW, we're already saving bits and
pieces of the shear panel (sheathing) that we're finding laying around our
house. These are pieces of the panels that have broken
away from the structure and have been blown out of the open wall structure by the winds we have in
the region.
We've never had pieces of the wall
falling out of any house we have ever owned, until now. It goes directly to
our position that the defective exposure of the shear panel (sheathing) to the
elements (rain, snow, wind, etc.) will accelerate the rate of
deterioration to the structure over what would normally be expected. We've owned the home, bought new
from Syncon Homes less than a
year ago, and it's already happening. That's unacceptable.
We hope that's enough information to
convince anyone who
tried to remain skeptical, especially any Syncon
Homes' personnel, that our home was defectively built. It can't be much clearer that Syncon
Homes needs to resolve their
substantial and serious construction defects in our home, and any others
in the neighborhood, correctly, appropriately, and without further problems
or delays.
Pay attention, Syncon
Homes . . . It can't be more clear!
Let's sum it up . . . According to the instructions from
the manufacturer of the siding, that Syncon Homes personnel claim they
used to side our house and others in the neighborhood, Syncon
Homes' installation is completely, utterly, and without defense, defective.
Similar to the instructions from the EIMA,
the report on the actual product used and applied by Syncon
Homes and the actual instructions from Omega
Products show that:
-
The sill plate needs to be on top
of the foundation with the siding immediately adjacent to the foundation,
-
The tall part of the
"J" shaped weep screed needs to extend along and adjacent to
the foundation, behind the shear panel (sheathing), and
-
The shear
panel (sheathing), needs to be covered and protected by the
"J" shaped weep screed.
Whether the construction defect
begins with a foundation issue, begins as a framing problem, or is a
combination of these factors, Syncon needs to act and
they need to act right now. They need to come to a resolution about
the defects in our home, and any other homes where this defect
exists. They need to act without any further delay, excuse,
question, or denial because their unworkmanship-like acts have created
products damaging to their customers, the public. That's completely
unacceptable!
NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW
NEW NEW NEW
IT'S A CODE VIOLATION!
Siding Defect
violates IRC R703.9
Here's the bottom line. According to the
International Residential Code, the Syncon Homes' siding installation on
our home and some other neighborhood homes we have seen, violates the
International Residential Code, Section R703.9. They built it
incorrectly as established below:
Simply stated, Syncon Homes was
required to install our siding as instructed by the siding manufacturer. The code gave them no option to do otherwise, but
they still failed to comply with it.
Whether the initial cause can be
traced to the foundation, the construction walls, or if it lies with the
siding itself, Syncon Homes failed to follow the
siding manufacturer's installation instructions when they put it on the
house. They created
a significant construction defect and the unacceptable consequences that
flow from their defect.
It's important to take note that
their actions effectively violated the law. As established in
Chapter 1, Purpose Section, of the International Residential Code, it is
written in part, "A construction code is intended to be adopted as
a legally enforceable document that will safeguard health, safety,
property, and public welfare."
It has been adopted in our County
as one of the construction codes covering the construction of residential
properties. It is "legally enforceable." Here's a copy of
that section:
When they violated Section R703.9,
by building a home with the siding-related construction defects we've
described and then acting in a inappropriate and unreasonable fashion,
Syncon Homes' personnel have effectively;
-
Broken the law;
-
Endangered our health, safety,
property, and welfare; and
-
Forced us to assume the long
term responsibility, increased costs, and increased maintenance
associated with their neglect.
It is an unacceptable
situation. There's no way they can deny it. It's right
there, in black and white.
Does Syncon Have An
Excuse?
Does Syncon homes have a valid
excuse for violating the Residential Code? We don't think they
do.
If they knew that there was a
problem that caused the siding to be installed in
violation of the manufacturer's installation instructions and Residential Code Section R703.9,
it would be an unforgivable condition in any way, shape and form. There would be no valid excuse or right
for them to knowingly pass such a significant construction defect to their homebuyer.
If they didn't know there was a
problem that caused the siding to be installed in violation of the
manufacturer's installation instructions and Residential Code Section R703.9, that is
still unforgivable. Syncon is supposed to be a professional
residential builder with many years of experience. They are a
subject matter expert who should have employed proper oversight of their
construction process. They should, and had the obligation, to know of the
defect. It makes them just as culpable for passing such a
significant defect to their buyer as if they had done it with knowledge
and foresight.
Both scenarios are
unacceptable. Each lays the responsibility for the defects directly
in the lap of the persons least responsible for them, the homebuyer,
while the people most responsible are able to abdicate their responsibilities.
It's simply not right.
Warning
So, if you're still considering a
Syncon-built house, be careful. Do you really want to buy a house
from a company that has already:
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Incorporated a significant
construction defect in our home and others, either purposefully or
by neglect,
-
Failed to own up to their
failure by offering to fix it cheap, at best, but certainly not
right nor to code, and
-
Forced their homebuyers to
assume the increased long-term costs, increased maintenance, and
premature failures due to Syncon Homes defective construction?
We think the answer is quite
clear, but it's up to you to come to your own conclusion.
Before you go to
the next page, you may want to take a quick diversion to a new revelation
about Syncon's activities. It will open in a new window, so . . .
Click
Here to see how they're trying to get
everyone to ignore the elephant in the room.
Next
Page
"Superior
Homes" is what they claim
Lemke and the Hanlys
should be ashamed!
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