I would very much like to know who this builder is.
New build issues with local area builder.
- Thread starter cdnlngld
- Start date
I would very much like to know who this builder is.
There are very few "builders" anymore, they are now just contractors. I'll never build a new house again.
It's a pretty reputable builder in central iowa. I won't name names until this goes any further. Supposedly the foreman that was sent out to us was one that has a bit of reputation for being difficult(per my wife's friends). I will talk to the guy myself tomorrow, and give them a chance to redeem themselves, but if this keeps up, we will be making some calls. I don't want to have to go that route, and this should all be covered under the 1 year warranty..
Don't be afraid to get a lawyer. Moisture damage can get expensive fast.
20% is definitely not high and that foreman gave you a BS answer.
I had a similar moisture issue after we installed a new furnace with a built in humidifier. Make sure your house "breathes". All the warm moist air the makes it way to your attic does need to be vented outside.
20% is definitely not high and that foreman gave you a BS answer.
I had a similar moisture issue after we installed a new furnace with a built in humidifier. Make sure your house "breathes". All the warm moist air the makes it way to your attic does need to be vented outside.
A longshot, but did you make in last minute changes before completion in your unfinished basement, for instance?
Stubbing-in more plumbing for a toilet/shower? (ripping up concrete, then pouring new concrete?)
Installing a GeoThermal system in basement after completion?
Pouring cement in basement during the winter can produce a lot of moisture that could travel up the walls upstairs
Stubbing-in more plumbing for a toilet/shower? (ripping up concrete, then pouring new concrete?)
Installing a GeoThermal system in basement after completion?
Pouring cement in basement during the winter can produce a lot of moisture that could travel up the walls upstairs
Somehow in the last 40 years since it was built our house has never had any attic ventilation installed. I believe the bathroom fan also just vents into the attic which is awesome...
Today's building practices encourage "tight" building envelopes. This occurred because of rising energy prices. But as with anything else, changing the way we enclose our homes also brought about a whole new batch of issues, mostly concerning movement of moisture.
I have read many, many articles about moisture and air issues in buildings. It sounds to me like warm, moist (at least comparatively) air is escaping your living space and going up into the attic. Moisture always seeks the coolest area, hence condensation on window glass. In this case the insulation in your attic is weakest at the outer walls, because there isn't enough vertical space to accumulate insulation to make an effective R-value.
It sounds to me like the builder is trying to shine you on. If he truly cares about his reputation, he'll at least try to solve the problem for you.
And these posters are correct - 20% RH in winter is extremely low. Do you have a lot of static electricity?
I have read many, many articles about moisture and air issues in buildings. It sounds to me like warm, moist (at least comparatively) air is escaping your living space and going up into the attic. Moisture always seeks the coolest area, hence condensation on window glass. In this case the insulation in your attic is weakest at the outer walls, because there isn't enough vertical space to accumulate insulation to make an effective R-value.
It sounds to me like the builder is trying to shine you on. If he truly cares about his reputation, he'll at least try to solve the problem for you.
And these posters are correct - 20% RH in winter is extremely low. Do you have a lot of static electricity?
I'm not an expert on code 40 years ago but that certainly doesn't meet it now. Great way to rot all the wood up there.
I was told by a builder friend of mine that this -20 degree weather stuff is something they can't really build for and that weird crap may happen. Maybe if it warms up a little bit in normal winter weather and it still happens. See what can be done then.
I think the OP probably needs to get rid of a kid, maybe two. Or the wife. That should clear up his problems.
Yup. When we had the pre-buy inspection the guy warned us about it and I have kept an eye on it.
We built a new house about 6 years ago and after that experiance if we build another one I don't think I'd ever let somebody else act as the general contractor. We had a river running down the wall and through the garage withing 3 months of moving in, not his fault it rained but they fixed it. That first winter we had a drip coming down the light fixture above the kitchen table. I went up in the attic and found a snow drift in my attic above the kitchen. Again it's not his fault it snowed a bunch. After 3 years of complaining about a 25 degree temperature difference between one end of the house to the other they sent a guy to look at that and ended up installing a damper to balance the hvac. When the wind gusts over 20mph out of the west my blinds swing. It just pisses me off every time i see that.
House was fully finished by the builder. It was a spec home that had been on the market a while.
This summer go buy a couple roof vents, grab the circular saw and blackjack a couple vents in. Will help tremendously and they aren’t hard to install.
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
Craftsmanship, better material, a whole lot more give a ****
Look, I'm in the bullpen ready to punch this builder in the throat. I don't have all day.
I had the exact same thing happen in my old house. I will all but gurantee that when they blew in the insulation, they didn't get enough insulation past the outside wall/floor joist. If the insulation got blown over the soffit vents, that will cause an issue too because it won't allow your attic to breath.
It's not like you cannot build quality today. My addition was 2002 onto a 1960 house. It's got all of the things that some contractors **** up, like stucco, flat roof, lots and lots of windows. I was my own prime so it got done my way. Stucco was done exactly like the 1960 stucco was, no house wrap (D-paper) and no foam board backing and all the stuff they were messing up around that time period. No chip board or "buffalo" board crap. It's watertight but isn't going to rot from the inside out anymore than the 1960 part is.
Addition is extremely well insulated and "sealed" but still breaths like the old part. I keep the furnace fan, with it's outside intake, running 24/7 which keeps the air in the house moving around.
