ComplaintsforKearney Builders, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  12/12/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We built a house and moved in in April of 2020. Last year prior to the end of the year warranty the second floor bedroom had ice on the wood floor. It was the winter and ***** said he would get on the roof to look at the issue. He said he would drill a hole in the wall to add more insulation and fix it. When spring came around we never heard from him. I contacted him in November to come back and look at the roof he never came when I was home. Kept putting me off he said he came when I wasnt home and the roof is fine. I have photos from the roof showing the roof isnt right and there is a hole allowing water once built up to get in the wall (there is mold growing on the siding). The peak of the house was never sealed corrected and the area wasnt insulated correctly so I had to finish that in an effort to not bleed with the gas bill. He wont stand behind his word and his construction has had all sort of issues. The concrete cracked due to the expanding and he is blaming us on the run off of salt from the garage when areas there was no car around is cracking as well. All I wanted me to do was fix the roof and add the insulation he told me he would do in front of my father and I and he is claiming he never told me that.

  Business response

  12/12/2022

  First and foremost, the warranty expired 4/2021. As per her complaint, this so called problem happened after her warranty expired. I told the homeowner (even though her warranty expired), that I would have my roofer go up on the top of the roof and check to see if there was anything that could cause her problem with water on the floor. After inspecting the roof, siding, flashing and to make sure the baby tins were installed properly, there was no damage and that everything was properly installed. I have been building homes for over 30 years. This is the first complaint about my workmanship. Quite frankly, this homeowner has threatened me via text messages. I have done my due diligence to make sure that the work is done properly. Her threats are not going to help her.  

  Customer response

  12/12/2022

   
  Complaint: 18553187
  
  I am rejecting this response because:there was multiple construction issues and other homeowners have said that there are issues but they dont want to deal with the builder because he didnt fulfill his responsibilities and got the same course of action and help that I did.

  When I asked him about why there are issues he could never answer the question it was always maybe this is the problem but Ive never seen this before. There are areas in the home that I had to go back and seal because it was not done correctly. He continually cut corners and you could see that by the insulation that was put in and that the first rain we had water in the basement. He blamed that on the subcontractor instead of owning he hadnt checked to make sure the job was done correctly.
  

  I didnt threaten the builder but asked him to come and look. He didnt get on the roof. He claims the roofer did but my neighbors said no one was at my home. I asked him when he was coming and he continually put it off until I said I wasnt home and then the roofers appeared and no one saw them. It is simple when you say youre going to do something you do it. I have
  
  I am very invested in this community and school so I will ensure that people looking to build are well aware of the quality of construction since he said he stood behind his work and after less than two year there is mold growing and water build up on the second floor inside the home.,
  
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  Business response

  12/16/2022

  This will be my last response to this issue. The bottom line is I did have a roofer at the homeowners job. The homeowner was not home at the time. I also question that her neighbors sit at their front window watching her house to see if anyone showed up to look at her roof.

  Since her last response, I contacted the owner of the roofing/siding company to come out and verify what the initial roofer said. This time, the homeowner and her father were able to meet him there. I apologize for the last minute text letting the homeowner know that he was

  coming out to look at the roof, siding and flashing. Unfortunately, it is hard for the tradesmen to give me an exact ************* when they can come out because they are very busy. After inspecting the roof and siding, the owner of the roofing company confirmed  that everything was installed properly as per plan and building codes.

  The portion of the roof that is in question does not get any natural sunlight. Therefore, in the winter, snow and ice can build up there.  The home was designed by the architect together with the homeowners. I build homes according to the architect's blueprint. The first time this problem was brought to my attention, I went to the home to check it out. She showed me a small puddle of water in a front bedroom. This was the only time it was brought to my attention. We both went outside and saw the ice and snow build up on the roof. I told the homeowner that the only thing I could think of was that the ice built up behind the siding and went past the flashing and baby tins. I cannot confirm nor can the roofers confirm this is where the puddle of water came from. 

  A year prior to her contacting me, I relayed to her that there is a product such as "heat coils" that lay on top of shingles that help melt snow and ice build up for areas that don't get natural light. I never told her that I would install these for her especially at my expense. Now if they were built into our contract from the beginning, that would be a different story. Again, I build what the blueprint, contract and specifications call for.  

  Last, let me explain that once the blueprints are drawn and approved from the homeowners, is what I follow to give a price on a home. I bid out what the homeowners want and what is called for on the blueprints. Once they give me an okay to proceed, the blueprints and engineering are submitted and  reviewed by Cook County Architectural, Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC and ************************ They either approve or have the architect make modifications to his drawing to make sure they meet all building codes. Also, during construction, the home is inspected by the County inspectors. I would not be allowed to move forward without their approval. After the home is framed and the plumbing electrical, roof and HVAC have been inspected and approved, I am allowed to move forward to insulate. Once insulated, the building inspector returns to make sure everything is insulated properly before I can proceed to drywall. After the home is finished, they return for one final time to make sure everything was built to code and to the approved blueprints.

  The owner of the roofing company has given the homeowner his personal cell number and has told her to please call him directly if their are any issues. All my subcontractors take pride in their work. That is why at the end of construction the homeowners do a final walk through and provide me with a punch list of items that need to be corrected to meet their satisfaction. This also has been done. I wish the homeowner the best in her home.

  Customer response

  12/25/2022

   
  Complaint: 18553187
  
  I am rejecting this response because: the builder is not taking blame/accountability for a poor construction management job on his part. There is frost in the second floor bedrooms and closet spaces still and the home is leaking heat. This is because the home was not constructed/managed appropriately. This is the job that Kearney Builders was hired to do. He made quite a bit of money on this project.

  The roofer came out and was exceptional but he was unaware of the issue as Kearney Builders did not explain in detail or at all what the problem truly was. However the problem is deeper than that as the temperatures are getting better there is frost again throughout the home. He can place blame on everyone else but a newly constructed home shouldnt have frost on the wood floors in second stories.

  
  Sincerely,
  
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