L. L. Lawrence Builders, Inc

To whom it may concern, This letter is in response to the above mentioned, [redacted], flooring issue.  We addressed the warranty issue with a letter to Mr. [redacted] stating that per our [redacted]) warranty, “builder will correct only if documented prior to...

occupancy”.  Please find attached the letter that we sent to Mr. [redacted] explaining how we handled the situation. Sincerely,Anthony ** L[redacted] LL L[redacted] Builders, Inc. Owner/President

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: the flooring did not start fracturing until a couple of months after the final walk through. L.L. L[redacted] sold us the flooring product at their showroom under the business name of [redacted]. and then the L.L. L[redacted] Builders installed it. If they sold us a bad product, or they installed flawed pieces of wood flooring, or they installed the floor incorrectly, they should be responsible to replace it. Since the manufacturer claims that it is not a product flaw then it must have happened during install. We have only lived in the house 6 months, the flooring flaws slowly appeared over the course of those 6 months, starting only a couple of months after the final walk through. These flaws are numerous; the wood floor covers over 1/2 the house. We have several split floor boards in the family room, the master bedroom, the spare bedroom #1, and the spare bedroom #2. A home that is only six months old should not need a brand new floor. I payed for the original materials and install through my mortgage. Now I will need to pay someone else to replace the entire floor because the large number of faulty boards does not lend itself to single patch work.Since L.L. L[redacted] does not want to fix this work that they performed on my home then they should at least give me my money back so I can pay someone else to fix it. How does a business get away with selling the customer a bad product and/or installing it wrong and then hiding behind a warranty that says if we didn't see it at the final walk through they are not responsible? This is like a car dealership selling you a new car with bad brakes and refusing to fix it after you drove it off the lot and got into an accident. This is deception of the consumer at the highest level. What is to stop L.L. L[redacted] from continuing to sell this same product to another consumer? If L.L. L[redacted] employees are not qualified to put wood flooring in and they continue to put it in wrong this can also happen to other consumers.This is a new home! Wood Flooring should not be splitting at all, much less 2 months after install. Please make them accountable for their flawed work/product.
Regards,
[redacted]

July 8, 2016To Whom It May Concern:Please find attached/enclosed copies of specifications, plans and contract. Nowhere in our contract does it state that we do a walkthrough at 90 days.I met with and did do a final walkthrough and orientation of the home that I built for [redacted] and [redacted] on...

February 5, 2016. Please see the attached copy of the orientation sheet where a list was made of the items to be fixed or finished and approved by [redacted]. The lawn seeding and driveway paving were the only 2 things after the final walkthrough and orientation that were left to do. The bank held escrow money for completion. All other items on the list were addressed. I informed both homeowners that the driveway paving and lawn seeding normal conditions are the middle to the end of May. [redacted] contacted me at the end of April and asked if I thought he should get more top soil. My contract with them did not include additional fill ground or top soil.I told him it was his call as to how much he wanted because his lot was large enough to make his yard as level as he saw fit. I did not recommend or require they bring any topsoil in. He did bring in more top soil and fill ground and then expected my subcontractor to spread it and grade it. The driveway was paved during the first week of June and the lawn seeding had to be pushed because the Grim's lot was too wet.I did contact [redacted] at the beginning of May to let him know that the driveway paving would be done first and we were looking at about 3 weeks. We received an unusual amount of rain the month of May this year and both my Subcontractors for the driveway and lawn seeding schedules were pushed out into June.I received a voice message from [redacted] toward the middle of May. I contacted the driveway paver. He told me at least a week yet. I relayed that to [redacted] via voice message then on May 26th, returned a text to her giving a tentative date of the next Thursday but I explained it was tentative and could be pushed. I would confirm actual date as it got closer. [redacted] began leaving explicative and threatening voice and text messages on my phone all of which I have saved.I contacted [redacted] and confirmed June 4th as the actual date of paving. I sent the subcontractor to do the lawn the next Tuesday and it was extremely wet and we had to go back a week later. All work has been completed to date and there remains no work to complete.When I confirmed the date for paving with [redacted], I gave him option of returning his money for the driveway and he could finish the driveway and lawn seeding with bank's escrow and his refund. The bank was agreeable to that option as well. He refused. Please find attached a copy of procedures for final and future warranty which was explained and copy given to the homeowner. I give each homeowner a warranty action sheet to list warranty items that need repaired or replaced. Once the owners' accept occupancy, we only return to finish those items listed on the orientation sheet or warranty as described in the RWC warranty booklet. (Attached) I just received a list from the [redacted]. Not one of the items on their list meets the requirements as actionable warranty as per their residential warranty corporation booklet and warranty Standards as described in the booklet. The warranty handbook was given to the [redacted] at the final walkthrough. When the driveway paver did install the blacktop, [redacted] called and left a threatening message that the driveway paver was stealing stone from their other gravel driveway to pave the new driveway. Of course it was not the case and wasproven to be wrong again.The deck board complaint from [redacted] is another case where [redacted] is wrong and mistaken. The grade against the house is to slope a minimum of 5% away for proper drainage within 10' from the house. The deck board was cut to fit to grade to maintain that slope. [redacted] wishes to change the grade to accommodate a paver patio and wishes to change the board. We cannot do so without violating the building code. I have saved texts, emails and voice mail messages from [redacted] that are threatening, Vulgar, rude and indignant while ignoring what was planned, scheduled and specified in our contractThank you.Anthony J. Lawrence

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:In reply to Andy L[redacted] ' s  comment with regard to the condition of the floor and "professional flooring opinions". To be clear, no "flooring professional" came to my home to examine the flooring issue from the flooring manufacturer, but they were invited. Andy L[redacted] and an employee of L.L. L[redacted] did examine the flooring (Andy M[redacted]) and did agree that the flooring IS NOT CUPPING FROM MOISTURE. So why does it have to be "cupping"? It has to cupping due to moisture so neither the manufacturer or the builder are responsible. However, no independent, neutral party came out and examined the floor. Now, Andy wants me to pay someone to examine the floors.Since then, I have had two different contractors who do install flooring examine my floor, both agreed that it was a failure in quality control when installing the floor boards and unprofessional flooring installation that caused the issues we are experiencing. They also saw no evidence of "cupping". The flooring company was invited by me through Andy L[redacted] to come and examine the flooring, but no one came. Andy says, that the flooring company has stated that they won't fix the flooring because it is a moisture issue and that the flooring is cupping. I have pictures of the flooring (attached to this email). The same pictures which were emailed to the manufacturer from the very beginning show no "cupping". I find it interesting that the flooring company never sent me an email claiming "cupping"; probably because they never examined my floor. However, Andy claims the manufacturer won't fix the floor because of cupping and Andy won't fix the floor because the issues did not show themselves at the final walk through. Andy also claims that the floors were damaged from "other parties". I guess a leprechaun  came in when we were not home and fractured multiple floor boards.Andy did tell me in a letter that I can hire someone  to examine the floor, if it is a product default the manufacturer will cover the fix. So, if I hire a professional to examine the floor and that professional says that it is the unprofessional install, will L.L. Lawrence pay for the fix? I think not.From the very beginning Andy has claimed that the flooring fracturing is a manufacturing defect. This is his modus operandi, blame some one else so he does not have to be accountable. However, two professionals in the field both agreed independently that the install was bad. It makes sense because Andy didn't hire a professional contractor to put in my floor. He sent his HVAC contractor to put in the vinyl (which now is showing seams in 2 places) and he also put in the hard wood.  I wonder why Andy can't or won't hire professional contactors to do specific specialty jobs. Probably trying to save a buck at the customers  expense.  All his lying and deception do not change the truth. L.L. Lawrence is the most unprofessional business I have ever had the displeasure of working with. By the way, Andy referenced "other non warranty issues"  that he claimed to have fixed. I wonder if he is referring to the sump pump pipe that was buried in my yard but was not glued together first. That pipe separated, filled with mud, backed up water pressure, and blew water out into my basement causing the ground fault to trip and knock out all electrical in the basement. Is that the "non warranty issue" he is referring to? I guess he was not responsible for that issue either; the boogie man did it. The HVAC contractor also did plumbing work in my house, I wonder if he installed the sump pump pipe too?Mike H[redacted]

My company has acknowledged Mr. [redacted]s concerns, and we have addressed each and everyone. We have addressed them according to our obligation under our contract and the [redacted] 12 year limited warranty. I have given him the option set forth by the manufacturer to have the flooring inspected by another professional other than myself.Under the terms of the [redacted] warranty, Mr. [redacted] may also contact [redacted] and have the flooring inspected by [redacted] to determine if the item is covered under the warranty.I would like to remind Mr. [redacted] of the corrective work that was performed on his existing home that he was not charged.I do not intend to respond again to Mr. [redacted]s, name calling, unprofessionalism, and inaccuracies.