Water Leaks, Water Leaks and More Water Leaks
I purchased a 2 year old townhome, builder is Branthaven. The house has and has had 3 significant water leaks.
1. First year of ownership: A drain pipe was leaking into the basement, caused by bathroom corner shelf fastening screw, which was screwed through the wall and into the main stack. The bathroom is on the ground floor. The screw rusted and eventually left a hole in the stack. The adjacent wall had to be cut out, stack repaired, wall repaired.
2. First year of ownership: Discovered that the garage wall showed signs of water damage. Initially, could not determine where it was coming from. This year, with extensive amount of rain, the leak was found to be coming from the balcony above the garage. The privacy fencing, centre post, was loose. The installer had over tightened the lag bolts which were supposed to catch the joists below, but in doing so, bored out the wood such that the lag bolts were not able to be tightened. Water was leaking through the holes of the lag bolts, into the ceiling of the garage below, then down the garage wall. Had to find another method to fasten the fence post.
3. First Year of Ownership to Present: At first, thought it was just a one off leak, but here's the thing. There was water staining on the second floor ceiling, where there are no water pipes or drainage. There is also a third floor. Painted over the stains
Later and subsequently a couple of days after heavy rain, water staining would appear again. This year, with the extreme rainfall, the staining is significant. Further investigation observed that the walls on the third floor directly above the second floor ceiling stains, is also showing water stains.
Access the attic, can finally see the underside of the roof sheets are wet in a specific location, right above the water staining and wall damage. Observed that the attic insulation is also compressed or lower in the exact area above the water leaks below.
Look outside of the house, see there is a roof vent near the hip, very much in the location above the signs of water damage in the attic. Looks like I will have to get the roof inspected, given past interaction with Branhaven, they will just hide behind the fact that the new home warranty doesn't cover such occurrences.
Is this is a quality issue, design issue? Here's another one, roof shingle tabs blowing off the roof after only 2 years after being built.
I have taken some photos, and will try to post them here when I can transfer them off my phone.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $1,000,000.00