Hello,
I apologize right away if this topic falls under the wrong category. I view the questions as construction-related but please let me know if that's incorrect.
We recently purchased a finished house from one of the larger contracting companies on the market. The company has built a large area of houses (around 400 households) where most of the houses use the same construction technique, have the same wall structure, etc., but look slightly different (some have regular roofs, some have slanted roofs like a rabbit hutch, etc.). As a buyer, one could decide on certain interior details like the kitchen, tiles, wallpaper, etc.
To the point. We recently had the six-month inspection where I pointed out that the soft joints in the bathroom had yellowed completely after barely six months. The contracting firm's response was that all silicone joints do that over time. I've never seen that before, but I made sure we'd address it at the two-year inspection.
Apart from the soft joints in the bathroom, we also have a number of joints along, for example, the window ledge, staircase stringer, etc., that cannot be cleaned. They collect dust excessively.
My question to you is whether they've used the wrong soft joints? A neighbor pointed out that they've used a joint meant to be painted over. I don't know which joints this concerns. I think it only applies to the dust-collecting joints.
Question 1: Can I then have them replaced or treated (painted?) in some way?
On another topic, the house has standing painted paneling on the exterior, and before the painting inspection three to four months ago, I used a mirror under the end grain to see how it was treated. I saw very large variations in colors (i.e., bare wood, some primer/cover paint) in various forms. I pointed this out to the independent inspector who thought it was okay and felt that if he were to fail the painting on my house, he would have to fail the entire area... the little trust I had in his being independent disappeared.
I spoke with both a local paint store and also the manufacturer of the paint the company used, and both believe that the paint layer on the end grain should be at least as thick as on the rest of the board, just as I pointed out. The problem is that the inspector wrote this in the report (including my position).
I mentioned this to the contracting firm's representative when we discussed the soft joints and the other matters before the six-month inspection, and he mentioned that "exterior paneling should breathe, so it can't be too tight"...
Question 2: Is there any way I can still prove I'm right and get this addressed? I am prepared to walk around with the paintbrush myself next summer, but since I paid the contracting firm to do it, I have no desire to both pay and redo the job...
We have a re-inspection for the painting tomorrow morning, so all replies before then are very much appreciated.
Thank you for reading.
I apologize right away if this topic falls under the wrong category. I view the questions as construction-related but please let me know if that's incorrect.
We recently purchased a finished house from one of the larger contracting companies on the market. The company has built a large area of houses (around 400 households) where most of the houses use the same construction technique, have the same wall structure, etc., but look slightly different (some have regular roofs, some have slanted roofs like a rabbit hutch, etc.). As a buyer, one could decide on certain interior details like the kitchen, tiles, wallpaper, etc.
To the point. We recently had the six-month inspection where I pointed out that the soft joints in the bathroom had yellowed completely after barely six months. The contracting firm's response was that all silicone joints do that over time. I've never seen that before, but I made sure we'd address it at the two-year inspection.
Apart from the soft joints in the bathroom, we also have a number of joints along, for example, the window ledge, staircase stringer, etc., that cannot be cleaned. They collect dust excessively.
My question to you is whether they've used the wrong soft joints? A neighbor pointed out that they've used a joint meant to be painted over. I don't know which joints this concerns. I think it only applies to the dust-collecting joints.
Question 1: Can I then have them replaced or treated (painted?) in some way?
On another topic, the house has standing painted paneling on the exterior, and before the painting inspection three to four months ago, I used a mirror under the end grain to see how it was treated. I saw very large variations in colors (i.e., bare wood, some primer/cover paint) in various forms. I pointed this out to the independent inspector who thought it was okay and felt that if he were to fail the painting on my house, he would have to fail the entire area... the little trust I had in his being independent disappeared.
I spoke with both a local paint store and also the manufacturer of the paint the company used, and both believe that the paint layer on the end grain should be at least as thick as on the rest of the board, just as I pointed out. The problem is that the inspector wrote this in the report (including my position).
I mentioned this to the contracting firm's representative when we discussed the soft joints and the other matters before the six-month inspection, and he mentioned that "exterior paneling should breathe, so it can't be too tight"...
Question 2: Is there any way I can still prove I'm right and get this addressed? I am prepared to walk around with the paintbrush myself next summer, but since I paid the contracting firm to do it, I have no desire to both pay and redo the job...
We have a re-inspection for the painting tomorrow morning, so all replies before then are very much appreciated.
Thank you for reading.
Regarding soft joints, in the bathroom, it should be silicone that cannot be painted over. In other places, it can be silicone, but often there are different variants of latex joints. They come with a variety of names but are essentially the same. They can (usually) be painted over and most variants prescribe that they should be painted over.
Joints can be replaced, but it's quite a lot of work. If latex has been used in the bathroom, that's outright wrong. I'm referring to soft joints between tiles, ceramics, etc. Latex can perhaps be okay, for example, between various carpentry details in the bathroom.
You can always request a re-inspection, but this must be done within a short, fairly narrow timeframe.
Now, it depends a bit on what the contract looks like. If you have bought a completed house, it is roughly like buying any old house; then there is essentially a much narrower definition of faults, and other inspection rules apply. If you are buying the completed house (and are thus not the developer yourself), you are buying the house with the visible execution it has, regardless of how wrong it is. This is hopefully regulated in your purchase agreement.
Joints can be replaced, but it's quite a lot of work. If latex has been used in the bathroom, that's outright wrong. I'm referring to soft joints between tiles, ceramics, etc. Latex can perhaps be okay, for example, between various carpentry details in the bathroom.
You can always request a re-inspection, but this must be done within a short, fairly narrow timeframe.
Now, it depends a bit on what the contract looks like. If you have bought a completed house, it is roughly like buying any old house; then there is essentially a much narrower definition of faults, and other inspection rules apply. If you are buying the completed house (and are thus not the developer yourself), you are buying the house with the visible execution it has, regardless of how wrong it is. This is hopefully regulated in your purchase agreement.
Thank you for your response, Hempularen,
the contact person just mentioned that there was silicone in the wet areas and latex in the other areas. So far, everything is correct.
But is it common for a white and transparent silicone joint to yellow so much in half a year? It contrasts very much with the white tiles and looks like we are both heavy smokers..
We bought the house completely finished, only after all the various inspections went through, so we shouldn't be the builders in any way, should we? It was surely stated in the contract that all faults found by the inspector would be corrected, etc.
How do you request a re-inspection? Does it cost me anything?
the contact person just mentioned that there was silicone in the wet areas and latex in the other areas. So far, everything is correct.
But is it common for a white and transparent silicone joint to yellow so much in half a year? It contrasts very much with the white tiles and looks like we are both heavy smokers..
We bought the house completely finished, only after all the various inspections went through, so we shouldn't be the builders in any way, should we? It was surely stated in the contract that all faults found by the inspector would be corrected, etc.
How do you request a re-inspection? Does it cost me anything?