Video - Frisco homeowner struggles with mold mystery

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Frisco homeowner struggles with mold mystery

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Texas Cable News - Dallas,TX*

By STEVE STOLER / WFAA-TV

http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa0

80918_wz_moldhouse.8cfb6bf0.html

FRISCO — It can happen to any homeowner. When it rains, you discover

that somehow, some way, water has run into an interior wall.

The cause of the problem is a mystery.

That's what Frisco homeowner Clift is struggling with, as she

and her homebuilder are debating what the problem is — and how it

should be fixed.

Clift bought her home four years ago. Three weeks ago, she moved

out, citing health reasons.

She says trying to sell it now would be impossible.

Clift showed News 8 photos documenting the source of her

frustration. " It's been a terrible, terrible ordeal, " she said.

WFAA-TV

Clift has moved out of her Frisco home. Clift claims that

within one year of moving in, water began to leak in the corner of a

dining room wall. The builder, Lennar Homes, promptly repaired it —

but the problem continued.

" It was stripped down to the sheetrock. The ceiling was cut out,

this whole area was taped off, " she said.

Since then, Clift says, her house has sustained major water damage

six more times, even after repairs were made repeatedly.

She hired a lawyer and an environmental company to test her house.

Texas Mold Inspection Services found moisutre and mold in the dining

room wall.

The house is under a 10-year warranty, and Lennar wants to make more

repairs.

" Saying that they're going to quote,' fix it again,' and then, who

knows? Within six months, I'm back in the same situation again, "

Clift said. " You can't keep living in this type of chaos. "

Lennar Homes sent a statement to News 8 saying they have made every

effort to address Clift's concerns with her home. The homebuilder

said it has hired both structural and environmental consultants, and

has offered to test and repair any and all defects with the house.

The environmental consultant determined there is a limited area of

water intrusion in one area of the dining room, and recommended it

be repaired and remediated.

" Lennar should take this property back, find out what is wrong, and

find out why water keeps on getting in, " Clift said.

When Clift signed the contract to buy the house, she agreed to

resolve any disputes with Lennar Homes through mediation, and — if

necessary — binding arbitration.

E-mail sstoler@...