American Heritage Homes of Virginia American Heritage Homes Unlicensed suncontractor usage. Refuses to correct warranty issues. Driveway failed within days! Fredericksburg, Virginia
This builder broke the contract in that he took a year to put in our driveway. When pushed he then hired an unlicensed contractor to do the work. The driveway failed almost immediately and required replacement at a cost of almost $15,000 which we paid for due to numerous hazardous potholes, etc. The builder refused any warranty and he wanted to only "top-coat" the driveway - something that two paving contractors stated would have no affect on the failure problems. Two engineering reports (one from a professional engineering group) both stated the driveway was improperly installed and needed to be replaced which the builder steadfastly refused all warranty. The engineering reports stated that the driveway pavement was too thin (only 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick!) and placed over the wrong base stone. The angular base stone was what the builder had originally put in when he originally planned to have a gravel driveway but according to the reports it should have been removed and proper supportive stone (#21-A with stone dust) should have been placed on the base. The improper stone was one cause of failure. The second cause of failure was the use of an intermediate mix of asphalt which had stone in the asphalt mix actually larger than the pavement thickness resulting in the driveway asphalt stone popping loose. Also, the engineering report stated that there was much mat separation. After paying the build almost $10,000 for the driveway we have now paid an additional $15,000 for removal and replacement and an additional $7,500 in our attorneys fees Hopefully Karma is real and there is a special place in Hell for this Builder.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Thoroughly Disgusted
Fredericksburg,Virginia,
USA
Similar - No warranty and punch-list work.
#4Author of original report
Mon, December 13, 2010
Similar Problems - No warranty repairs ever done or provided on our home despite requests.
No punch-list items ever done on our home by builder.
No follow-up work provided for nail-pops, drywall seam repairs, etc.
Others may have had similar problems which I can not verify but I am providing a link for your own evaluation . Here is the link: http://www.google.com/maps/place?cid=9678861382394979582&q=American+Heritage&fb=1&gl=us&hq=American+Heritage&hnear=Fredericksburg,+VA&ei=hYsFTcuvKcT6lwfj8ODRCQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=placepage-link&resnum=4&ved=0CEYQ4gkwAw
Adolph
Homosassa 46517,Florida,
USA
Gee! Where I'm located the government protects us from OURSELVES!
#4General Comment
Sat, December 11, 2010
I am a snow bird resident ofFlorida
.
In researching what the state and county required I ran across the most
interesting issue facing any home or land owner. InFlorida
Citrus county) any homeowner who hires any unlicensed contractor to
do anything that requires a license (which is just about anything) the
homeowner is open to charges and fines for doing so. I have been irritated
at all the paperwork, permits and inspections (and the county inspectors have been on my property regularly). After reading the post from the
Virginia resident, however, I can see just maybe, where this is of benefit.
.
On the other hand, this is at odds with my desire to have the State and
Federal entities out of my life.
Thoroughly Disgusted
Fredericksburg,Virginia,
USA
Unlicensed subcontractor usage. Outrageous ethics behavior.
#4Author of original report
Fri, December 10, 2010
I failed to mention that this builder who refused to even personally look at the asphalt failure was also a Professional Engineer who stipulated the specifications of this driveway and hired the paver. When informed of the failure, Professional Engineering ethics would seem to dictate that he should have personally inspected the driveway to investigate the cause of the failure. He refused to personally inspect the driveway or cause of failure. Instead the Builder went on a very aggressive campaign to blame us (!) and to confuse the Contracting Board.
A second driveway that the builder had done at the same time by the same unlicensed paver also failed very badly and due to similar underlying reasons. The builder chose to cut out huge massive sections of pavement and patch and then lay an additional layer of asphalt over the top. So, this builder is well aware of the underlying failure and problems even if he did not investigate our problems.
Also, so there can be no doubt to the earlier post here is the link to the Virginia Board Of Contractors finding:
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/regulantlookup/.%5Cdisciplinaryactions%5Cpdf_orders%5C2010-00471_2705100030.pdf
Be aware that Pruitt Contracting is the contracting arm of American Heritage Homes. They then went on to sub-contract with W. Edgerton who was unlicensed at the time he paved the driveway. The Principal's name is John Pruitt.