Demlang Builders - Demlang left me with a bad basement on an eight year old home! Sussex Wisconsin
I would not recommend them. I am the second owner of a house they built and the workmanship is less than desirable in my opinion. Do your homework and go with a builder that guarantees their basements. I am guessing that Demlang does not do their own basements and they probably hire someone to do that part for them. So, ask your builder who does their basements and then check that company out. My basement went bad eight short years after being built. We came home to find standing water in the basement one evening and it went down hill from there. We called Rod Demlang and told him about the problems we were experiencing and he agreed to come out to take a look. He showed up as promised (that was the highlight) and from there it seemed like the only thing that was important to him and the company was to claim no responsibility whatsoever. On their web site it states that there is a ten year warranty on their basements. Great news I thought at first until I was told by Demlang that the ten year warranty started after my house was built. I am guessing, but I think they changed their basement company after my house was built and went with a better company that has a ten year guarantee. If that's not the case, it sure does seem strange that they changed. In the end, it cost my wife and I $23,000 to fix an 8yr old basement that should have in my opinion lasted a lot longer. This was a financial mess! Demlang has not stood by their workmanship in my situation and hopefully you will do your homework before hiring a builder to build your house.
Chris
Germantown, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Rod Demlang
Sussex,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Demlang Builders, Inc. Response
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, July 01, 2009
Demlang Builders, Inc. has been building homes in the Metro Milwaukee area for over 27 years and has a superb reputation. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority; needless to say I was shocked to see this report. It absolutely amazes me that someone can put a report like this out to the public without including all of the facts.
To clarify this situation, when I received a call asking me to take a look at the foundation, I gladly did so. During this visit I walked the perimeter of the foundation and pointed out areas of concern and explained that the reason there was a moisture issues in the foundation had nothing to do with the foundation itself, it was the grading/landscaping around the foundation. Demlang Builders does not do landscaping nor do we or any other builder come back year after year to make sure that the grading around a foundation has not settled, this truly is the homeowner's responsibility. I recommended that a grading/landscaping company be hired to correct the grade around the foundation. It is critical that a positive slope from the foundation is maintained; doing such should have corrected the situation. I also asked to get a call back when the grading had been completed so that I could come back out and look at it. I never heard back, therefore I assumed that my advice has been taken and the situation had been rectified. It is not my practice, nor has it ever been my practice, to leave a customer hanging. If the problem persisted I should have been called back. When I went out to inspect the foundation, I made it clear that I was willing to work with the homeowner to resolve this issue.
A very reputable foundation contractor that is used by several builders in Southeastern Wisconsin built this foundation. This foundation was inspected by the municipality confirming that it was built to code; there was nothing wrong with the foundation.
Before choosing a builder I also hope that you do your homework. I assure you, you will be more then satisfied with Demlang Builders, Inc. If you have any additional questions regarding Demlang Builders or would like further information regarding Demlang Builders, please give us a call at 262-246-0330 we would love to hear from you.
Rod Demlang
Susan
This City,Illinois,
U.S.A.
How old is the house?
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, June 17, 2009
You are the second owner and have owned the home for 8 years on that 10 year warranty? Did the original owners have the house for 2 years. 8+2=10