Complaint Review: Standard Pacific Home - Austin Texas

  Truth never fails… In May 2014, I signed a home purchasing agreement with Standard Pacific Home in Cedar Park, Texas. This was my dream home, and put all my saving towards to purchase this home. Unfortunately I had no home to stay in Austin, Texas after I sold my previous home so went out of country until I close the home. Before I leave the country, I did walkthrough the home and identified there was a big mistake in the hardwood installations and also enormous manufacture defects. I complaint this to the builder “Standard Pacific”, and they agreed to have an inspector to inspect the flooring issues.

I was in out of country when they did the inspection, and I was told the hardwood was installed per the manufacture specification and there are only a few defects which the manufacture will replace it for me. However, there were plenty of issues with the flooring when I saw it, so I was able to recognize that the report was a fall report. Also the report was not provided me after the inspection, and I was informed that it will take a few weeks to get the report and everything will be fixed by the time you will get home. I believed Standard Pacific’s white lies and trusted the builder as my previous builder “Highland Home”.

The fact is, the report was a rip-off from Standard Pacific, and obviously the inspector is from manufacture “Shaw”. The report was provided to me 2 weeks prior to the closing, which had only an inspector name as “M H I”, no other detail of inspector was provided in the report, such as Full name, License Name and Number. I have escalated these issues to the Standard Pacific upper level management and asking them to replace the entire wood floor, but they are being not heard, and repeatedly saying the issue was resolved per the inspector. The repair they made was replaced 9 wood planks and did some touch up to the wood planks, the stain that was used in the beveled joints is visible, and not matching the original color of the wood.

I have hired two inspectors on June 11/2014 to inspect everything, especially the hardwood floor. Their finding was as below: FLOOR COVERING(S): Carpeting, laminated wood and ceramic tile. It appears that the installer did not follow manufacturer's specifications of culling the defects prior to installation. The wood laminate around the home is showing an inconsistent gap in the joints in multiple locations. Filler material noted at some of the joints does not match by color. There are multiple areas of noticeable scuffing and marking throughout the rooms with the flooring, including the front entry way, near the kitchen bar and in the formal dining room. There is a fractured piece of laminate flooring at the elbow of the kitchen island.

There is a missing piece of flooring at the corners of the kitchen pantry. The flooring is not seal properly at the fireplace hearth extension. There is a gouge in the laminate flooring in the living room near the south windows. And the inspector’s Opinion as below: email received from my inspector. Hi Suji, Yes, the solution presented will resolve the A/C clearance issue. With regard to the issue with the floors I have 2 questions: 1) it should be noted that the manufacturer specifications take priority over code; 2) I am wondering if the person who responded to your email has read them and actually understands them.

It is my understanding that boards with defects should identified and replaced by the manufacturer, at no cost, instead of being installed and then replaced. Obviously the ends are beveled, anyone can see that, but they all should have exactly the same separation, and that floor does not. Chet Tutor Professional Inspector Home & Septic Inspections 512-966-9575 (Ellen - For Scheduling & Other Admin Matters) 512-966-3077 (Chet - For Questions or Information about Previous Inspections) 512-682-0222 (Fax) www.TutorProfessionalInspections.com TREC # 6483 TCEQ # OS0019974

You’re more than welcome to contact my inspectors and get some inside of this wood flooring. My home was closed on June 27th, and after I closed, before I moved my furniture, I inspected each wood plank. I was terrified to find out that there are more than 99 wood planks are with manufacture defects, and quite a lot are installed incorrectly; joints are popping up, and unbeveled. They flooring has inconsistent looks. So I took pictures of all the defects before I moved the furniture (I have a proof with time stamp) and sent an email to the Standard Pacific VP of sales.

Standard Pacific VP of sale never responded to my concerns, only the area manager replied today as follows: Good afternoon Suji, I have reviewed your email to Clint and April about the wood floors. Standard Pacific Homes will not be replacing your wood floors. Wood floors will likely have variation of color, texture, grain, knots and streaks. It is all part of the allure of wood floors. Wood flooring will scratch and dent, if not careful. When moving contents into the home it is highly recommended to protect your floors to prevent damage.

Thanks Dane Amthor North Area Manager Standard Pacific Homes, Austin 11001 Lakeline Blvd. Building 1, Suite 100, Austin Texas 78717 Involved party in this issue as follows: *Standard Pacific (Austin, Texas) *Floors Inc. Austin ( 15407 Long Vista Dr, Austin, TX 78728 *Shaw Industry(Shaw Industries Inc. P.O. Drawer 2128 Dalton, GA 30722 ). As a working mom, kids of two, I saved every Penney to buy this dream home. All the parties mentioned above ruined my dream home, and currently I am going through emotional stress that affects my family’s happiness, kids’ education, my work, my health and etc. If truth is still alive in USA, my voice should be heard to the consumers/legal advisors / other community members. Please don’t let them get away, truth should win.