STALLINGS, N.C. — In May 2014, Jill Page and her family moved into a house that was a part of a new construction development in Stallings.
"This was brand new and never been lived in so that was pretty exciting," she told Action 9's Jason Stoogenke.
But Page said, a few years later, the siding started bubbling.
The problem has to do with her neighbor's windows.
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Her neighbor has higher-efficiency windows, called "low-e" windows, which reflect the sunlight to keep the house cool.
But the downside is they can warp the siding on other homes close by.
Page told the builder, M/I Homes, which told her to ask her neighbor to sign a form so the company could install a solar screen on the neighbor's windows.
Page said the company never said anything about the offer having an expiration date.
Like any family, Page said hers had a lot going on, so she put the problem on the back burner.
Then, the siding got much worse, so Page circled back to M/I Homes.
By that time, more than a year had passed and the builder said she waited too long.
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Page said she received an email from M/I Homes saying, "There was a time frame and that courtesy time frame has expired."
"I think that I spent too much money on this house in order for it to be melting," Page told Stoogenke. "It's a five-year-old house. These things shouldn't be happening."
So Stoogenke contacted M/I Homes and the company contacted Page the same day.
The builder emailed Stoogenke, "M/I Homes' policy had changed ... and our company no longer provided a warranty on the siding." The company went on to say, "However, we have reached out to Ms. Page to offer our previous solution, including replacing the siding and installing a solar window screen on her neighbor's windows."
Shortly after, the company did just that.
If you're buying new home construction:
- Ask the builder -- in writing -- if the siding will hold up against the sunlight reflecting from windows. That way you can deal with it before you close.
- If you buy the home and have the problem follow through right away. Don't wait.
You may be wondering about the following:
- Builder warranty: usually only lasts about one year
- Siding warranty: usually has limits based on time and on what caused the warping
- Home warranty: may cover, but a lot of people don't get that on new construction
- Homeowners insurance: probably covers damaged siding, but read it carefully because it may have to be from wind or other storm damage