Atkins & Sheaffer Construction

Our home sustained structural damage due to a leak over our family room sliding door and adjacent window. The leak occurred because flashing for a balcony above the door and window was not done properly. The affected room is part of an addition that was constructed by Atkins & Sheaffer (A&S) during a major renovation to our home in 2000. We discovered the structural damage in May 2013 when another contractor, hired to remove and replace rotting exterior trim boards from around the window area, saw significant rotting to the header and jack stud framing upon removal of the exterior trim. With the trim removed, it became evident that the balcony flashing directed water to a concentrated spot above the door/window intersection. In addition, the door & window trim directly below the balcony was not flashed which allowed water to enter the wall cavity. We expressed concern about a leak in this area several times after A&S completed the original construction in 2000. The leak appeared as a slow drip at the top of the sliding door and/.or one or more windows. It typically appeared during sustained periods of rain and/or after heavy storms. A&S said they sent a roofer out but we continued to have problems. In January 2004, we finally sent A&S a letter. By that time, Pella, the window/door manufacturer, had already inspected our home twice and indicated that the leak was not related to their product but rather the installation. In our letter to A&S, we expressed concern about the potential long-term damage to our home. They apparently came out some time during the week of January 30, 2004 to check out the problem but evidently did not take the appropriate steps to rectify the situation. As a result of A&S faulty workmanship and lack of effort to repair the problem, we recently had to have our family room windows and sliding door removed so that structural repairs could be performed. This involved building a temporary structural support to support the back of the house, removing four window sets and a sliding door from the back wall of the house, removing the long rotted window/door header and supporting studs, reframing the wall, and re-installing the windows and door. All window/door trim had to be replaced along with adjacent sheetrock. We also had to re-paint the ceiling, molding and walls. Our homeowner?s insurance does not cover the cost of this repair because it is clear that the flashing was improperly installed. We asked A&S to process the cost of the $6,000 repair through their insurance as the original general contractor via certified mail on May 20, 2013. They did not respond. We are currently in direct contact with their insurer in an attempt to recoup the cost of the repair. These events caused a major disruption to our home and family and we still do not know whether we will be forced to pay a second time for work that should have been done correctly the first time. A&S?s lack of interest in attempting to repair their mistakes or even address the issue with us is unprofessional. They have displayed very poor business practices.