NV HOMES

The house is designed nicely. The bad part is the quality of construction and my main concern is the poor construction of the bathrooms. Green board, a plaster-like backer board, was used in the bathroom showers, behind the tiles, instead of a cement backer board. Green board is not made of cement and breaks down when exposed to water, like in the showers. Green board was acceptable by code in 2001 when this house was built. However, many contractors that I have spoken to say they stopped using green board long before 2001 or never used it at all. The national builders code made it illegal to use it in 2006. Eight years after moving into the house, tiles began to fall off in the shower as the green board deteriorated. Replacing the tiles without replacing the backer board would potentially lead to leaks from the shower into the family room below. NV Homes might accuse me of not sealing the tile every year and not keeping the caulk in good repair, but if cement backer board had been used, that would not matter. If a tile comes off cement backer board, it can be easily reattached. However, I have to replace all the backer board in the shower to replace a couple of tiles. And, since the color of new tiles cannot be matched to the existing tiles, all the tile around the tub must be replaced as well. As I understand it, that requires a plumber to remove the tube also. I have had estimates of $8,000 to do this and only because NV Homes wished to save a few hundred dollars, or perhaps, only tens of dollars. This makes me question what else was done cheaply in building this home. NV Homes' website home page talks about "unrivaled quality" and "highest quality materials". Apparently, that did not seem to be the case in 2001. In 1999, the American National Standard for Installation of Ceramic Tile recommended concrete, portland cement mortar, cementitious backer units, of masonry for backing material behind tiles in wet areas. This was before the house was constructed. People using Angie's List need to know how the quality of builders holds up over years. This is important so that builders will think long-term also.

THE HOUSE IS IN GREAT CONDITION, BUT THE FIT AND FINISH COULD BE A LOT BETTER. OUR FRONT BANISTER WAS PIECED TOGETHER BECAUSE THE CARPENTER CUT A PIECE TOO SHORT. WE CALLED THEIR ATTENTION TO IT, BUT THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT SAYING THAT IT WAS STANDARD. IT HAS SINCE BROKEN AND WE'RE NO LONGER UNDER THE YEAR WARRANTY, THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. WE WILL NEED TO PAY AROUND $1000 TO FIX IT! THE BATH TUB FAUCET ACTUALLY SPINS WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE CEMENTED TO THE TUB TILES. THEY'RE SLOGAN IS 'BE THE ENVY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'. THE OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.