Outside of the extra missing drywall, the vent needs to be specified before construction. Dryers do not use side vents normally. It adds too much to the cost. Builders know this. Allowing about 6-8 inches of depth allows for venting. This is typical design. When the HO wants to cram the washer and dryer as far back as possible, it adds to the maintenance and repair of the machine. This is your fault and not the builders fault.

Meg, I would think the builder would have more experience with things of this nature than his clients. Maybe you could persuade him to try using a dryerbox. See the link. We used this in our laundry room and it is great. My machines are very close to the wall.

If they are stubborn, this is something you can do yourself at a small cost.

Here is a link that might be useful: www,dryerbox.com

That's an interesting view point bob brown, but everything indicates that the builder put the vent there as an after-thought. (They even cut a beam to make room for the venting.) And, in fact, when I asked the builder why he put the duct there and what he was envisioning, (I thought it was on the outside wall), he said that I can buy a side-venting dryer. I don't just "cram the washer and dryer back" as far as possible; he created a narrow room and I need those extra inches so I can stand in front of the open machines and use them.

Thanks charlyinfl. I will ask the appliance store about that box, but I think it would still require opening the wall and too many elbows. I'm also trying to use rigid venting if I can but it's a good idea. I think it's similar to the periscoping venting.

First mistake is you closed before having this addressed. I don't understand why the builder didn't install the vent through the window wall (is that wall facing the street or something?). To prevent future headaches, I'd pay the $250 and have it done right. I also agree with the other poster to check out the duct box also, but I think a new vent in the window wall is the answer. Good luck with your nightmare!

I am house hunting now. And I must say that I see more mistakes made in the laundry room than anywhere else in these new homes. So much so, that it is the first room I look for when I go into a house. If the dryer vent isn't in the wrong location, the door going into the room swings the wrong way, or the light switch is on the wrong side of the door, or there is not nearly enough clearance for the washer and dryer to be installed properly.

As for the situation pictured above, the builder is going to fight you every step of the way whether it is this issue or the roof leaks. If you are in a development, locate other models of your home and look to see how the vent was done in those laundry rooms. Don't forget to take pictures to help present your case. If the same mistake exists in other homes and hasn't been complained about your chances of getting it fixed are weaker. Unless you can get other homeowners to complain as well.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

MRB

Whether you had detailed specifications about the vent or not, what they did is clearly bad workmanship. The picture is worth 1000 words. I would not accept it.

We bought a dryerbox for our builder to install. When it came time for the workers to install the vent and the dryerbox, they did it upside down, with the duct coming in from the bottom - essentially rendering it useless, because the duct entrance to the box conflicted with the vent on the dryer. We made the builder add in a custom, finish-drywalled dryer box in our laundry room wall, with the vent coming in to the side of the rear-center standard vent exit on the dryer, so there's plenty of room for the duct to connect.

Good luck.

I'm just starting my real estate biz, and one of the most common mistakes buyers of new construction make is they don't properly inspect the home during and after construction. Always ALWAYS hire an independent inspector to look at everything -- foundation phase, pre drywall, and pre walk-thru. It's much easier to address these issues before the house is completed and before the house closes.

Once you close on the house, unless you have in writing that the builder will fix something post close, you are pretty much out of luck because you had the opportunity to inspect, to your satisfaction, prior to close of escrow.

Now, with that said, you can still be a pain in the builder's behind by talking to your neighbors to see if they have similar issues and band together. You can also file a complaint with your state's registrar of contractors -- this usually gets a builder's attention. Looking at your photo, you definitely have a workmanship issue.

You have to ask yourself how badly do you need the dryer installed? It could take months to fight the builder, while you can pay the $250 quickly to have a new duct put in. You could take the builder to small claims court to recover your $250, if you feel your case is strong enough. You have lots of options.

Thanks for the comments and advice. We did have a pre-closing inspection and the inspector missed that entirely. (In fact, he just left. I had asked him to come look at it.)

It's a funny thing. I think everyone agrees that it's an ugly piece of workmanship. This is not a tract home, or a modular home, so it's especially disappointing. The inspector doesn't understand why I don't just duct it out the back and be done with it. And that will surely be the builder's viewpoint.

I think it will be safer and better to vent it out the window wall so that's what I'm going to do. I don't even know if I want to fight about it any longer. All the mistakes are making me sick.

Stick to your guns, well, sort of. It would be a much cleaner install venting out the side direct through the wall. That's how mine is. Total length of venting is about 1 1/2 foot, with one elbow inside the machine. Very clean and solid. I can remove the little louvers on the vent outside, and reach in and clean the entire thing in about 5 minutes. Personally, I would just pay the $250 and be done with it. To much time, energy and bad feelings wasted on just $250. Life is short.

Plus, now is the time to do it, as materials to match the exterior, and interior (like mouldings) are still available.

$250 over the life of the house is peanuts. Not even peanuts - poppy seeds.

I am more concerned about the cut beam - are you sure that was OK structurally? - DR

Hi Dross,

The inspector said that it's a piece of firring (sp?) and just there for the corner--to attach the drywall I suppose. He said it's not structural at all and not to worry about it. I also asked whether I need to have the floors reinforced and he didn't think it should be a problem. It's not the amount of money that's bothering me; it's just irksome to pay this on top of everything else.

Thanks sr712. I will go ahead with it; still undecided between the Duet Sport and the Bosch 500. I'm glad to hear that it's so easy to clean.

This forum has been such a help. Thanks everyone!