Should builder replace this?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

My new home is currently under construction. It is framed and will get drywall soon. I just noticed several cracks in the garden tub. The builder‘s rep may have thought I meant ”scratches” because she suggested that this is normal when a home is being built and that it would be sanded or smoothed out. These are huge cracks in a brand new tub! I feel like the tub needs to be replaced. Is that a reasonable request, or should I allow them to “fix” it? I personally think patching these cracks (which run the length of the tub) would be unacceptable for a brand new home!

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Comments (10)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
5 years ago
Do-over.
millworkman
5 years ago
Yeah, that is not being effectively repaired.
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just_janni
5 years ago
And what's going on in that second pic - it looks beat to heck. At first I thought maybe it was water droplets but his low like a tone of depressions / pock marks.

New tub - you ain't fixing that. (and neither can they - despite what they will try to convince you. of...)
Heather Hellmers
Original Author
5 years ago
I appreciate the comments! The builder’s rep responded to my concern and photos today by checking out the tub. They told me what I see are “scratches” and it happens all of the time. They said the tub will be buffed out and reglossed before closing. I just don’t know how they could call those “scratches!” Trying to decide on how to proceed...
AJCN
5 years ago
I would not accept that. They are ghosting you.
cpartist
5 years ago
Time to talk to your lawyer.
Cheryl Hannebauer
5 years ago
following for updates
Keepthefaith MIGirl
5 years ago
It almost looks like you were given a used tub they already patched (pock marks under glaze) and the patch job cracked
cindallas
5 years ago
It’s really hard to tell from the pictures, but sure looked like it’s cracked and not scratched to me. I would contact the manufacturer of the tub and send better pics (these plus further back to show scale and include a quarter or something up close, again for scale, and any under deck pics if available, and if it’s just framed, hopefully it is). And then you can get their “official” opinion or even see if they can make a site visit. Get the manufacture involved ASAP! Then it’s not “your” opinion, but their official evaluation.

Once you have the mfg evaluation, you know what can be done. If you’re right, you’ve caught it as early as you can and get it replaced. You said it’s a garden tub, so is this a drop-in or undermount? (or free standing?) A drop-in will be much easier to replace than an undermount. If your builder is right, and it can be touched up, you've just got official confirmation of that from the rep and you can relax. Or maybe the rep can send out their own repair people which I’m thinking will be a superior job?

I’ve built several times and whenever there are issues like this, I’ve been very successful going straight to the manufacture for answers and action. As a woman, some builders or contractors will ignore your concerns, but if presented with the “manufacture instructions“ or an official condition report by the rep, they will listen to that.
just_janni
5 years ago
or - put some water in it and see what happens! Many tubs I have seen in houses end up having water sit in them....