SCHERTZ, Texas - Some Fairhaven homeowners are getting big support in their efforts to get the builder to buy back their homes.
About 30 homeowners met with members of the Homeowners for Better Building and state Representative John Kuempel Monday evening to discuss the foundation problems many say they are experiencing in the neighborhood. The majority at the meeting said they were dealing with "major" problems, including foundation shifting, sinking and cracking, some of which appeared to be cracking horizontally through the slab, according to Janet Ahmad, president of HOBB. Others at the meeting said they were having some minor problems but were concerned about what could develop in the future.
Rep. Kuempel said he would be willing to work with all of the homeowners and Pulte Homes to try to resolve their issues.
Bruce and Faye Touve hosted the meeting at their house, which they say has had problems since three years ago. She said she recently heard a large popping noise and thought it was something on the stove. She says she quickly realized it was the foundation cracking and the tile coming loose.
"The back right side of my house was 3.5 inches lower than the front side. It's now progressed to 4.5 inches," she explained.
Brian and Peggy Benavides said they have been having foundation issues since shortly after buying their first home four years ago.
"48 beams under a house 46 feet down and it's still cracking. I'm not an engineer, but I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that's not working," Brian said.
He said Pulte completed the pier and beam repairs last November but new cracks are appearing inside and outside the house.
"Fact of the matter is, they need to buy these homes back. It's the right thing to do," he said.
Residents also expressed concern about a large retaining wall in the neighborhood, with some worrying it could collapse like a retaining wall in the Rivermist subdivision in San Antonio.
A Pulte spokesperson did not return phone calls Thursday evening but previously said in an e-mail statement that the company has a "20-year history here in San Antonio of standing behind its homes and homeowners" and the company is working with a "handful" of homeowners to resolve their "warranty-related issues."
