When a composite deck is found to be faulty- like those Trex planks that came out of that Arizona plant that they closed–(they have set aside $45 million for replacement costs), who covers the installation costs?
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
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Replies
Read the warranty.
How many contractors or potential purchasers will read the warranty before buying?
Would the expectation not be that the company would provide the labor-- it is their defective product that caused the additional costs to be incurred by their client.
L (Devil's Advocate)GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
I've read enough warranties so that I assume that labor is not included in anything. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
So do you stipulate verbally or notify them in the contract that you will not be covering the cost should that happen? Tough call right? Pretend they want a Trex Deck...
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
I've never addressed it. Thats something to ponder. In my life, I've always had to fix every problem at my expense even when it clearly is not my fault. It's happened so often that I just assume I should pay. Conversely, no one ever pays when they cause a problem. If I was the whiny type, I'd give you a laundry list that might shock you but I tend to try to move on and just carry on. It's sad though how some people think. I guess I'm only hoping that there is some form of retribution in the next life. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
Most warrantees I have read stipulate that it limits coverage to replacement of the product only.There have been class action lawsuits such as against masonite siding that required replacement costs also or beyond the normal warrantee period.
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I read the warranty on major purchases. And with building materials it's almost universally the case that warranty provides for materials only -- no labor. And very often the money for materials is prorated, so you only, eg, get half five years into a ten year warranty.
Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be! --Miguel de Cervantes
Dan--It is just not right.
If we mess up, granted, we are human, just like the guys that run the composite companies and develop these products are.
When we as carpenters mess up we fix it--or we are out of business.
So far as I am concerned, the manufacturers making faulty composite that have to worry about paying for warranty service or not--will be out of business in a short time.
Mark my words, any company that excludes installation costs from their warranty and pro-rates their low-maintenance decking will never get sold by a GardenStructure.com Builder without that exclusion being illuminated in technicolour--with a highlighter when they sign the contract.
This gamesmanship can do severe damage to our business in any area where we sell based on our reputation.
They market it as "Better than Wood", then when it flakes to pieces or grows mold from within they say--"But we aren't actually responsible--you bought the materials so you should pay to reinstall or replace it with something that will last" or " We didn't promise that it won't grow mold from within or that mold would grow on the surface".
When on earth is Taunton going to do an article on this? Trouble is they are still advertising too much for FH to take a realistic look at composite companies business practices. I really hate to see you guys get kicked for building with a "Premium Product". In this economy it could lead to the end of many contractors.
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
This economy is already leading to the end of many contractors. The last ten carpenters that have called me for work are "failed contractors". It is a shame that companies like that won't stand behind their product. I just did a bunch of reading regarding the warranty of the kerdi stuff which they claim is so great. It turns out that they don't talk about their warranty on their website and when pressed...IT'S ONLY ONE YEAR! Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
That's precisely what I mean Jim-- Contractors don't read up on this kind of thing automatically. Most don't look into it until they have a problem.
I'm seeing 5 or 10 resumes a week up here... and I think there's about 5 of the larger deck companies missing from last year in Toronto.
BTW Dan-- I haven't been burned by it.. but about 50 people have written and called because they had been--or were being at the time.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
Edited 8/16/2008 9:32 pm ET by Lawrence
I agree that it's not right, but that's the way it is. I got burned on a defective roof from Certainteed, and I don't miss any opportunity to bad-mouth them as a result.
Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be! --Miguel de Cervantes
Isn't Trex a "green" product?
Im guessing that the homeowner gets stuck but if history repeats itself the LP debacle might give us a clue.
For the record, I was satisfied with the LP sidings that I installed on my own stuff. Of course, I used the hidden fastner method, painted regularly and caulked after painting with exterior flexible siding caulk.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"
It depends. What have they said?
LP has reported a problem with a limited number of WeatherBest, Veranda , and ABTCo decking.
http://www.deckingnotice.com/faq.html
And they will pay for replacing it.
"The results of that inspection may determine that the deck is prematurely deteriorating and if so, it will be remedied – at no cost to you. LP will arrange to have work performed by an independent contractor."
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.