News 3 Las Vegas
Beazer Homes Ripped Apart To Support Defect Claims
"There have been concerns all throughout the neighborhood where houses have been tested and had a lot of mold… The invasive testing going on at Mary Fiel's house and 13 others in Vista Del Oro is part of a construction defect lawsuit filed about a year ago against Beazer Homes…  Jewel White is another Vista Del Oro homeowner. "This was my retirement dream, which has turned into a nightmare." The lawsuit, which is pending clearance for class action status, alleges Beazer knew about the defects and in many cases, failed to act. "Nobody wanted to sue them. We asked them time and time again to fix things and they wouldn't do it." Things like water leaks, plumbing and electrical problems and mold. "You buy a house with the hope that it's going to be done right, and it's not."
Must See: Beazer Homes Lawsuits

News 3 Las Vegas
Beazer Homes Ripped Apart To Support Defect Claims
In a story you'll see only on News 3, it's raining inside some Summerlin homes. Whether it's a rain shower or a tub shower, the water's coming in, and that's why some Summerlin residents want Beazer Homes out of southern Nevada. News 3 Investigator Darcy Spears show us why residents are ripping their homes apart. A gaping hole underneath a living room window was made on purpose to demonstrate just how defective residents say the Beazer home is.

Watch what happened here. These guys are getting ready to make it rain, though not the refreshing kind we hope for in the summer. They're going to make it rain inside this house on purpose, because that's what happens every time it really rains, according to a crew working for Mary Fiel's attorney. "And rather than running back out, it runs inside." Just like this. Mere seconds after the spray test begins, water seeps through the sill down into the wall.

"There have been concerns all throughout the neighborhood where houses have been tested and had a lot of mold. And I have a hard time breathing in this house. I've had allergies ever since I've lived here. So I thought I'd have my house tested and see what's going on." The invasive testing going on at Mary Fiel's house and 13 others in Vista Del Oro is part of a construction defect lawsuit filed about a year ago against Beazer Homes.

Jewel White is another Vista Del Oro homeowner. "This was my retirement dream, which has turned into a nightmare." The lawsuit, which is pending clearance for class action status, alleges Beazer knew about the defects and in many cases, failed to act. "Nobody wanted to sue them. We asked them time and time again to fix things and they wouldn't do it." Things like water leaks, plumbing and electrical problems and mold. "You buy a house with the hope that it's going to be done right, and it's not."

The couple is already out of pocket after replacing sliding glass doors they say didn't work. And on the inside? "During the rains, I had two streams of water coming in from this window."

Back at Mary Fiel's house, more rain upstairs where some simulated bath splashing shows how the water comes right through the wall into her closet. You can see by following this light here how the tub has separated from the wall. "I'm afraid the ceiling will come down one of these days because the tub is heavy, you know, it's full of water and I have leaks in the ceiling." It's something you'd never know just scanning the streets of this quiet Summerlin neighborhood, but now, it's painfully clear, even to the family dog.

In a written statement, Beazer says they're actively addressing issues Vista Del Oro homeowners have brought to their attention and are making repairs. They say they'll respond to any additional concerns as well because they're committed to doing the right thing and resolving outstanding issues with these homes. If the lawsuit goes to court, it could involve as many as 180 homes in this development.

And it won't be the first time Beazer lands in court over construction defects. At the beginning of this year, jurors ordered the developer to pay $8 million dollars to fix construction defects in a North Las Vegas neighborhood.

Construction problems can cost homeowners hundreds, even thousands in repairs. But there are ways to check for construction problems or serious defects in your home. Here are some warning signs to look out for:

• Do you see deep cracks in the foundation? That may mean the foundation was poorly laid.
• If your windows and doors don't sit well in their frames or don't close properly, you may have leaks within your walls.
• Extraordinarily high heating or cooling bills. Rooms that don't get warm or cold enough can signal structural defects, or leaky or improperly connected air ducts.
• If you have a lot of dead outlets, your electrical system may be incorrectly installed.