Homeowners want help, answers with foundation cracks

By David DeKunder

Several homeowners in a Schertz subdivision who have cracks in their foundations and slabs are demanding that a homebuilder do more to fix the problem.

Residents of the Fairhaven subdivision, situated next to the Northcliffe subdivision off of Interstate 35, have met with representatives from Pulte Homes and city officials concerning their problems. While Pulte has repaired some of the damage caused by the cracks, many homeowners say the repairs are just a short term fix to a serious problem.

Leonard Taylor said cracks in his home damaged the floor tile in his laundry room and the top half of his driveway, which was replaced by Pulte.

Even with the repairs made by Pulte, there are still cracks in Taylor's garage and cracks separating his driveway from his house.

Taylor said he is not the only homeowner on his block that has had to deal with the damaging cracks. “Seventeen houses on my side of Columbia (Drive) are experiencing the same problems,” Taylor said.

Taylor's wife, Diana, said she knows of one homeowner and her son who had to be housed in a hotel for two weeks while the homebuilder replaced all of the flooring in that home as a result of crack damage.

Diana Taylor said the foundation cracks have been a daily nightmare for her and her neighbors.

“Sometimes I cry at night,” she said. “We don't sleep.”

Mark Allen said he started noticing cracks in his foundation after he moved into his home two years ago. He said the deepest crack runs from one side of the house to the other, across his foyer and garage.

“The crack is so large it is causing my tiles to break,” Allen said.

Allen said Pulte came to his home twice to conduct tests to see if his foundation was shifting. He said the homebuilder told him the home had been shifting, but he said he was not provided any paperwork by Pulte on their findings.

“I am greatly concerned, just like the rest of my neighbors, that all of our homes' values will further decrease,” Allen said. “I would greatly appreciate the assistance of the council and mayor and help us with the issue we all share.”

Lauren Darnell of Pulte Homes said the homebuilder is trying to rectify the cracking problems.

“We have hired third-party engineers to conduct inspections,” Darnell said. “They have given us recommendations on what to do and we are following those recommendations.”

Darnell said Pulte hasn't determined one single cause for why the soil maybe shifting, causing the cracks to appear. Several residents contend there is spring water below their homes, but engineers say it is normal groundwater.

“Each homeowner's situation is unique,” he said. “We are dealing with each homeowner's situation individually. We are not making a judgment call.”

Darnell said Pulte has not found any structural problems with the home foundations. “With the exception of one homeowner, the engineer's findings are the foundations are performing as they were designed,” Darnell said.

During the Oct. 25 Schertz City Council meeting, City Manager John Kessel told Fairhaven residents — 20 of whom came to raise their concerns — that the city will do it all it can to work with them in finding a solution.

“We have heard your concerns,” Kessel said. “We have met with Pulte on several occasions. What we are looking for is meaningful results. The city is willing to do its part to help in that process.”