Question : How long do you have to sue a home builder if your home has a major defect caused by the builders?
We had our home built in 2003, so we have been in it six yrs. now. Recently we discovered that there has been a very slow leak in one of the bathroom walls since the home was constructed. There was no evidence of this leak until recently, as this is a guest bathroom not used very much. The only time it would leak is when the shower was being used, which is rare. Apparantly, the builder’s workers pierced a pipe with a nail, causing a slow leak. Now, we have to have mold specialists come out and test the air for dangerous molds, then have a company clean up the mold, and of course there is the remodeling of the bathroom to do. This is going to come to thousands of dollars, which we do not have. We have also contacted our home owners insurance company, which will cover none of it, as # 1, they do not cover mold inspection or cleanup, and # 2, they will not cover the work to get to bathroom “put back together” because the leak was due to poor construction on the builders part. If there is anyone out there who is an attorney or who knows the law, I would appreciate and info. on our rights as homeowners. We are scared, not only of the possible mold issues, but scared of the cost, because as I mentioned before, we have no money to pay for this. At this point, we cannot even take a loan out for repairs and such, because we could not afford to repay the loan. I work, our two sons work, and my husband works two jobs just to get by. Please help with any useful info. if you can. Thank you!
mold inspection cost

Best answer:

Answer by Julie
Most builders have structural warranty information on their websites. They can run anywhere from 2-10 years. However, if your warranty has expired, contact your local Registrar of Contractors. Their guidelines are usually 10 years on structural. This will over ride the builders warranty in your state, as you builder will have a contractors license in your state.
Good Luck.