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Inspections Fail To Catch Home's Problems

2-Year-Old Home Has Uneven Roof, Cracks

POSTED: 12:08 pm CDT October 16, 2008
UPDATED: 12:44 pm CDT October 16, 2008

Some Nashville homeowners said their new house has some structural problems that the building inspector should have caught but did not.

Video: Residents Sue Builder Over Structurally Deficient House

Dr. Robert Adams and his fiancée, Jeanne Lee, said the roof of their home in Eaton's Creek subdivision is wavy and uneven. It's not what they expected when they bought the house brand new two years ago.

"I'm not looking for anything extra. I'm just trying to make sure my investment is solid," said Lee.

The couple hired an engineer, who wrote up a number of other problems with the home, including a big crack across the floor. The engineer said the trusses are too far apart and the deck of the roof is made from a material that's not approved for roofing.

The couple is suing Fox Ridge Homes and Metro Codes, saying the building inspector passed the house when it obviously didn't meet codes.

"He may have looked at it. He may not have done his due diligence in making sure it met all the codes," said Lee.

Metro Codes admits that two inspectors both missed the roof problems.

The home passed both a framing inspection and a final inspection. Codes director Terry Cobb said the problems got missing word by his inspectors. He's trying to work with Fox Ridge to get them to fix the problem.

The couple said the fix that Fox Ridge is proposing isn't as extensive as what their engineer recommends.

"The recommendation is for them to replace the roof, and they haven't been willing to do that," said Lee.

Channel 4 News was unable to reach the attorney who represents Fox Ridge Homes.

Metro Codes said the building inspector who signed off on the final inspection is now retired on a disability pension.

Fox Ridge has a $40,000 bond, which should cover the cost of the repairs, according to Metro Codes. However, there still is some disagreement on what needs to be fixed.

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