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everywhere. When I called Bill at Eagle Crest to inquire if something had been done,he detailed the above and
<br /> informed me that they were finished with the solution to the problem on the exterior.
<br /> � Jerry came to my house on Monday,June 4,2001 to complete the interior fix. However,he did not have any
<br /> drywall with him,so he could not replace the wall. Instead,he simply cut out a larger portion of the drywall,an
<br /> additional2 inches along the wall and about 6 inches fiuther towards the west,in response to the additional azeas of
<br /> mold growth and wetness. He then placed a fan on the azea to let it dry. Jerry returned on Monday,June 11,2001 to
<br /> close up the wall. He did not ever apply a sealant to the wood,as Bill Gleason had detailed in his conversation with
<br /> me.
<br /> On Tuesday,June 19,2001,I came home in the evening to find the entire back yard torn up from the gazden area
<br /> to the sod in the yard. There were bushes xnissing,all of the sod and mulch was gone,and there was dirt in piles
<br /> everywhere,including all over the sidewalks leading to the main entrances. No one gave me prior notice of this
<br /> work,via phone nor letter,and therefore the company I had that evening was forced to use the garage entrance,as it
<br /> was not possible to come in the main entrance with all the debris. I called Eric at Eagle Crest the next day,and he
<br /> said that another drainage system was added to the base of the wiadow wells. I asked if a written document would
<br /> be sent to me detailing what the solution had been,and he said yes. I have received nothing&om Eagle Crest. I did
<br /> speak with Lyle Oman,the City of Orono building inspector,on July 18,2001 by phone,and he confirmed this
<br /> solution and provided a bit more detail. He also told me at this that he approved the system,but that it wasn't his
<br /> first choice for a solution. He stated that he would have prefened that the drains go to the bottom of the foundation,
<br /> but that he hopes this will work also. I have to admit that it concerns me when even the city inspector is wary of the
<br /> solution,considering it to be sub-par.
<br /> As it stands,today,Thursday,July 19,2001,the backyard still remains as it was that day a month ago: in
<br /> disarray with mud and dirt everywhere,missing and/or dead bushes,no mulch and no sod I have called Eagle Crest
<br /> multiple times to find out when they are going to complete the landscaping,and each time Eric tells me it will be
<br /> done `next week'
<br /> At the end of the day,I will yield to the fact that Eagle Crest is indeed taking steps towazd a solution,however
<br /> painfiil the process may be for me,the homeowner. My most pressing concern is that the process they arE taldng is
<br /> one of trial and error instead of architectural design and engineering reasoning and methodology. Their behavior
<br /> has seemed to indicate a priority to take the least expensive and most hassle-free route on their part that is a short-
<br /> term diffusion of the problem—and not necessarily the correct responsive,long-term solution. For example,I find it
<br /> peculiaz that Eagle Crest is unwilling to remove the drywall from the basement walls in order to locate any possible
<br /> cracks that need to be sealed. �
<br /> Unfortunately,complicating the issue at hand,time is no longer at my disposal. My yeariong builder's warranty
<br /> expires on July 27,2001. Lyle Oman indicated to me that these problems aze covered under that warranty,and that
<br /> the responsibility will be mine after that year is over. Therefore,my concern in writing to you lies in that we get tkus
<br /> problem addressed and fixed properly,not sirnply diffused for the rime being,before my warranty expires. It also
<br /> concerns me that we have had no rain since the current fix to the problem,so there has been no true test of the recent
<br /> drainage system. Specifically,I wonder about the following issues: 1)whether the grade of the property needs to be
<br /> adjusted; 2)whether there are cracks in the foundation that Eagle Crest is choosing to ignore(to this point,I stress
<br /> paragraph 4 in the letter dated May 24,2001); 3)whether the fact that the sump has never had an ounce of water ia
<br /> it through this whole process is a contributor to the problem; 4)whether the new drainage system is going to work
<br /> once it rains again; 5)in the case that the new drainage system doesn't work,whether moisture will get trapped in
<br /> the walls and cause the wood and drywall to rot and mold once again;6)whether ttus water pressure and resulting
<br /> leakage has caused pern�anent damage to the foundation walls and the supporting and framing beams adjacent that
<br /> may be a hazard to me or any fuhue homeowner;and 7)whether I will have any recourse due to the fact that this is
<br /> an ongoing problem that is only still a problem due to Eagle CresYs ineptitude to fix a problem without cutting
<br /> corners.
<br /> Thank you for listening. Cale Ramaker,my neighbor who spoke with you earlier in the month,had indicated to
<br /> me that if you saw a legitimate need for intervention,that you would put one of your engineers on the project to
<br /> investigate the problems and many failed solutions. I am very curious to l�ow your thoughts on the issues at hand.
<br /> You may reach me at either of the above phone numbers—please call me at the St.Paul number during the day,and
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