Homeowners Consumer Center Discovers a Major Issue with Spray Foam Insulation in New Home Construction-It May Encapsulate Water From Roof-Window Leaks-So A Homeowner Is Unaware of the Problem
The Homeowners Consumer Center has discovered spray foam insulation used in new home construction may encapsulate water that might be leaking into a home via a roof issue or defective roof-window flashing-without the homeowner ever knowing.
“Based on what we discovered spray foam insulation used in residential construction might prevent a homeowner from ever knowing they have a roof leak or the failure of their roof or window flashing.”
WASHINGTON, DC, January 25, 2022
The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “We have just become aware of a very serious issue with spray foam home insulation that is especially popular with home builders, architects, and homeowners throughout the USA. Spray foam insulation has increasingly been popular with home builders since the 1980s. We have just discovered a significant problem in a newer custom home in the US Southeast that was built in 2016 that used spray foam insulation. What we discovered in this home was water that entered the house because of a roofing defect, and the water had become encapsulated between the spray foam insulation the home’s exterior wooden envelope and studs—-and the wooden envelop and studs had all rotted. We suspect there are thousands of additional homes like the one we just discovered nationwide-or more.
“If a home’s spray foam insulation holds water-or does not allow for water to penetrate it—-this might sound like a good thing—-but it is not. Based on what we discovered spray foam insulation might prevent a homeowner from ever knowing they have a roof leak or the failure of their roof or window flashing. The cost to repair damage caused by spray foam insulation-that held the water-and created ensuing damage to a home’s exterior wooden envelope and framing studs might be in the thousands of dollars or more—especially if the problem has been ongoing for a number of years. We are now advising home builders, architects, and homeowners to steer clear of spray foam insulation-for at least now.” https://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
Recommended types of insulation to use in new home construction:
– Roll Out Fiberglass Insulation
– Cellulose-Blown in Insulation-Loose fill insulation
Note – These types of insulation products will not encapsulate water-as such a homeowner will know they have a problem with their roof, and or roof-window flashing-if water begins to leak in.
The Homeowners Consumer Center believes home ownership is and should be the American Dream for all Americans. Sadly, for many there is no guide on how to make it happen, or how to prevent being taken advantage of. The goal of the Homeowner’s Consumer Center is protecting the American Dream of home ownership. In 2022 the Homeowners Consumer Center will endorse mortgage, insurance, home security, home warranty products that every homeowner needs, and they will call attention to serious issues most homeowners should be aware of. https://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
Homeowners Consumer Center Endorses Five US Mortgage Lenders to Be on The Shortlist of a Person Seeking a Home Loan or Refinance in the United States-Now Would Be a Great Time to Refinance a Home or Buy One
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “We are advocates for homeowners and home buyers in the United States and we want people like this like this to get the best possible mortgage or home refinance product. After months of research-we have selected five US mortgage firms that should be on the short list for a home buyer who is seeking the best possible mortgage company or an existing homeowner seeking to lower their monthly mortgage rates. All five lenders offer extremely competitive interest rates, and all five consistently get very high rankings from their customers.
“None of these companies are aware of our endorsement and we received no compensation for our endorsements from anyone. As we were doing our research-we discovered online searches for mortgage companies is way too complicated and confusing because some websites are trying to lure the consumer into getting into rate comparison shopping, or when you think you are pushing a link for a specific mortgage company–you end up on the website of another mortgage company-or some other type of mortgage steering service. We came up with our list to make things simpler for a homeowner wishing to refinance or for a home buyer who is attempting to get a home mortgage. We hope our list helps. We will try to offer additional guidance with more specifics in future about our recommended mortgage firms.” https://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
Homeowners Consumer Center’s Suggested Mortgage Firms for a Conventional Mortgage
- Amerisave https://www.amerisave.com/. Comments—“Amerisave Gets Great Customer Reviews!”
- Better.com https://better.com Comments-“Better.Com No fees Origination fees—Seamless!”
- Quicken loans https://www.quickenloans.com/. Comments-“Quicken Loans-Americas Largest Mortgage Lender”
- Loan Depot- www.loandepot.com Comments-“We really like Loan Depot”
- Guaranteed Rate https://www.rate.com/ Comments—“Guaranteed Rate gets very Good Customer Reviews!”
The Homeowners Consumer Center wants to remind homeowners wishing to refinance their home and or home buyers wishing to get a mortgage on a home——that their credit score matters-a lot and that having too much debt could dramatically impact their ability to get the best possible home loan interest rate. Before applying for a mortgage-refinance a person should check their credit score as well as look at their credit card debt and or monthly payments they make on cars, or installment payments, etc. A mortgage lender will consider all of these various factors when qualifying a person for a home loan-refinance. “A smart consumer should know these things-before applying for a mortgage or refinance.” https://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
Note from the Homeowners Consumer Center-“Many to most credit card online services will provide a person with a snapshot of their credit score on their online monthly statements for those people who have one-such as an American Express credit card, a Citi Bank credit card, etc.”
How to choose the best mortgage-Credit Karma: https://www.creditkarma.com/home-loans/i/how-to-choose-the-best-mortgage.
For a recent report for personal credit score rankings-by state-please review the following: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-the-average-credit-score-in-the-u-s/.
What to Expect for the 2021 US Housing Market-US News and World Report: https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/what-to-expect-from-the-housing-market-in-2021
Homeowners Consumer Center Now Urges the Trump Administration to Zero In on The Toxic Chinese Drywall Disaster in Florida/Southeast
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “In early 2009 tens of thousands of homeowners/families in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Louisiana and Texas woke up to fact that their home had toxic Chinese drywall. Typically, the air conditioning systems in these homes were failing because hydrogen sulfide gasses being emitted by toxic Chinese drywall. These gases were eating holes in impacted home’s copper air-conditioning pipes. More concerning homeowners and the children in these toxic homes were getting nose bleeds, serious respiratory problems and other serious medical issues.
“The problem never got fixed! There have been a couple of significant class action settlements, however less than 15% of the impacted homeowners were ever identified-or reimbursed.
“Nearly eleven years later we are appealing to President Trump to do something about this ongoing disaster. We think there could be well over 150,000 US homes involved in this Toxic Chinese drywall disaster and 100,000’s of US citizens-are still at risk.” https://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
It is well documented that the Chinese government has been dragging their feet on taking any responsibility for the Chinese Toxic Drywall Disaster for a decade-and the Homeowners Consumer Center is encouraging the Trump Administration to inform the Chinese Government-Either pay up for the incomprehensible damage they have caused by their toxic drywall in the United States-or why continue to do business with Communist China?
The Homeowners Consumer Center estimates the Chinese Government owes all impacted US homeowners billions of dollars for having no choice but to walk away from their homes-down payments-furniture-because of toxic Chinese drywall. The group also believes the compensation for severe healthcare issues or wrongful deaths related to toxic Chinese drywall would be in the tens of billions of dollars.
The Homeowners Consumer Center believes the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Virginia must take the following steps—or toxic Chinese drywall will continue to ruin the lives of more US Citizens:
- Require full disclosure that any home sold in their state must include a document stating the home contains toxic drywall or it does not.
- Create a directory of Subdivisions-Condominiums-Townhouses in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Virginia with toxic Chinese drywall and create a cost to repair every single impacted home.
- Contact every single person/family who lives/lived in a toxic Chinese drywall home to establish heath impacts related to exposure-and create a bill for the healthcare costs related to exposure to toxic Chinese drywall.
- Finally add everything up and send the Chinese Government a bill.
According to the Homeowners Consumer Center, “So did China learn it’s lesson after flooding the US Southeast with toxic drywall that was imported into the United States between 2004 and late 2008? The answer is–No. As proof-Chinese made fentanyl mixed with Mexican heroin has killed more US citizens than we lost in the Wars in Vietnam and Korea combined-and the death toll is still climbing.
“The bottom line in all of this is-why is the USA still doing business with Communist China? With friends like the “Peoples” Republic of China—-who needs an enemy. If anyone doubts this-just ask the citizens of Hong Kong who desperately seek their freedom from China. The freedom seeking people in Hong Kong have a toxic Chinese problem too.
“We seriously doubt China will ever repay US homeowners-their family members ruined by toxic Chinese drywall and we don’t see them doing anything about Chinese made fentanyl that has killed tens of thousands of US citizens each year-and kills more US citizens-everyday.
“President Trump appears to be one of the only people in Washington, DC—-actually trying to fix problems. We are praying he will look into the toxic Chinese drywall disaster-it’s a problem that never went away.” https://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
- Health issues related to toxic Chinese drywall:https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/02/chinese-drywall-adverse-health-effects-wallboard/8574707/.
- Health Impacts from breathing Hydrogen Sulfide Gases: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hydrogensulfide/hazards.html.
- Another insult from China: Fentanyl: President Trump accuses China’s Xi of failing to halt fentanyl exports to U.S. August 2nd 2019: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-fentanyl/trump-accuses-chinas-xi-of-failing-to-halt-fentanyl-exports-to-u-s-idUSKCN1US1WI.
Homeowners Consumer Center Now Urges a Home Purchaser Anywhere in the US to Get a Licensed Local Plumber to Inspect Their Proposed Home to Ensure It Does Not Need a Complete Plumbing Pipe Replacement – Many Will
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “If a home buyer is on the verge of purchasing a home anywhere in the United States that was built prior to 2009, we are urging them to get a local licensed plumber to do a thorough inspection to ensure the property does not need a complete plumbing replacement also called a re-pipe. A home’s plumbing system is no different than a home’s roof-both need to be replaced periodically.
“The average cost of a plumbing re-pipe for a single-family home in the United States is about $10,000 and most home inspections in the US do not cover defective plumbing pipe, or a plumbing system that may need to be replaced-re-piped.
“From 2000-2009 a significant percentage of the plumbing pipe used in new US homes was defective and it may need to be replaced. Plumbing pipe older than 20 years old should be inspected by a reputable local plumber to ensure the entire home’s plumbing system does not need to be completely replaced.” http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
A reputable local plumber should be able to determine if a home’s plumbing system for an existing single-family home is adequate and not in need of expensive repairs or a complete replacement. The cost of this inspection should not be more than $250. http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “We want to emphasize home buyers in the United States need to start taking a serious look at their proposed home’s plumbing pipes in the exact same way they look at a home’s roof. Just because you cannot see a home’s plumbing system it does not mean it is not something to be concerned about. The perfect time to replace a home’s pluming pipes is the transition period between the current homeowner and a home buyer. A home re-pipe will cost about $10,000 and the cost is something that should be negotiated between buyer and seller — with the bank-mortgage company holding in escrow the amount needed to complete the home’s pluming pipe replacement.“
Types of residential plumbing pipe subject to a recall, litigation or that should be replaced because of age:
- Imported Chinese copper residential plumbing pipe (2003-2009).
- Kitec Plumbing Systems (recalled 2005)
- Polybutylene plumbing pipe frequently starts to fail within 20 years.
- Older homes built in the 1960’s may have galvanized pipe that should be replaced-because of age.
- Pex Pipe with defective brass fittings
- Copper pipes in a US built home prior to 1980
The Homeowners Consumer Center is now inviting top 100 US metro area plumbing companies to join them in their initiative to educate all US home buyers who are on the verge of purchasing an existing home about the need to have the proposed home’s plumbing pipes checked by a local plumbing company. The initial target cities for this initiative include Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, San Jose, San Diego, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Minneapolis, Detroit, Saint Louis, Kansas City, Miami, Tampa, San Antonio, Portland, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. “Re-piping homes in the US should be a multi-billion dollar a year business and re-piping US homes is long overdue.”
For more information a reputable plumbing company located in one of these cities is welcome to call the Homeowners Consumer Center anytime at 866-714-6466. http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
Homeowners Consumer Center Now Urges a Home Purchaser in a Top 200 US Metro Area to Get a Plumbing Inspection to Ensure the Proposed Home Does Not Need a Complete Plumbing Pipe Replacement
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The Homeowners Consumer Center is now urging a prospective home purchaser in a top 200 US metro area to retain the services of a reputable local plumber for an inspection to ensure the proposed home does need substantial plumbing repairs or a complete plumbing system replacement also known as a re-pipe. The average cost of a plumbing re-pipe for a single-family home in the United States is about $10,000 and most home inspections in the US do not cover defective plumbing pipe, or a plumbing system that needs to be replaced.
A reputable local plumber should be able to determine if a home’s plumbing system for an existing single-family home is adequate and not in need of expensive repairs or a complete replacement. The cost of this inspection should not be more than $200. http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “We seriously doubt your average home building inspector will know about defective residential pipe and we doubt they will they mention–a home’s plumbing pipes need to be replaced because of age or because they are defective. As mentioned, a home plumbing replacement costs about $10,000and we do not want one new homeowner to unknowingly get stuck for the cost of a home re-pipe if they do not have to. If a home’s plumbing system needs a re-pipe or replacement, we think this is something that can be negotiated between buyer, and the seller with the bank-mortgage company holding in escrow the amount needed to complete a home’s plumbing system replacement.
“Our affiliated groups have been involved in some of the most important plumbing pipe recalls or litigation in the US for the last fifteen years. These recalls or class actions involve millions of homes. In most instances the plumbing pipe was never replaced. We were also the first group in the nation to call attention to poorly made imported Chinese copper residential plumbing pipe-used in at least a million US homes.” http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
Types of residential plumbing pipe subject to a recall, litigation or that should be replaced because of age:
- Imported Chinese copper residential plumbing pipe (2003-2009).
- Kitec Plumbing Systems (recalled 2005)
- Polybutylene plumbing pipe frequently starts to fail within 20 years.
- Older homes built in the 1960’s may have galvanized pipe that should be replaced-because of age.
- Pex Pipe with defective brass fittings
In order to assist home buyers in a top 200 US metro area such as Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Chicago, Omaha, Boston, Phoenix, Minneapolis or Atlanta the Homeowners Consumer Center intends to create a list of reputable residential plumbing firms in each of the top 200 US metro areas that know a potential residential plumbing problem when they see one. The group intends to have this initiative up and running by March of 2019.
The Homeowners Consumer Center’s goal is to prevent a home purchaser from unwittingly purchasing an existing home with a defective plumbing system in need of major repairs, a home’s plumbing system that needs to be completely replaced or both. At the same time the group intends to educate existing or potential home buyers about why it is necessary to re-pipe/install new plumbing pipe in a house with roughly the same regularity a home needs a roof replacement. http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The Homeowners Consumer Center is urging homeowners in Illinois to call them at 866-714-6466 if they received a less than adequate settlement from their homeowners insurance company for severe storm, or fire damage to their home. The Center believes there are hundreds of homeowners in Illinois in this situation, and this is an attempt to help them provided they have documentation to support underpayment of their insurance claim. http://
The Homeowners Consumer Center is urging homeowners in Illinois to call them anytime at 866-714-6466 if their insurance company has given them a less than adequate settlement for serious damage that has occurred to their home because of a severe storm, or fire damage. The types of serious damage and low-ball insurance settlements the Center would like to hear about include:
- The home suffered severe roof, or siding damage because of a severe storm, or fire, and the insurance settlement failed to provide the homeowner with enough money to make the needed for repairs.
- The home flooded because of an interior wall pipe burst, and the insurance settlement did not pay for all of the damage.
- The homeowner had significant home, and personal property damage because of a roof leak, or pipe bust, and the homeowners insurance company failed to provide the homeowner with enough money to replace the personal property, and make the necessary repairs.
- Contractors in Illinois who have proof their homeowner client received a lowball settlement from a insurance company because they have documentation proving what the repairs should have cost.
- The Homeowners Consumer Center is urging siding, roofing, or window contractors, or Illinois real estate agents to tell their clients about this initiative, if they believe a low ball insurance settlement has happened to one of their clients. http://
HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com
The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “If a homeowner in Illinois has documentation they were forced to receive a low ball insurance settlement related to severe home damage caused by a storm, or fire we are urging them to call us anytime at 866-714-6466. We are attempting to correct this situation for homeowners in this predicament.
“In addition to homeowners in Illinois, if you live in Colorado, New Jersey, New York, or Tennessee and your insurance company has given you a less that sufficient settlement on a homeowners insurance we would like to hear from you.
“Our only caveat is the insurance claim can be no older than two years old, and the proof of loss must be well documented by the homeowner, or their contractor.” http://
May 13, 2015
The Homeowners Consumer Center is urging homeowners in New York or New Jersey to call them anytime at 866-714-6466 if they received a less than adequate settlement from their homeowners insurance company for severe storm or fire damage to their home, with the only proviso the damage and settlement has to have occurred within the last two years. The Center believes there are thousands of homeowners in New Jersey, and New York in this situation and this is an attempt to help them provided they have documentation to support their claim of insurance underpayment. http://
The Homeowners Consumer Center is urging homeowners in New York or New Jersey to call them at 866-714-6466 if their insurance company has given them a less than adequate settlement for serious damage that has occurred to their home because of a severe storm, or fire damage that has happened in the last two years. The types of serious home damage and low ball insurance settlements the Center would like to hear about include:
- The home suffered severe roof, or siding damage because of a storm, or fire, and the insurance settlement failed to pay for the repairs.
- The home flooded because of an interior wall pipe burst, and the insurance settlement did not pay for all of the damage.
- The homeowner had significant home and personal property damage because of a roof leak, or pipe bust, and the homeowners insurance company failed to provide the homeowner with enough money to replace the personal property, and make the necessary repairs.
- Contractors in New York or New Jersey who have proof their homeowner client received a lowball settlement from an insurance company because they have documentation proving what the repairs should have cost.
The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “If a homeowner in New York or New Jersey has documentation they were forced to receive a low ball insurance settlement related to severe home damage caused by a storm or fire we are urging them to call us anytime at 866-714-6466. We are attempting to correct this situation for homeowners in this predicament.
“Our initiative also includes homeowners in the same predicament if they live in Illinois, Colorado, or Tennessee. Our only caveat is the insurance claim can be no older than two years old, and the proof of loss must be well documented by the homeowner, or their contractor.” http://
April 29, 2015
The Homeowners Consumer Center is now urging homeowners in the Denver, Colorado metro area to call them at 866-714-6466, if their home suffered significant roof, or siding damage as a result of the September 29th, 2014 hail storm, provided their insurance company has low balled their settlement offer to make necessary home repairs. The group would also like to hear from storm damage roofing, or siding contractors if they have this type of information about specific homeowners.http://
The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “The September 29th, 2014 hail storm that hit theDenver metro area ranks as one of the worst hail storms in Colorado State history. We want homeowners who received an unsatisfactory claims settlement from their homeowners insurance company to call us anytime at 866-714-6466. We are attempting to help homeowners in this predicament.” http://
According to the Denver Business Journal on October 13th, 2014, “The golf ball-sized hail that hit the south Denver metro area on Sept. 29 caused an estimated $213.3 million in insured losses and ranked as the state’s eighth most expensive hailstorm on record. Hail, wind, fire or flood damage to vehicles is covered if you carry comprehensive insurance on your auto policy.”
The Homeowners Consumer Center is extremely focused on helping Colorado homeowners who have significant damage to their home as a result of a major storm such as a thunderstorm, hail, a severe winter storm, especially if the damages included a severely damaged roof, or a home’s exterior siding, or interior damage, and if their insurance company is offering far less than needed to make the actual repairs.
The Center would also like to hear from Denver area roofing, or siding contractors if they have specific information about a homeowner who may be a victim of being low-balled on an insurance claim.
In addition to severe storm damage the Center is also very interested in hearing from homeowners whose house was severely damaged in a fire, and the insurance company is refusing to pay the full costs of repair. This initiative is focused on the states of Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, and Tennessee. For more information homeowners are welcome to call the Homeowners Consumer Center anytime at 866-714-6466. http://
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The Homeowners Consumer Center is urging any homeowner in Tennessee to call them at 866-714-6466 if their insurance company is offering far less that what is needed to repair their home as a result of winter storms. The Center says, “We are trying to make certain that homeowners in Tennessee do not get left holding the bag with storm related damages to their home that were caused by our nation’s severe 2015 winter.”http://
The Homeowners Consumer Center is launching an initiative for homeowners in Tennesseewhose homes suffered serious damage because of this winter’s severe storms, and whose insurance company has offered a less than satisfactory settlement to repair the damages. Homeowners in Tennessee in this predicament are urged to contact the Homeowners Consumer Center anytime at 866-714-6466.
The Center says, “On February 22nd, 2015, the Tennessean newspaper reported, ‘As a result of winter storms the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee said, the ice can back up drains and cause leaks through roofing material into ceilings, walls and insulation.'”
“Some area residents posted photos on social media of water marks on walls. Some said their homes had suffered damage to wood floors and ceilings.” For attribution, please refer to the Tennessean dated February 22, 2015 titled “Beware of Ice Damming.” http://www.tennessean.com/
The Homeowners Consumer Center says, “These ice dams referenced in the news article can not only cause leaks, a lawyer of ice, or snow, but can also severely damage or destroy a roof. In addition to the roof damage, the water leaks into a home caused by one of these ice dams can also lead to thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars in damages to a home’s interior.
“We have had a number of calls from homeowners in Tennessee who either have severe damage to their home because of winter storms, or they are still trying to resolve an insurance claim that relates to a fire, a severe thunderstorm, hail, or pipe bursts. In every instance the insurance company is offering the homeowner less money than required to actually make the repairs.”
If a homeowner in Tennessee is having these types of problems with their homeowners insurance company, they are urged to call the Homeowners Consumer Center anytime at 866-714-6466, and they will do everything possible to try to help. The Center wants to emphasize their initiative is state wide, and is focused on any homeowner in Tennessee in any community including Memphis, Nashville,