Need advice for possible defects causing softening sheetrock walls

[Mark]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will be calling my insurance company to see what they will do. Gateway/Redman/Champion Homes is giving me the runaround right now and we have just about had it. They have had nearly two weeks to schedule someone to inspect the home, telling me something should be set up by this past Monday, but nothing yet. They told me they would call Monday, no call. I called Tuesday, I was told the person doing the inspecting was supposed to call me and she would call him immediately to find out something and call me right back, no call. My wife called her today, left a message, no call. We will be talking to a lawyer next Monday if this continues. Thanks again, please continue the suggestions.

[Mark]

Gateway sent one of their contractors to look at the house again today (same one that came here to look at it the first time over a year ago) and here is what he said:

1. Everything that was done in the wall replacement/repairs that were done last Spring, 2003 and in October should have taken care of this problem.

2. There is no negative pressure in the house.

3. The AC unit is the correct size for this house.

4. There is no leaks or wetness around the windows.

5. The plywood on the outside is dry.

6. The roof is not leaking.

7. There is no moisture coming from under the house.

8. The vinyl covering the sheetrock panels are supposed to prevent air and moisture from being sucked into the house. So is the wrapping placed around the outside of the house under the siding.

9. Basically, he said that he sees no reason why this should be happening and he has no clue what is going on with this house. Both times he has been here, he seems to be extremely knowledgeable and knows what he is doing.

I haven't talked to Gateway Homes myself today, but he talked to them and now Gateway is talking about sending an engineer to look at the house. They can waste more money on inspections if they want, but they can hang me by my ******** and I refuse to allow another repair to this house that turns our lives upside down, only to have it happen again. We are telling them to replace this house with a brand new one, or we will sue them. I'll be talking to my insurance company, the bank that has the loan on the house, and a lawyer.

Mark

[brenda]

i purchased a fleetwood dw in 1998. i am having the same problems. i have lost a closet full of clothes. the wallls in my house are soft and wet. i am working with my insurance co now, but i am not sure if this is going to work. i dont know what to do. i emailed fleetwood and of course they are not being any help b/c of the age of my home. well i have 15 more yrs to pay for something that is making my kids and myself sick and that is falling apart. what do i do????

[David Oxhandler]

Mold is a problem that is NOT unique to manufactured homes. Owners of homes of every type and size are having problems like yours across the country. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. You will find quiet as bit of good information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in their free Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home