On 3-29-04, Carl and I went to Topeka, KS to talk with the Commissioner of Kansas Insurance Department, Sandy Praeger, about improper installation of the lath and stucco in several subdivisions around the Kansas City area and showed her the pictures of the improper installation.

Sandy told us that the Kansas Insurance Department could not do anything about it because we were third party and went as far as to say even when a how owner files a claim, improper installation of a product is not covered in the home-owners policy (for example if water leaks in around the windows and rots the wood and sheetrock and turns to black mold and makes your family sick, your home-owners policy would pay for the repair of the sheetrock, wood and window damage, but would not pay for the replacement of the stucco because it was improper installed, that falls on you the home-owner to get restitution from the builder or stucco contractor and the insurance company would most likely cancel your policy). Sandy suggested we go to the Attorney General Office of Consumer Affairs.

Consumer Affairs could not do anything because we were third party, until a home owner files a claim with them, there is nothing they can do.

On the way back to Kansas City, Carl called the Home Builders Association and told the man about the improper installation and asked if he would like to see the pictures and talk about it, he said he could not believe any of there builders would do anything like that. Carl asked him again if he would like to see the pictures before he took them to Channel 5 News and he said he would have to get back with us.

Channel 5 News reported would not even come to the lobby and look at the pictures.

We went to Channel 41 to see if they were interested in the story. Kevin Pettrin of Channel 41 news said he would do the story. Kevin came out and interviewed us on the job with a camera crew and we gave Kevin our pictures.

10-7-04 Channel 41 News has not aired the story.

12-15-04 Kevin Pettrin is no longer with Channel 41. His replacment is "trying to get a handle on things" and will get back to us.

Carl and I have continued to gather information and educate ourselves on the installation of the different products by going to window installation seminaries and vapor barriers seminaries and meeting with the H.B.A. to help us understand the problem and this is what we found:

One window company had three different installation scenario coming out of the same office, it depended on which sales person you talked to (we have yet to find a window installed according to manufactures specification).

Vapor barrier: the local sales staff has you installing this product different from what the engineers at corporate say to

The city code inspectors: each city has it's own set of codes it holds the builders to, to protect the consumer from fraudulent construction, but they do not inspect windows, vapor barriers or lath & plaster (stucco), one chief inspector told Carl if it did not effect the integrity of the structure, we do not inspect it so these products fall under the moral of the builder.

Stucco: we have some rats that turn a cold shoulder to the problem or just do not know the proper installation and they exist because of the Greed of the Builders that use them, for you get what you pay for, Cheap!!

Overland Park is going to start inspecting window installation and lath before it can be browned, on all permits after 7-6-04, but the Overland Park inspector does not know proper installation of lath. Carl has invited them to come on a Saturday and we would show them the do's and don'ts of proper installation, but they have refused the offer. Overland Park is getting their information from a book, what can I say…well it's a start.

And so this website came into being. If we can't get anyone in a positionof power or authority to pay attention to the problems we will take it to the masses. We figure we have nothing to lose.