Expert: Dan Griffin - 11/14/2007

Question
Our up stairs bonus room's exterior ceiling/wall creaks when the wind blows.  We are concerned that it was not constructed well. Our home is about 3 years old, and we purchased it pre-owned. We know there is a 10 year structural warranty, but are not sure who the builder is.  Or how to find him except through county records????  Please Help from Texas!!!

Answer
This is one of those things that is very difficut to diagnose.  It may be something very simple, annoying but not dangerous.  It might be a sign of insufficient wind bracing, but I would think if anything important were moving you would have a lot more signs of trouble.  Cracked sheetrock or joint tape popping loose, nail pops in the drywall where nails have worked loose.  If you don't have these signs, I would more at ease and get to looking for the annoyance.

I can't really think of much of a way to find the builder.  You mentioned county records which would suggest you are not in a city with an inspection department.  Some counties do, but I think they might be the exception rather than the rule.  Contact your county office and ask if they know of any way to trace the builder.  The permits, if there were any taken out. may have been drawn by the previous owner with no record of the builder.  If you are in a small market you may be able to ask at the local lumber yard.  Often the HVAC or plumbing may have "for service" sticker telling who the plumber or heat&air guy was, who may have records of who the general contractor was.  There must be a neighbor who might know the builder.

If you give up on that course, you might want to find a builder or old carpenter who could do some investigating for you (not for free).  You can certainly work with a structural engineer, but they may be rare for this type problem.  I sure wish I had better ideas for you.