Excel Homes LLC

Modular Homes are delivered as separate "boxes" in order to travel from the plant to the job site. All the boxes were delivered wrapped in weather resistant covering called Tyvek, and installed on the foundation. Having Tyvek on the assembled pieces covered the sheathing on the house.The final invoice and approved elevation drawings list exterior sheathing to be 7/16" OSB which is standard for the modular home we purchased. Excel claims that our contractor ordered fire rated exterior gypsum sheathing. He claims he did not. There is some discrepancy in interpreting what is called 5A construction. The Township, builder and internet search explain this as being used when the home is less than 5" from the property line and only on that side. Avis/Excel put it all around the house at an additional charge to us and can produce no documentation that our builder ordered it. Someone on their end apparently misinterpreted these standards. This is our summer home. When we came north in Nov. '09 parts of the siding had buckled due to storm winds. This certainly should not happen on a 5 year old home. When we called in a repairman he discovered that there was no OSB behind the gypsum sheathing to hold the siding. Our contractor had no way of knowing this since the house came with the Tyvek covering. We certainly expected to receive what we saw on the final invoice. Excel says they used the Gypsum sheathing and charged us for the balance after deducting the cost of the OSB. OSB they pointed out was listed as $0. However, we have other final invoices from other homes that show OSB as $0 because it is standard. On our final invoice we have other items listed as "ILO" ( in lieu of ) and "omit" which we knew were not included because we wanted something else. This was clear on the invoice for us as well as the contractor. However, since it was not done with the OSB exterior sheathing, it would certainly indicate that there would be OSB on the exterior of the house and the fire rated sheathing would be applied only where code required it to be. We have spoken to several Excel employees since we first became aware of the problem in November, 2009 and were told several different stories. They were researching the problem, looking for records etc. but nothing was really accomplished. When a new Service Manager took over recently, he was not told of our issue so he once again told us he had to research the problem and get records. Apparently, those we talked to before thought if they waited long enough we would go away. The new Manager, Mr. Johnson, at least followed through and kept us informed on what he was discovering. However, he still cannot produce documentation on who ordered the switch or how this switch occurred. Meanwhile, our siding is falling off and leaving our home in jeopardy. It will be a costly fix and we do not think we should have to bear the cost of the repair. We would appreciate whatever help you can give us to bring this nightmare situation to resolution. I also ask that, until this matter is resolved equitably, you advise others seeking information about Avis/Excel of our predicament and warn them that they may not be getting what they contracted for when buying from this company. Please also let them know that they will not receive the service on their modular home that they have a right to expect. Needless to say, this is a rather expensive item and one would expect that the company involved would want to maintain goodwill and an exemplary reputation. Unfortunately, this is not our experience with Excel. Thank you for your help and please contact us for further information relating to our complaint. Our phone # is 352-686- 5645 and our cell # is 352-428-8835. We do have several documents to substantiate our claim and can forward copies upon your request.