Photo: Electrical Service Construction Error in Port LaBelle
One of the largest home builders in Hendry and Glades county, Heartland Homes of Florida has responded to customer complaints saying, "Heartland Homes has experienced significant delays in government agencies, material deliveries, contracted services, and finding new members to add to our team. Often, we find these areas to be inconsistent with deliveries, approvals, or providing the services needed on our scheduled dates."
The recent hurricane damage along the Gulf Coast in Collier, Lee and Charlotte county has presumably added to delays as builders and contractors scramble to repair and rebuilt homes and businesses damaged by wind and water at the end of September.
But one item has not been addressed as contributing to slow-downs in building completion: errors and mistakes by sub-contractors and builder management teams.
In checking building inspection records in Hendry and Glades county, it was discovered county inspectors are finding significant builder mistakes during the inspection process of new homes.
The photo above shows one error made by Heartland Homes of Florida's electrical sub-contractor Elite Electrical Contractors of Fort Myers. The home on Springview Circle in Port LaBelle's Laurel Oak subdivision is among 90 lots all having underground utilities, including electric, cable and phone lines.
Elite Electrical electricians mistakenly installed the electric meter can outside with a metal riser through the roof and a weather head with the three electric service wires above the roof, as if to be connected to overhead electrical lines. But, there are no over head electrical lines in this subdivision, all electric lines are underground.
Even the builder can be embarrassed by mistakes like this. Heartland Homes owner Kevin Berth lives around the corner from this home and passes it daily, but didn't catch the electrical error.
Not only did this delay the home's construction when the goof up was discovered, and the proper electric meter can and wiring had to be re-installed, but the roofer had already installed metal roofing which then needed to be removed and repaired where the hole was cut.
At the same home a week later, Hendry county's building inspector failed a plumbing inspection when no water pressure was found. Streamline Plumbing, Inc. is the plumbing sub-contractor for Homeland Homes of Florida.
Builder Kevin Berth hasn't escaped sub-contractor errors even on his own home that he is building along the river on Bronco Court in Glades county, a mile away. The Glades county building inspector had failed several items at the home, including sheathing and the truss engineering.
Heartland Homes, with seven new home models, named after breeds of horses, may be in for a wild ride as home buyers and home builders cope with delays and continuing financial worries as loan and mortgage interest rates rise in months ahead while construction delays may continue indefinitely.
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