Opinion ID: 2448926
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Hesses' Home Settles

Text: ¶ 14 Shortly after moving into their home, the Hesses began to notice several structural problems. Initially, these problems appeared to be minor and included mostly sticking doors, but with time the problems became more severe. For example, in March 2005, Mr. Hess noticed large cracks in the home's flooring that spanned the length of its foundation. The Hesses also began to hear various noises in the house, which Mrs. Hess described as being similar to the sound of children slamming cupboard doors. These problems grew worse every time it rained or the ground became wet. As a result of the home's structural damage, the Hesses endured countless heating and cooling issues, pest infestations, midnight explosions of shattering windows, and a significant financial strain caused by efforts to keep their home habitable. ¶ 15 In April 2005, after several failed attempts to fix the damage, the Hesses hired Earthtec Testing and Engineering (Earthtec) to investigate the source of the home's problems. During its investigation, Earthtec excavated two test pits to examine the soil conditions below the Hesses' home and discovered that part of the house was built on collapsible soil. After concluding its investigation, Earthtec informed the Hesses that [t]he most likely cause of the differential movement the home ha[d] experienced [was] the collapse and consolidation in the clay soils which [were] observed approximately two feet below the bottom of the footings on the west side of the home. Additionally, sometime during its investigation, Earthtec learned of the AGEC Report and the information it contained. Based on their independent findings and the information contained in the AGEC Report, Earthtec suggested that the Hesses consider installing mini piers to support the west and southwest sides of their home. ¶ 16 Pursuant to Earthtec's recommendation, the Hesses hired Intermountain Helical Piers to install two piers beneath their home. But even after the two piers were installed, the Hesses' home continued to settle. Frustrated with these results, Mr. Hess contacted another foundation repair company, Atlas Piers (Atlas). After examining the Hesses' home, Atlas recommended that an additional one hundred piers be installed to anchor and support it. At the time, however, the Hesses could only afford to pay Atlas to install sixteen piers, which Atlas did. Later, in the summer of 2008, the Hesses rehired Atlas to install the additional eighty-four piers. Installing the eighty-four piers took approximately four weeks. After all the piers were installed, the Hesses' home was raised, in some areas as much as five and one-half inches. Throughout the installation and raising process, the Hesses continued to live in their home.