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Performance Standard: No point on the deck surface shall be more than 3/4 inch higher or lower than any other deck surface point within 20 feet on a line parallel to the house, or proportional multiples of the preceding dimensions, unless the owner and remodeler agree to intentionally build a wood deck out of level in order to match or compensate for inaccuracies in the existing structure.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair the deck as necessary to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Stain color variations are not acceptable only if they result from poor workmanship such as improper stain application or failure to mix the stain properly. Stain color variations resulting from other causes (such as weathering or varying porosity of the wood used to build the deck) are normal and are not covered by this standard.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will re-stain areas to eliminate stain color variations resulting from poor workmanship.

Performance Standard: Wood deck railings shall be attached to structural members in accordance with applicable codes.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair wood deck railings as necessary to comply with applicable codes.

Performance Standard: Beams and posts, especially those 3 1/2 inches or greater in thickness (which normally are not kiln dried) will sometimes split as they dry subsequent to construction. Such splitting is usually not a structural concern if posts and beams have been sized according to National Forest Products Association span tables. Unfilled splits exceeding 1/4 inch in width, and all splits exceeding 3/8 inch in width, are unacceptable.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair or replace any beam or post with a defect exceeding the standard. Filling splits is acceptable for widths up to 3/8 inch.

Discussion: Some characteristics of drying wood are beyond the control of the remodeler and cannot be prevented. Compensation is made in span tables for the probable reduction in strength resulting from splitting caused by drying. Therefore, splitting is primarily an aesthetic concern rather than a structural problem. “Checks and splits which occur during the drying of lumber have the effect of reducing the area in the plane of shear resistance. Consequently, laboratory data developed for shear parallel to grain are reduced substantially for design purposes in order to accommodate the probability of the occurrence of checks and splits after drying.

Performance Standard: Beams and posts, especially those 31/2 inches or greater in thickness (which normally are not kiln dried) will sometimes twist or bow as they dry subsequent to construction. Twisting or bowing are usually not a structural concern if posts and beams have been sized according to National Forest Products Association span tables.4 Bows and twists exceeding 3/4 inch in 8 feet are unacceptable.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair or replace any beam or post with a defect exceeding the standard.

Performance Standard: Beams and posts, especially those 31/2 inches or greater in thickness (which normally are not kiln dried) will sometimes cup as they dry subsequent to construction. Cupping is usually not a structural concern if posts and beams have been sized according to National Forest Products Association span tables. Cups exceeding /4 inch in 5 1/2 inches are unacceptable.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair or replace any beam or post with a defect exceeding the standard.

Performance Standard: Walls shall not be more than 1/4 inch out of plumb for any 32-inch vertical measurement.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: All interior and exterior walls have slight variances on their finished surfaces. Bowing of walls shall not blemish the wall’s finished surface. Walls shall not bow more than 1/4 inch out of line within any 32-inch horizontal or vertical measurement.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Squeaks caused by a loose subfloor are unacceptable, but totally squeak-proof floors cannot be guaranteed.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will refasten any loose subfloor or take other corrective action to eliminate squeaking to the extent possible within reasonable repair capability without removing floor and ceiling finishes.

Discussion: Floor squeaks may occur when a subfloor that has come loose from the joists is deflected by the weight of a person and rubs against the nails that hold it in place. The subfloor or joists may be bowed, and the nails also may be expelled from the wood during drying. Movement may occur between the joist and bridging or other floor members when one joist is deflected while the other members remain stationary. Gluing the subfloor to the joists and eliminating the bridging will reduce squeaks, but the total elimination of squeaks is practically impossible. Renailing floor joists with ring-shank nails also will substantially reduce severe floor squeaks.

The performance standard requires the remodeler to make a reasonable attempt to eliminate squeaks without requiring removal of floor and ceiling finishes.

Performance Standard: Joints and cracks in exterior wall surfaces and around openings shall be properly caulked to exclude the entry of water.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair or caulk joints and cracks in exterior wall surfaces, as required to correct deficiencies, one time only during the warranty period. Even when properly installed, caulking will shrink and must be maintained by the owner.

Performance Standard: The maximum vertical deflection of an interior stair tread shall not exceed 1/8 inch at 200 pounds force.

 Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair the stair to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Interior stair railings shall be attached to structural members in accordance with applicable codes.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair any stair railings as necessary to comply with applicable codes.

Performance Standard: Grade markings shall not be visible on the tops of deck floorboards, except where the grain of the wood requires the mark to be exposed and it is not removed by sanding.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will sand or reinstall deck floorboards in order to conceal grade markings as far as practical. Sanded areas may not match un-sanded areas.

Discussion: Light colored or natural stains or finishes may not hide grade markings completely even after sanding.

Performance Standard: Nail stains extending more than 1/2 inch from the nail and readily visible from a distance of more than 3 feet are not acceptable.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will eliminate nail stains to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Cracks between adjoining parts that are designed to meet flush shall not exceed 1/8 inch in width.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will fix the crack with filler or replace parts as necessary to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Cracks between interior stair rail parts shall not exceed 1/8 inch in width.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will ensure that individual parts of the railing are securely mounted. Any remaining cracks will be filled or parts replaced to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Counter tops shall be free of cracks and chips at the time the job is accepted. Cracks or chips occurring after acceptance of the job are the owner’s responsibility.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will replace cracked or chipped counter tops only if they are reported prior to acceptance of the job.

Performance Standard: Counter tops shall be no more than 1/4 inch in 12 feet out of parallel with the floor. If the floor is not level, the counter top may be installed proportionately out of level.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will make necessary adjustments to meet the performance standard.

Discussion: This defect can be functionally bothersome since liquids spilled on top will flow to a lower point. Counter tops are almost always on a plane parallel to the floor and ceiling because the cabinets supporting the top are exactly the same height. Shimming and leveling the tops when the floor is out of level can be time-consuming and expensive, and the difference between the lines of the floor and the tops may be aesthetically unacceptable to the owner. Prior to construction, the remodeler should explain the problem and allow the owner to decide between tops that are out of level or not parallel to the floor.

Performance Standard: Counter tops fabricated with high pressure laminate coverings shall not delaminate.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will replace delaminated coverings.

Performance Standard: Cabinet warpage shall not exceed 1/4 inch as measured from the face frame to the point of furthermost warpage, with the door or drawer front in closed position.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will correct or replace doors and drawer fronts as necessary to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Gaps in excess of 1/4 inch are unacceptable.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will reposition or reinstall cabinets to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Cabinet faces more than 1/16 inch out of line, and cabinet comers more than 1/8 inch out of line, are unacceptable, unless the owner and the remodeler agree to disregard the standard in order to match or otherwise compensate for preexisting conditions.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will make necessary adjustments to meet the performance standard.

Discussion: In rooms with out of plumb walls or out of level floors and ceilings, “square” cabinets cannot be installed parallel to walls and ceilings and still keep the cabinets on line. For example, if the floor is not level and the installer measures up from it, “snaps” a line on which to place the tops of the wall cabinets, then plumbs the first cabinet, one comer of the cabinet will leave the line, and the bottom comers of successive cabinets will not be in line. Similarly, cabinets will not line up with each other if they are installed on a level line, starting against an out of plumb wall instead of being plumbed. The remodeler should explain the aesthetic options and let the owner decide which one is preferred.

Performance Standard: The catches or closing mechanisms for cabinet doors shall be adequate to hold the doors in a closed position.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will adjust or replace the door catches or closing mechanisms as necessary to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Cabinet doors and drawers shall open and close with reasonable ease.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will adjust or replace doors and drawers as necessary to meet the performance standard.

Performance Standard: Siding nails shall not be exposed under windows, doors, or eaves.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will install trim as necessary to cover the nails.

Performance Standard: Gaps between siding and moldings shall not exceed 1/4 inch.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will reinstall siding or fill gaps with caulk to meet the standard.

Performance Standard: Any piece of aluminum or vinyl lap siding more than 1/2 inch off parallel with the bottom course or more than 1/4 inch off parallel with contiguous courses is not acceptable, unless the owner and the remodeler have previously agreed to disregard the performance standard to match a preexisting structural condition.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will reinstall siding to comply with the performance standard and replace any siding damaged during removal with new siding.

Performance Standard: Visible cuts in siding shall be straight, plumb, and neat. Crooked cuts greater than 1/8 inch from true are not acceptable.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will repair or replace siding with visible crooked cuts.

Performance Standard: Some infiltration is usually noticeable around doors and windows especially during high winds. In high-wind areas the owner may need to have storm doors and windows installed to help eliminate drafts.

Corrective Measure: The remodeler will adjust or replace poorly fitted doors, windows, or poorly fitted weather-stripping.