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Beazer Homes owners say roofs can't handle wind

Posted at 8:54 PM, Apr 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-07 17:21:28-04

AVON, Ind. -- Central Indiana homeowners remain frustrated over damage to their homes caused by high winds.

Homeowners in Whitestown and Hendricks County say their builder didn't install roofs that could stand up to strong wind gusts.

Both the Enclave at Winton Meadows and Walker Farms in Avon are Beazer Homes communities, and both sustained roof damage during Saturday's wind storm.

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE PHOTOS OF DAMAGE FROM SATURDAY'S STORM:

But owners in both neighborhoods say it doesn't take a powerful storm to see shingles torn from roofs.

At Kevin Bluitt's home in Avon, the roof of his 2-year-old home sustained damage over the weekend.

"We're constantly dealing with roofing issues," Bluitt said. "I think it's a combination of poor construction of the roof and also the actual product.

Both neighborhoods are located in what roofing contractors call "wind tunnels:" wide-open spaces with no wind breaks. For that reason, most say higher-quality shingles should have been used on homes.

"We don't install these shingles out here that we replace from insurance," said Arrow Construction's Keith Hensley. "We upgrade to a better shingle, because if you're going to warrant it, you have to put something better on there. We know that if we install these, they're going to blow off in a year or two and you'll keep going back out."

Because of persistent roofing and siding issues in newer neighborhoods, Whitestown plans to now inspect all roofs and siding as part of the final inspection to force builders to use higher-quality materials.

A request to Beazer Homes for comment on this story was not immediately returned.

If you'd like to file a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General's Office, you can do so here.

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