Large fabric building failure(s): Does this make sense to you?

piaffepony · Jun 17, 2019

Sigarms said:
I might of missed it, but no response was given if the insurance company was going to pay for it?

It was mentioned that the wind didn't reach the maximum wind speed given in the written warranty, exactly what was the wind speed per the weather service during this storm? What was the wind speed during the first issue back in 2014?

It's also noted by the OP in the e-mail correspondence that a steel structure will generally last a life time, but the reality is nothing is going to stand depending on how strong the wind is.

Building needs a PE stamp for the warranty, but the way I read it that's for the frame only, not the cover.

However, what is perplexing is the company does give a wind rating, but as noted, wind is an act of God and not covered in the same written document. This doesn't do the OP any good now, but for that kind of money, I'd want it in additional writing per what is covered per wind damage.

View attachment 609434

It’s very misleading isn’t it?! I understood it as Acts of God like wind above 90mph or debris from any wind.

I don’t think I have the time or money to get into some giant legal battle.. but I’m sure as h e l l going to make an epic stink. I would not have spent $150,000 on this building knowing what I know now.

piaffepony · Jun 17, 2019

Sigarms said:
I might of missed it, but no response was given if the insurance company was going to pay for it?

It was mentioned that the wind didn't reach the maximum wind speed given in the written warranty, exactly what was the wind speed per the weather service during this storm? What was the wind speed during the first issue back in 2014?

It's also noted by the OP in the e-mail correspondence that a steel structure will generally last a life time, but the reality is nothing is going to stand depending on how strong the wind is.

Building needs a PE stamp for the warranty, but the way I read it that's for the frame only, not the cover.

However, what is perplexing is the company does give a wind rating, but as noted, wind is an act of God and not covered in the same written document. This doesn't do the OP any good now, but for that kind of money, I'd want it in additional writing per what is covered per wind damage.

View attachment 609434

Oh and the NOAA maximum 2 second windspeed for this incident was 53mph. I find that hard to believe. The news reported 70-80mph winds in the DFW metroplex that day. The 2014 incident was a little less.

4570Man · Jun 17, 2019

I would fight the huge price discrepancy before I got into the warranty.

Sigarms · Jun 17, 2019

piaffepony said:
Oh and the NOAA maximum 2 second windspeed for this incident was 53mph. I find that hard to believe. The news reported 70-80mph winds in the DFW metroplex that day. The 2014 incident was a little less.

You still didn't answer the question if the insurance company was paying for it or not?

MossRoad · Jun 17, 2019

I think she said that back in post #1.

piaffepony said:
Question to my favorite TBN geniuses:

Long story short: 2011: Built a 72x300 fabric building that is used as an indoor riding arena. My cover is in 3, 100 sections.

2014: North Texas storm tore the middle cover off. Clearspan made it right.

2019: Storm rips off another cover. This time: they want $20k just to replace 1 cover (not including labor.) Before I bought the building, I was told the cover is approximately 10% of the cost of the building. I paid $110K including shipping, taxes etc. Insurance is covering it, but how many more times is insurance going to cover it?!

The warranty was for 10 years, and has a wind rating if 90mph. Neither weather event reached that. Here is their response:

敵ood questions. The warranty unfortunately does not cover any acts of God or weather incidents like wind. The structures are designed to meet minimum 90mph wind but the warranty only covers manufacturers defects.

Ummm straight line winds less than the rating advertised, isn稚 a manufacturing defect? Twice in 8 years! Are my expectations too high here? Am I being unreasonable? Anyone else experience this, and reach an acceptable resolution to this problem?

View attachment 608615

Sigarms · Jun 17, 2019

MossRoad said:
I think she said that back in post #1.

Well then, the only logical response can be

MossRoad · Jun 17, 2019

Hahaha!! Nice! :laughing:

Sigarms · Jun 17, 2019

MossRoad said:
Hahaha!! Nice! :laughing:

Thank you.

But back to the thread, if the insurance will pick it up, I'd let the insurance take care of it and document it per what, why and where and send it to the manufacturer and copy the insurance the company. I see this as a battle between the insurance company (per what they're willing to pay to fix it) and the manufacturer per what their warranty covers (since it apparently is "still" under warranty, even if pro rated).

You want to get the building fixed first. By documenting everything (and the companies response in email when it is fixed) for the next "go round".

The reality is ANY structure can be blown down in high winds. The key is setting the parameters in writing from this point forward so you know what to expect if another issue arises.

If the frame built doesn't neeed a PE stamp and the company offers a 10 year warranty on their cover in winds up to 70MPH, but by the same token states that acts of God are not covered (including wind), I personally wouldn't spend any more money than I would be willing to lose on the product if it were destroyed.

That said the OP did state (per the insurance company "going after it")...
"but my purchase agreement has a subrogation waiver clause and a few other little BS technicalities, they decided not to pursue legal action."

Did we get to read the waiver clause and a few other little "BS technicalities"? If I'm spending 150k on a building that isn't my house, I'm doing my due dilligence (honestly, I'm suprised the lended didn't if the product wasn't bought outright with cash). No way blaming the OP for buying what was bought, but you have to ask questions and have the responses in writing IMO for that kind of money IMO.

piaffepony · Jun 18, 2019

Sigarms said:
Thank you.

But back to the thread, if the insurance will pick it up, I'd let the insurance take care of it and document it per what, why and where and send it to the manufacturer and copy the insurance the company. I see this as a battle between the insurance company (per what they're willing to pay to fix it) and the manufacturer per what their warranty covers (since it apparently is "still" under warranty, even if pro rated).

You want to get the building fixed first. By documenting everything (and the companies response in email when it is fixed) for the next "go round".

The reality is ANY structure can be blown down in high winds. The key is setting the parameters in writing from this point forward so you know what to expect if another issue arises.

If the frame built doesn't neeed a PE stamp and the company offers a 10 year warranty on their cover in winds up to 70MPH, but by the same token states that acts of God are not covered (including wind), I personally wouldn't spend any more money than I would be willing to lose on the product if it were destroyed.

That said the OP did state (per the insurance company "going after it")...
"but my purchase agreement has a subrogation waiver clause and a few other little BS technicalities, they decided not to pursue legal action."

Did we get to read the waiver clause and a few other little "BS technicalities"? If I'm spending 150k on a building that isn't my house, I'm doing my due dilligence (honestly, I'm suprised the lended didn't if the product wasn't bought outright with cash). No way blaming the OP for buying what was bought, but you have to ask questions and have the responses in writing IMO for that kind of money IMO.

We talked to these guys for 7 months before we bought the building.. we went and looked at a couple of different fabric structures made by this company and others. I assumed that any wind damage within the wind rating would be covered by the amortized warranty (aside from debris or negligence). I’ve learned sooooo much from this experience though... building wise and contract law wise.

I’ve been seriously considering filing a claim with my state’s deceptive trade practices act unless they make this right. So far, I’ve got them to convert the damaged section of the cover to their newer system where the cover is in 20’ sections... but I want them to do the whole thing because I noticed a section (kind of hidden) where the bottom stretch pocket is separating! Also, the skirting rail and hammer strip system (that we paid extra for) does not work well at all. The skirt sits over this u channel and you hammer this white strip that’s supposed to hold it in place... they pop out all the time. I went back and shot some metal screws through them every two feet or so and they stayed in place better, but some still came undone!