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Chapter Ten Warranty & Care

What happens after the keys

Handing over a house is not the end of the job. It is the point where our work starts being tested by weather, seasons, and daily life. Here is what we cover, for how long, and how to reach us.

Care for your home continues after move-in.
The Coverage

One, two, ten

Three coverage periods address different parts of a new home. The summary below is a starting point; your signed agreement and warranty documents define the coverage, exclusions, and claim process for your home.

1
Year · Workmanship
Fit and finish

Everything we or our trade partners installed, held to the standard we agreed to. This is the window where the small things surface, and we would rather hear about all of them than none.

Covers
— Drywall, paint, and trim defects
— Cabinetry, countertops, and hardware
— Flooring, tile, and grout installation
— Doors and windows that stick, bind, or leak air
— Exterior finishes, caulking, and flashing
2
Years · Systems
What runs the house

The distribution systems inside the walls. Two years is long enough for an installation fault to reveal itself through a full cycle of Texas summers and winters.

Covers
— Plumbing supply and drain lines
— Electrical wiring, panels, and devices
— HVAC ductwork and equipment installation
— Gas lines and connections
— Ventilation and exhaust systems
10
Years · Structural
What holds it up

The load-bearing elements. This is the coverage that matters most and the one you are least likely to use, and it is backed by a third-party warranty company rather than by our promise alone.

Covers
— Foundation and footings
— Load-bearing walls and columns
— Beams, girders, and lintels
— Roof framing systems
— Floor framing systems
Being Fair About It

What a warranty does not cover

A warranty covers defects. It does not cover wear, weather, or maintenance that did not happen. Saying so plainly now is more useful than discovering it during a disagreement later.

— Normal wear on finishes, hardware, and fixtures from daily use.
— Damage from weather events, which is what your homeowner insurance is for.
— Hairline cracks in concrete, grout, and drywall from normal curing and settlement.
— Maintenance items: filters, batteries, caulk at wet areas, and grout sealing.
— Work performed by others after closing, including landscaping that changes drainage.
— Damage caused by neglect, overloading, or modification of a system.
— Appliances and equipment covered directly by their manufacturers.
The First Year

A new house moves as it dries out and as the ground around it goes through a Gulf Coast year. Most of what you notice in the first twelve months is normal. Some of it we come back and fix.

First 30 days

The punch list. Small things you notice once you are actually living in the house. Keep a running note and send it as one list rather than a dozen texts.

First summer

The air conditioning gets its real test, and the ground around the foundation dries and contracts. Water the perimeter evenly during drought. This matters more here than almost anything else you will do.

First winter

Heating runs, humidity drops, and wood trim shrinks slightly. Nail pops and small drywall cracks often appear now. They are normal and we address them at the year-end walkthrough.

Month eleven

We walk the house with you before the workmanship window closes. Anything outstanding gets caught while it is still covered.

Your Part

Caring for a new home here

Gulf Coast clay, humidity, and hard water are the three things that shorten the life of a house in this region. None of them are difficult to manage if you know they are coming.

One
Water the foundation

Gulf Coast clay shrinks in drought and swells when it rains. Even moisture around the slab, through a soaker hose in dry spells, prevents the differential movement that cracks foundations.

Two
Keep drainage away

Grade should fall away from the house on every side. Do not let flower beds, mulch, or new landscaping dam water against the slab, and keep gutters and downspouts clear and discharging well away.

Three
Change filters on schedule

Every one to three months depending on the filter and whether you have pets. A clogged filter is the most common cause of an HVAC service call, and it is entirely preventable.

Four
Manage humidity

Run bath fans during and after showers, and use the range hood when you cook. Persistent indoor humidity is what turns a small moisture problem into a large one.

Five
Re-caulk wet areas

Caulk at tubs, showers, and counters is a maintenance item, not a permanent finish. Inspect it annually and redo it before it fails, not after.

Six
Flush the water heater

Hard water here leaves sediment. An annual flush protects the tank and keeps the unit efficient, and it takes less than an hour.

Make A Request

Something needs attention

Tell us what you are seeing. Photographs help enormously. You will hear back from a person, not a ticket number.

I Send the request below, with photographs if you can take them safely.
II We respond within two business days, and sooner when it is urgent.
III We schedule the visit around you, coordinate the trade, and follow up after to confirm it actually got fixed.
Emergency

Active water leak, no heat or air in extreme weather, gas smell, or an electrical hazard: call 713-804-6127 rather than filling out a form. For a gas smell or fire, call 911 first.

Attach photographs to the email that opens. They almost always shorten the visit.

Goes to info@storybuilthomes.com
Questions We Get

About the warranty

More questions about building? Read the full FAQ

Primary bathroom beneath a brick-clad vaulted ceiling, laid by hand Brick-clad vaulted ceiling, primary bath
Built To Be Warrantied

The standards behind the coverage

A warranty is only as good as the construction under it. ZIP System sheathing, 2x6 exterior walls, third-party engineered foundations, and right-sized mechanicals are why we are comfortable putting ten years behind the structure.

How we build →