N.C. Home Builder to Fix Fire Walls

A manager for a home builder that installed inadequate fire walls in more than 100 town houses in Guilford and Forsyth counties says the oversight was an “honest mistake,” not an attempt to cut costs.

Portrait homes regional manager Paul Holst told the News & Record of Greensboro that 105 homes have been identified as needing repairs and up to 180 homes could be affected. The homes are in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Whitsett.

Portrait first proposed a layer of flame-retardant paint as a fix, but agreed last month to add another drywall layer, depending on the owners’ wishes. Holst says the company has an obligation to fix the fire walls.

He wouldn’t name the subcontractor who did the drywall, but said they’re not working now in any construction for the builder.

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Information from: News & Record, http://www.news-record.com