A picturesque Utah neighborhood of 21 newly built homes is deteriorating, with houses cracking and sinking into the ground as young families fear for their future.
Families in the Winn Ridge neighborhood in Nephi, about 85 miles south of Salt Lake City, say cracks have spread across their walls, leaving them feeling unsafe in their homes.
Edgar and Chelsie Rios forked out an eye-popping $700,000 for a brand new pad in November 2022, but have now been forced to leave their property as a result of the damage.
‘We worry about wires being pulled and starting a fire or gas lines breaking, pipes breaking,’ Rios told FOX 13.
‘This was our house,’ she said. ‘We expected to be here for a while.’
Rios described seeing her house falling apart as ’emotional.’
‘I have a hard time going inside and going in my kids’ rooms,’ she added. ‘It makes me really sad.’
In total, 21 homeowners filed a lawsuit in Utah state court earlier this year against Riding Siding Construction, the company allegedly behind the project.
21 homeowners in the Winn Ridge neighborhood of Nephi, Utah, alleged that their homes are riddled with cracks and sinking into the ground
The homes were built in 2022 and 2023, according to a lawsuit filed by the homeowners
Edgar and Chelsie Rios paid $700,000 for their home but have been forced to move out due to its deteriorating condition
Rios said the settling caused a separation in the roof that allowed rainwater to pour into the garage, forcing her family to desperately cover it with a tarp.
Residents of Winn Ridge have claimed that cracks are spreading through drywall, especially around door corners and windows.
They also alleged the floors have started to slope.
Some doors no longer latch properly, while fissures have also allegedly opened in basement floors.
Those cracks are allowing ‘dangerous levels of radon’ into the homes, per the lawsuit.
All of the homes were built in 2022 and 2023, according to the complaint.
Another resident, Brandee Wing, said her home was among the ones affected.
‘It’s so frustrating,’ she said.
Residents have reported cracks spreading through drywall, particularly around windows and the corners of doors
Builders knew the neighborhood had ‘a moderate to high collapse potential,’ according to the suit
Builders were allegedly told the soils in the neighborhood had ‘a moderate to high collapse potential.’
The homeowners are also suing Salisbury Homes, which they claim handled most of the sales.
A geotechnical report prepared for the company allegedly instructed builders to use six to 10 inches of fill soil, depending on compaction.
They placed 12–inch loose lifts instead, according to the lawsuit.
Foundation drains mentioned in the report were also not installed, the homeowners claimed.
‘The fraud that homeowners have alleged are that there were important facts about these lots and the way the soil was prepared – or not prepared – that were not disclosed,’ according to their attorney, Chase Wilde.
Still, Wilde said the homeowners did not want to leave their supposedly idyllic neighborhood.
‘They don’t necessarily want to move,’ Wilde said. ‘They don’t want to sell their homes. They just want the homes repaired.’
Michael and Brandee Wing said repairs to their home, which would mean lifting the residence up to install piers underneath, would cost about $270,000
Chase Wilde, an attorney representing the 21 locals suing, said the residents were not necessarily trying to leave their neighborhood
The lawsuit does not specify any dollar amount sought by the homeowners.
Michael Wing, Brandee’s husband, said that fixing the situation would require ‘a lot of money and piering.’
But he said he would prefer to remain in the neighborhood.
‘The layout of the whole house is beautiful and it’s what we wanted,’ he said.
Repairs to their home, which would include lifting the residence and placing piers underneath, are estimated to cost nearly $270,000.
That is more than half of what the Wings paid to buy their Winn Ridge house.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Wilde, the homeowners’ attorney, Riding Siding Construction and Salisbury Homes for further comment.
