John Buchan Homes

Hi Max,

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns about your experience with your John Buchan home. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and want to express our apologies for the issues you've encountered. Your feedback is invaluable to us as it helps us identify areas for improvement and enhance the quality of our homes. We would like to address each of your concerns individually to provide a better understanding of the situation:

1. Exterior Paint: I’m sorry the paint didn’t perform as you expected. It is recommended that homes with wood siding, like yours, be repainted every 5-7 years. The lap siding material of your home does include an undercoat. Specifically, the material installed is ½ x 6, kiln-dried, pre-primed cedar; it has a manufacturer applied undercoat. It is true your cedar shingles did not have an undercoat. The shingles are clear cedar, delivered raw (no undercoat), and painted with a 4:1 mix that intentionally dilutes the paint to allow the beauty of the cedar to show through. We are always listening to our homeowners and striving to deliver the best. While cedar is an exceptional cladding material it does require more homeowner maintenance. Over the course of time, lower maintenance products that perform well have become available. Currently we install pre-primed, fiber-cement siding which lowers homeowner maintenance and doubles the lifespan of exterior paint.

2. Holes in Floor Boarding: We’re sorry you experienced rodent issues and glad you found a solution. To run plumbing from the crawlspace into the home, holes must be cut in the floorboards. Should there be an issue with rodents, it is recommended to fill any remaining gaps around plumbing pipes with expanding foam. It’s a quick and easy remedy and one we would have gladly done for you during the warranty period.

3. Storm Drainage Issue: We sincerely apologize for the drainage problem you faced with the storm drain. We’re glad you were able to resolve the issue. Storm drainage systems are designed by civil engineers per the approving authorities’ requirements which are based on best data and practices available at the time. Municipalities seek to keep as much water as is reasonable on-property and out of the municipal systems. It may be that the drain of concern was a french drain which are sometimes installed as an added measure to help drain areas of pooling water in the yard. They can but are not required to connect to the municipal storm system. We would have addressed this concern if notified during warranty.

4. Electrical Outlet in Garage: We understand the importance of having sufficient electrical outlets, especially in a three-car garage. Our homes built today provide one outlet for each vehicle stall plus extra panel capacity to add more if desired.

5. Concrete Blob in Master Bathroom: Installing the tub in a thick layer of mortar is the manufacturer’s recommendation and a best practice for most tubs. Freestanding and clawfoot tubs would be the exception. Mortar serves to level the tub, as wel as protect the tub and secure its placement. This is the correct installation for the types of tubs we installed in that era. The larger the tub, the more mortar would be required.

6. Tree Placement: Landscaping is an integral part of making a home and community look their best. We want our homes to look great when we hand over the keys. Trees and other vegetation soften features such as fencing and walls. They add beauty and enhance our ecosystem and communities. We hope our homeowners take pride in their landscaping and perform ongoing maintenance. Given time, that maintenance will periodically include tree removal.

7. Landscaping and Irrigation: We work closely with our landscaping team and in accord with the municipalities tree codes to determine tree removal as well as select appropriate tree species for replacement and ensure they are planted at a safe distance from homes and infrastructure to prevent such issues. However, most trees and even shrubs will eventually outgrow their given space. Their roots may eventually clog storm drains, break irrigation lines or even bust sidewalks given ample time. It is important to monitor for any potential damage and remove trees or other vegetation as appropriate.

Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you've faced. You are always welcome to contact us directly should you discover any concerns in the future. We are committed to learning from the experience of our homeowners to continue to provide the very best homes to our clients.

With appreciation,

Mischelle McCall
info@buchan.com
425-827-2266

Vijaye,
Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed review. It was an honor to build your family's dream home! We appreciate you and Ashley beyond measure. Thank you for your trust, partnership and continued friendship.
Heather & Kevin

Yi, Thank you so much for your compliments. We appreciate you!

Thank you Xingwang and Hua. You are forever part of our family! We are thankful for you and your family and wish you endless happiness in your new home. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for trusting all of us to build your home.

Thank you Carol! We appreciate you and Nick. Your master bathroom turned out beautiful! It was great to work with you again.