§3144. Warranties; exclusions

A. Subject to the exclusions provided in Subsection B of this Section, every builder warrants the following to the owner:

(1) One year following the warranty commencement date, the home will be free from any defect due to noncompliance with the building standards or due to other defects in materials or workmanship not regulated by building standards.

(2) Two years following the warranty commencement date, the plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, and ventilating systems exclusive of any appliance, fixture, and equipment will be free from any defect due to noncompliance with the building standards or due to other defects in materials or workmanship not regulated by building standards.

(3) Five years following the warranty commencement date, the home will be free from major structural defects due to noncompliance with the building standards or due to other defects in materials or workmanship not regulated by building standards.

B. Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, the builder's warranty shall exclude the following items:

(1) Fences, landscaping, including but not limited to sodding, seeding, shrubs, existing and new trees, and plantings, as well as off-site improvements, all driveways and walkways, or any other improvement not a part of the home itself.

(2) After the first year, the concrete floor of a basement and the concrete floor of an attached or unattached garage that is built separate from a foundation wall or other structural element of the home.

(3) Damage to real property which is not part of the home covered by the warranty and which is not included in the purchase price of the home.

(4) Any damage to the extent it is caused or made worse by any of the following:

(a) Negligence, improper maintenance, neglect or improper operation by anyone other than the builder or any employee, agent, or subcontractor of the builder.

(b) Failure by anyone other than the builder or any employee, agent, or subcontractor of the builder to comply with the warranty requirements of manufacturers of appliances, equipment, or fixtures.

(c) Failure by the owner to give written notice by registered or certified mail to the builder of any defect within the time set forth in R.S. 9:3145. However, the provisions of this Subparagraph shall not be construed to change either the warranty periods enumerated in Subsection A of this Section or the notice requirements provided by R.S. 9:3145.

(d) Any change of the grading of the ground by anyone other than the builder, or any employee, agent, or subcontractor of the builder.

(e) Any change, alteration, or addition made to the home by anyone after the initial occupancy by the owner, except any change, alteration, or addition performed by the builder, or any employee, agent, or subcontractor of the builder.

(f) Dampness, condensation, or other damage due to the failure of the owner to maintain adequate ventilation or drainage.

(5) Any loss or damage which the owner has not taken timely action to minimize.

(6) Any defect in, or any defect caused by, materials or work supplied by anyone other than the builder, or any employee, agent, or subcontractor of the builder.

(7) Normal wear and tear or normal deterioration.

(8) Loss or damage which does not constitute a defect in the construction of the home by the builder, or any employee, agent, or subcontractor of the builder.

(9) Loss or damage resulting from war, accident, riot and civil commotion, water escape, falling objects, aircraft, vehicles, acts of God, lightning, windstorm, hail, flood, mudslide, earthquake, volcanic eruption, wind driven water, and changes in the level of the underground water table which are not reasonably foreseeable.

(10) Any damage caused by soil movement which is covered by other insurance.

(11) Insect damage.

(12) Any loss or damage which arises while the home is being used primarily for a nonresidential purpose.

(13) Any condition which does not result in actual physical damage to the home.

(14) Bodily injury or damage to personal property.

(15) Any cost of shelter, transportation, food, moving, storage, or other incidental expense related to relocation during repair.

(16) Any defect not reported in writing by registered or certified mail to the builder or insurance company, as appropriate, prior to the expiration of the period specified in Subsection A of this Section for such defect plus thirty days.

(17) Consequential damages.

(18) Any loss or damage to a home caused by soil conditions or soil movement if the home is constructed on land owned by the initial purchaser and the builder obtains a written waiver from the initial purchaser for any loss or damage caused by soil conditions or soil movement.

(19) Mold and mold damage.

C. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section establish minimum required warranties and shall not be waived by the owner or reduced by the builder provided the home is a single or multiple family dwelling to be occupied by an owner as his home.

Acts 1986, No. 676, §1; Acts 1997, No. 987, §1; Acts 1999, No. 649, §1; Acts 2001, No. 179, §1; Acts 2003, No. 333, §1; Acts 2004, No. 45, §1.