Normal weathering is the reason that many homeowners put siding on their homes. But some who paid thousands of dollars for liquid siding are seeing their peace of mind peel away. Now, a class action lawsuit might be in the works.
A traffic accident left Paul Johnson blind. His wife Norma Jean describes to him how liquid siding is holding up on their home.
"It's nothing but bubbles all over the whole house," she says.
Three years ago, the Johnsons paid Procraft of Nebraska $13,000 to treat their home with Kryton liquid siding.
About the same time, 6 on Your Side interviewed Mike Bendfeldt, the owner of Procraft of Nebraska, who bragged about the lasting quality of liquid siding.
He told us the siding, "will not allow water to penetrate, to cause rot, but allows moisture to pass through so it will not blister peel or crack,"
But less than three years later, 6 on Your Side finds homes with liquid siding that have blistered, peeled and cracked.
The Johnsons own one of those homes and Paul Johnson says, "I thought we had a 25 year warranty and we'd never have to worry about it again."
Three homeowners we interviewed hold 25 year warranties for Kryton liquid siding but the manufacturer won't pay for repairs or refunds, blaming the applicator for not putting it on correctly.
The applicator, Procraft of Nebraska, denies that accusation.
Procraft's attorney, James Blinn says, "My client applied the product exactly as trained, under the exact specifications as trained. So if there is a defect going on then Kryton is responsible for the warranty."
Terri Beck hired attorney Bill Bianco to sue Procraft of Nebraska because her liquid siding is peeling away.
Ms. Beck says, "Someone needs to come together here and be held responsible for how this can be taken care of."
As other liquid siding customers call him, attorney Bianco says a class action suit is possible against the manufacturer, "and both companies are pointing at each other," he says. "This is something we'd like to get in front of a court and get a verdict for the people who have been wronged."
Since the manufacturer blames the applicator and the applicator blames the product, the Better Business Bureau is attempting to mediate the dispute.
In addition, a local company that sells other types of liquid siding has offered to help customers having problems with the Kryton product.
Roy Anderson is with Atlas Permacoat and he applies a completely different product called spray-on siding.
It has not had the problems that customers of liquid siding have been experiencing, such as massive peeling and Atlas is on the Better Business Bureau's honor roll.
Anderson is offering to help Paul and Norma Johnson at a minimal cost and he's making the same offer to other homeowners who have problems with liquid siding.