Asher Custom Homes

Thanks so much Tracy! We loved working with you. We are so happy you love your beautiful new home!!

Thanks so much for the great review. We really enjoyed working with you to create your dream home!

It is unfortunate that the client is unhappy with the beautiful home that Asher Custom Homes completed for him. While the client is clearly disappointed by the septic system, his narrative of the evolution of the engineering, installation, inspection, and certification is not accurate. The health department mandates that all septic systems be engineered, inspected, and approved. Builders manage this process, but have no control over the engineering or approval of septic systems. The client's system was designed and engineered by a well-respected firm that has designed most of the systems in this area. The system was installed per plan under the supervision of a licensed septic contractor. It was subsequently inspected and approved by the health department. There is no scenario where the health department will approve an improper installation or allow backfilling prior to inspection. Attached is the signed permit from the San Juan Basin Public Health Department.
The septic system pipe is located in the client's side yard approximately 200 feet from the house. The septic engineer chose this spot because it found it to be the most appropriate for the system. While the pipe is in the side yard, far from the home, Asher Custom Homes offered to landscape around it to make it virtually imperceptible. the client refused this offer and instead engaged the septic engineering firm that originally designed the system seeking a different answer. The septic engineering firm proposed a modification that could mitigate the pipe. When the client informed Asher Custom Homes of this potential modification, we contacted numerous contractors who can do this work, but none of them wanted to disturb a certified working system. Additionally, while the original septic engineer proposed a potential modification, they have also stated in writing to Asher Custom Homes that the system was installed correctly to plan and that any modification to the system could affect the operation and effectiveness of the system. Such a modification would also void all of the existing warranties on the system. Attached is the as built evaluation from the engineering firm that confirms the system was installed correctly and that modifications have risks.
The client selected a beautiful slab of natural stone to be used for their kitchen island. Their contract with the granite fabricator states clearly that this stone is prone to cracking during shipment and fabrication and the stone fabricator has the right to repair the slab if in fact it cracks. The stone apparently cracked in half while being installed by the fabricator. Asher Custom Homes was unaware of this until the client discovered the crack a number of months after installation when they were looking at something else from the ground up and saw the crack from under the slab. Because the fabricator deals with this type of issue on a regular basis, they are experts at repairing cracks. This crack was imperceptible and may have never been noticed had the client not discovered it from underneath. Despite this, the client was unhappy so Asher Custom Homes advocated for them with the fabricator and negotiated zero cost for fabricating and installing a replacement piece of stone that the client would purchase. To suggest that Asher Custom Homes refused to replace stone and to imply that we left the client on their own is patently false.
There is a significant cost to hauling off dirt from a project site. In consultation with Asher, the owners decided to leave the excavated dirt on the property to keep costs down and to create a larger back yard. There was a finite area to work with and one tree ended up with too much dirt around it. The excavator intended to remediate this issue by creating a welled area around the tree.Before this tree well work could be completed and without notifying Asher Custom Homes, the client independently hired a contractor who was doing other work in their neighborhood to move large quantities of the dirt to another area of their property for landscaping. This dirt movement negated the need for the tree well.
Asher Custom Homes prides itself on working extensively with our clients from the beginning of design throughout the completion of construction. We use a web-based project tracking tool combined with a comprehensive project plan that requires our clients to confirm all design elements and selections before being built or ordered. We have numerous touch points with our clients during design and construction so that specific design features like bathroom layout, exterior column sizes and fireplaces are exactly what the client has chosen and confirmed with our tool. Asher Custom Homes was never made aware of any concerns over the columns, bathroom layout or the fireplace until this review and while we would have been happy to work with the client to make modifications during design and construction, this house was completed over a year ago and the design and construction phases were over 2 years ago when these concerns should have been raised and addressed. A review of the design selections the client approved does not identify any discrepancies from what was planned and approved to what was built. I can address that the height of the fireplace mantel was driven by building code. The fireplace unit that the client selected required a certain clearance between the fireplace box and any combustible material. Our project notes clearly identify that we discussed this issue with the client and received their approval to construct the fireplace they have.
Asher Custom Homes stands behind all of our projects and we remain willing and committed to work with the client to resolve any true problems that require remediation.

REDACTED
PERMIT #:
ISSUED: 08/11/2020
EXPIRES: 08/11/2021
ON-SITE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PERMIT
APPLICANT PROPERTY OWNER INSTALLER
CLIENT NAME REDACTED
ADDRESS REDACTED
PHONE NUMBER REDACTED
SPRINGS, TX 7 LIC #: EXP:
ADDRESS: REDACTED
PERMIT TYPE: CONSTRUCTION SUBDIVISION: REDACTED
DWELLING UNITS: 1 BEDROOMS: 3
SITE EVAL LTAR: 0.80 LIMITING ZONE: R-2 Soil
DEPTH: 3 ft. WATER SUPPLY: Central
SEPTIC TANKS: 1250 gallons minimum
DESIGN FLOW: 525 GPD
DISTRIBUTION: Dosed, Pump
SOIL TREATMENT: Unlined sand filter constructed in three 3' X 73' trenches with gravel distribution media.
WORK DESCRIPTION: Construct a gravity absorption OWTS to service a new 4 bedroom home.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
System must meet pressure dosing requirements as per Reg 43.10.E.3.a. Wet test will be required at the construction inspection.
Installer must be prepared to run a sufficient number of tests to confirm proper function of Automatic Distributing Valve. Call SJBPH
for inspection.
Strictly adhere to maximum depth requirement in design.
"Secondary sand media" as defined in Regulation 43.11.C.2.d must be used as sand filter material. A gradation of material is
required.
Effluent filter with handle reaching within 12 inches of grade is required at effluent tee of septic tank.
Splice boxes and electrical connections must be located outside the pump system access riser and be accessible from the ground
surface. Wire splices are prohibited inside the tank, dosing chamber or riser. Wire splicing must be completed with
corrosion-resistant, watertight connectors.
AUTHORIZATION TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIRS
The submitted design and above specifications are authorized for construction, subject to the above special conditions. All
provisions of the SJBPH On-site Wastewater Treatment System regulations must be complied with whether specified herein or
not. The granting of this permit does not give authority to violate or cancel any other state or local law or regulation governing
construction or land use.
Authorized By Date
FINAL INSPECTION
The above system has been inspected and found to comply with the requirements as described on the issued permit.
08/11/2020
REDACTED

System Designed by (name, company, phone) Finalized By Date
8/20/2021



REDACTED
Subject: OWTS As-Built Evaluation and Record Drawing
REDACTED

Dear REDACTED:
As required by the San Juan Basin Public Health Department Onsite Wastewater Treatment
System (OWTS) Regulations, REDACTED performed as-built construction inspections and
prepared a record drawing for the OWTS at the site. We previously prepared an OWTS Design
for the site in our report dated July 22, 2020. This letter has been prepared in accordance with our
proposal to you dated June 16, 2020, Proposal No. 20162P.
We performed the as-built evaluation on September 16, 2020, July 13, 2021, July 26, 2021, and
August 2, 2021. The OWTS was installed by REDACTED. The
OWTS components observed include: sewer line, cleanouts, septic tank, dose tank, pump and
pump operation, squirt height, automatic distribution valve (ADV) operation, effluent transport
lines, distribution box, soil treatment area (STA), sand and the locations of components. The
installation and locations of system components were verified as shown on the OWTS Record
Drawing, Figure 1. Photographs of the OWTS installation are provided in the attached Photograph
Log.
The OWTS was installed in general conformance with our design except for the alterations listed
below. It is our opinion that the alterations will not negatively affect the performance of the
OWTS.
1. The orientation of the STA was rotated 90 degrees. Our original design showed the STA
in an East-West orientation; however, the STA was altered to a North-South orientation
due to trees and topographic considerations. The STA remains located in the same general
area as our original design and the locations of the test pits. The base of the STA excavation
was verified as the same soil type applied in our design.
2. The septic tank, dose tank and ADV locations were moved south from the design locations;
however, the pump transport distance and effluent transport line distances were not
substantially different than the design lengths. We verified the pump operation during our
site inspections and the pump operation test showed a squirt height of 10+ feet which well
exceeds the design height of 5 feet.
3. A K-Rain brand ADV was installed as the Orenco model arrived to the project site
damaged. The models are the same as K-Rain manufactures the ADV for Orenco.
PN: REDACTED Page 2
August 2, 2021
It is our opinion that the OWTS was installed in general conformance with our July 22, 2020
OWTS Design. The observations and recommendations presented above are based on our site
observations and our experience in the area. We make no warranty either express or implied.
Alterations to the system, improper OWTS operation, or improper backfill and site grading could
affect the operation and effectiveness of the OWTS.
Please contact us if you have any questions, or if we may be of additional service.
Respectfully, Reviewed by,
REDACTED
Engineering Geologist Geotechnical Engineer
Attachments: OWTS As-Built Record Drawing
OWTS As-Built Photograph Log

Thank you for the wonderful review!! We loved working with you both as well.

Thanks Catherine for your kind words. We are so happy that you had a great experience and that you are enjoying your beautiful home.

Thanks Janet! We loved working with you and are thrilled you love your new home!

Thank you so much for your kind words. We loved working with you!

Thanks James for the kind words. We very much enjoyed working with you to create your gorgeous home.

Thank you so much for your kind words Melanie. We are thrilled you are so happy with your new home.