Homeowners find razor blades and debris buried in backyards

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Lance Nolan says he's constantly reminded of his home's construction because he keeps finding pieces of it in his backyard.

Nails, a razor blade, metal, aluminum and plastic -- Nolan says he's found it all.

"Any time I put a shovel in the ground, (I'm) digging stuff up," Nolan told Eyewitness News. "I want my yard dug up and the trash removed. I didn't buy a landfill."

Nolan said he moved into his home in September 2015 in the Park Creek subdivision in northwest Harris County. He says he's told the builder, Taylor Morrison, about it.

They've sent people out, but never fixed the problem to Nolan's satisfaction.

Taylor Morrison's corporate office in Arizona sent ABC13 a statement which acknowledged the issue and said the company has done what it can to help Nolan. The statement read:

"The safety of our homeowners is of the utmost importance to Taylor Morrison and we have met with Mr. Nolan several times to remedy the issue since it was first brought to our attention last November. The construction debris found in his yard was not acceptable, and we immediately sent out our team and landscapers to ensure prompt removal and clean up, complete with a metal detector to fully check the underground areas. As recently as last Friday, Jan. 20, we met with Mr. Nolan again and no additional construction debris was found. If there are any other issues that Mr. Nolan has regarding his home, we are happy to address them as part of Taylor Morrison's limited warranty program."

But he's not the only one. ABC13 talked to two other homeowners who've had the same issue, including one who sent a photograph of some of the debris she says was pulled from her backyard.

According to the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas, Taylor Morrison has an F rating. A spokesperson for the BBB told Eyewitness News it was for a number of unresolved complaints.

So what can you do if you find yourself in a similar situation?

Craig Saunders is a real estate litigation attorney with Barlow Jones. He's not working on Nolan's case, but did give us some advice for any homeowner having issues with construction or remodeling.

He says informally complain to the builder first. Use the warranty. In some cases your homeowner's insurance may cover it and fight for you. If not, you might need an attorney.

"The lawyer will put together a demand letter which will detail the problem," said Saunders. "It will be addressed to the builder. It will, depending on the claim invoked, allow for a 30, 45, or 60-day response."

Nolan says he's not sure what to do next.

"It's literally just underneath the sod," he said, shovel in hand. "It's not like I'm digging down into the dirt."