Sinking Homes in a 55+ Community: Cracks, Soil, Retaining Walls & What Homeowners Must Ask

Host Mikki Paradis, a longtime drywall and paint contractor and licensed North Carolina general contractor, and co-host Jessica Abreu explain the purpose of their Chicks in Construction podcast: sharing construction “shenanigans” and teaching homeowners what’s normal, what’s not, and how to protect themselves. After a personal “chickychat” about Mickey’s severe insomnia and strange social media feeds, they introduce a major construction defect story involving the Del Webb 55+ community developed by Pulte Group outside Las Vegas, where homeowners allege homes are sinking due to issues tied to soil grading and retaining walls. They discuss warning signs beyond typical settling—recurring cracks, separating patios, doors not latching, uneven floors—why homeowners should compare notes with neighbors, and why geotechnical reports, drainage, slopes, and retaining walls matter. They urge asking follow-up questions, documenting everything, and submitting stories at chicksinconstruction.com.00:00 Meet the Hosts00:20 Mickey Construction Backstory03:09 Why This Podcast Exists05:08 How to Submit Stories07:06 Jess Homeowner Perspective07:56 Podcast Style and Chicky Chat11:12 Sleep Deprivation and Weird Algorithms19:49 Del Webb Sinking Homes Setup21:53 Cold Open Retirement Nightmare24:57 Neighborhood Defects and Red Flags29:21 Talk to Your Neighbors30:13 Compare Notes Neighbors31:21 Settling Versus Movement33:56 When Cracks Mean Trouble37:09 Ask Better Followups40:12 From Facebook To Lawsuits43:09 Why Soil Matters46:01 Permits And Soil Tests49:48 Retaining Wall Red Flags51:12 Smart Questions Buyers53:16 Protect Yourself Proactively56:46 Document And Communicate01:00:10 Share Stories And Subscribe01:02:27 Final Wrap And Goodbye