South Carolina Homeowners Sue Window Makers Over Faulty Products

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Ply Gem and Cornerstone Building Brands installed fundamentally flawed windows in a South Carolina neighborhood, leading to water leaks, mold, and wood decay.

Consumers Affected: Homeowners in the Queensbridge neighborhood in Indian Land, South Carolina, whose properties contain the allegedly defective Builder 1100 Series windows.

Court: U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina Rock Hill Division

Window manufacturers Ply Gem and Cornerstone Building Brands installed windows in more than 250 homes in the Queensbridge neighborhood in Indian Land, South Carolina, that are fundamentally flawed and causing serious property damage, according to two local homeowners.

The homeowners filed a proposed class action lawsuit alleging the companies’ new construction vinyl windows, specifically the Builder 1100 Series, are designed and manufactured without essential moisture-blocking features, leading to water leaks, fogged glass, mold, and rot in homes throughout the community.

According to the complaint, these windows fail to keep out moisture, causing condensation between glass panes and allowing water to seep into window sills, walls, and structural components. 

Homeowners argue this poses a threat to both their homes and health due to the risk of mold growth and wood decay. Despite the manufacturer’s warranty, which promises a decade of protection from this type of failure, plaintiffs say the problems persist even after receiving replacement windows, alleging those too contain the same defects.

Homeowners Allege They Bought Houses With Defective Windows

William G. Jameson and Bill Lane, who filed the lawsuit, are longtime residents of Queensbridge. The windows were installed in their homes before purchase, based on choices made by the builder, according to the lawsuit. 

The homeowners claim they noticed fogging and film on their windows not long after moving in and sought replacements under warranty. But even after receiving new windows, the problems continued. Both men say they were forced to cover the shipping and installation costs out of pocket, only to find the replacements just as faulty as the originals.

They allege in the lawsuit the windows lacked a desiccant, a common industry-standard feature used to prevent moisture intrusion. They also claim other design flaws, including defective weep systems and poorly placed sealants, are contributing to the ongoing issues. 

The homeowners say they had no way of knowing about the defects at the time of purchase and that the companies knowingly manufactured and distributed products destined to fail.

Ply Gem Faces Other Legal Challenges Over Product Defects

This isn’t Ply Gem’s first time facing legal scrutiny. The company is also linked to a $100 million shareholder settlement involving a controversial merger with window maker Ply Gem Parent LLC. 

Meanwhile, lawsuits over glass product failures have surfaced in other industries, including a recent class action settlement against Subaru for allegedly defective windshields.

Jameson and Lane are hoping to represent all Queensbridge homeowners whose properties contain the allegedly defective windows. They’re suing for negligence, breach of warranty, and defective product design and manufacturing, and are seeking financial compensation for water damage, mold remediation, the cost of inspecting and replacing windows, and loss of enjoyment of their homes. 

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Jameson, et al. v. Ply Gem Specialty Products, LLC, et al.
• Case Number: 0:25-cv-06223-MGL 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina Rock Hill Division 

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Vincent A. Sheheen, Greg Collins, and Austin M. Sheheen (Savage Royall & Sheheen, LLP) 
• Jessica L. Fickling (WYCHE, P.A.)

Have you had any experience with Ply Gem windows, or other products? Let us know in the comments below.