AMHERST — Deborah Roche and Judith Melillo fulfilled a dream when they moved into their newly constructed log home in November 2008.

Within months, they say, that dream was crumbling around them.

“It’s a nightmare, and we live in it every day,” Roche said.

The couple claim their $300,000-plus home was poorly built with defective materials. They say their pipes have frozen three times, there have been numerous leaks and gaps in the walls allow access for cold air and flies, which arrive in droves each fall.

They recently received a $33,000 preliminary estimate for mold remediation, just one of many repairs they claim are needed.

The couple have filed a civil complaint in Penobscot Superior Court against their contractor, James MacDougall of Enfield, Ward Log Homes of Houlton, which provided the kit for their home, and George and Jan Currier of Dedham, who were their Ward sales representatives.

Melillo and Roche paid about $118,000 for the kit from Ward and more than $190,000 to MacDougall for construction. They designed their log home, which features cathedral ceilings, a sleeping loft and views of Mount Katahdin. Ward drew up the blueprints and provided materials.

The couple allege in their court complaint that all three defendants were “negligent and careless” in the construction of their home.

They say their contractor “failed to do his work in accordance with standard practices and he failed to follow Ward Log Homes’ specifications for construction.”

They accuse Ward Log Homes too of breaching its contract and warranties by providing inferior product and inadequate instructions to the contractor.

They allege the Curriers, their sales representatives, recommended the contractor and failed to notify them of construction problems.

Depositions were recently taken in the case, which has yet to appear before a judge.

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