Construction Defects: What to look for

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What is a Construction Defect

Damage caused by construction defects or improper maintenance can be very expensive to remedy.  Here are some things you want to look for when looking to purchase a house or after a contractor performs work at your home.

  • Signs of moisture or water leakage inside your home
  • Mold
  • Dry rot anywhere
  • Stains on walls or ceilings
  • Nail pops or soft drywall
  • Windows or doors that do not close correctly
  • Ponding water or flooding outside your home
  • Cracks in drywall, tile work, cabinets, and concrete slabs or foundations
  • External stucco cracking, flaking or staining
  • Odd smells and odors
  • Lights that flicker on and off
  • Loose, slipping or falling roof tiles
  • Power breaker switches that often trip
  • Absence of gutters and downspouts
  • Water seeping through the slab
  • Pest infestations through cracks in slabs or walls
  • Uneven or sloping floors
  • Basement walls out of plumb
  • Covered weep holes
  • Decks that don’t drain properly, feel spongy, or have cracks on the surface
  • Bathroom vents directly into attic (can cause mold growth)
  • Sidewalks, driveways, or garbage slabs that crack, have efflorescence or begin to disintegrate
  • Balcony railings that are loose, rusting, or rotting
  • External patios and walls separating from house or slab
  • Wet slabs or moisture in crawl spaces
  • Roofs that leak or pond water
  • Windows, sliding glass doors, or skylights with water stains around
  • Openings in attic crawl spaces between units
  • Chimney caps without spark arrestors
  • Tilted chimneys
  • Dizziness, drowsiness, or an unusual number of colds or allergy symptoms you did not have before you moved into the building
  • Extremely hot water that scalds on contact
  • Gas ranges that fail to light, or burn sporadically, indicating leaky gas lines
  • Heating systems and furnaces that fail to operate, or make unusual noises

If these problems are present at your house, you will want to contact qualified professionals to investigate further.

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