Common Defects Found in Homes

Doors and Window Defect Problems

Doors and windows could also demonstrate a construction defect with cracks in their frame or even moisture buildup in the glass. Both of these conditions can be symptoms of a bigger problem. Cracks in doors and windows' frames can be due to soil movement, foundation issues, or poor building material, or construction deficiencies. Moisture that has entered the window glass can be a symptom of a water leak. A water issue can be a very tricky problem to handle. If not caught in time, water damage can be far-reaching. It can develop into dryrot which may not be evident at first. Moisture is a great breeding ground for mold and mildew. Taking care of an issue like mold or mildew can be as easy as using a household cleaner or as serious as needing to hire a professional cleaner.

Sliding Glass Doors

If there are construction defects like soil issues or construction negligence, one potential building issue would be that the sliding glass doors no longer close as they did before. Some soil issues can cause movement in the house causing almost a twist in the house's foundation. Sliding glass doors, doors, and windows that used to close properly no longer close easily.

Garage Defects

Garages can also be impacted by construction defects. If there is a mechanical defect, the garage door may no longer work. If there is a soil issue that was not taken into consideration when the house was built, it could cause cracks in the garage floor or slab. Soil issues are not an easy fix like repairing the garage door opener. Garages can sometimes be the place to start when trying to investigate a construction defect.

Drainage/Sewage Systems Defects

Drainage/sewage systems can become an issue with poor workmanship or substandard products. If a contractor without the right skill set installs drainage/sewage systems improperly, it can result in some very damaging water issues. Inferior building materials or products can also cause a water issue. When you have water issues it seems like it doesn't matter what the root of the issue is, instead your priority is figuring out how to fix it as quickly as possible. Making the repairs should be your priority. But later, when you are looking at the bill, you are going to want to know what caused the problem and who is responsible.

Where do you start? How do you determine what the cause is of your construction defect and who's liable for the costs of repairs? You need to contact an attorney today to help you find the answers to all these questions.

Problems and defects with Walls

If you have construction defect issue likes soil movement, construction deficiencies, or low quality products used, you may see some symptoms in the exterior walls and interior walls. For example, walls may have cracks from the floor to the ceilings. Exterior walls and interior walls may have water damage. This could be due to poor workmanship on the roof, windows or doors. You may also see water damage from issues with cracks in the exterior wall that have allowed moisture to enter. In this case, you may find dryrot or mildew growing. Either issue is extremely difficult to repair. In general, water issues can be very detrimental since they can even cause structural failures.

Shear Walls

Shear walls refer to the vertical limps that help with structural support of exterior walls, floors and the foundation. Shear walls are an important part of a house's structure since it has many functions, including keeping the shape of the structure and protecting it from elements such as wind or earthquakes that can literally tear a house apart. If you have a construction defect that impacts the foundation, you do not want the shear walls to be affected, but it can happen. Foundation issues such as expansive soils can create a great deal of pressure that can easily shift a wall or crack a slab. Any damage evident on shear walls is a sure sign of a very serious construction defect.

Below Grade Walls

Below grade walls will be most affected by water issues or foundation issues. Due to the nature of below grade walls, insulation is very important. If the integrity of the insulation is injected with water or moisture, this could result in a whole host of problems. Dryrot, mildew and mold are all potential construction defects you may encounter with below grade walls.

Retaining Walls

If you have a soil or foundation issue causing cracks in exterior pavement or structures, you may also see cracks in retaining walls. When the ground shifts because of improper soil preparation or improper construction strategies, it causes cracks everywhere.

If you are seeing cracks in exterior walls, interior walls, shear walls, below grade walls, and/or retaining walls, you probably have some kinds of construction defect. You need to contact an attorney with experience in construction defect law. Contact an attorney today before your problems worsen.

Fireplace, Ceilings Problems

A construction defect can be so severe that it causes cracks all over your house. The source of the construction defect will dictate what areas of the house will be most affected. Ceilings and fireplaces may show signs of a construction defect rooted from soil issues or water issues, but are not limited to just these two construction defects.

Expansive soil is a major cause of construction defect. Although we have the technology to determine if the land being built on contains expansive soil, builders and/or developers cut corners by disregarding this fact at times. It is necessary to choose a construction plan that will take the soil type into consideration. If a builder does not use these techniques and the soil gets wet, you will see some serious symptoms of a construction defect. A fireplace can become separated from the wall with the enormous pressure that wet expansive soil can produce. A fireplace can incur many cracks all over during this soil movement as well.

Ceilings are also damaged during a soil movement like when expansive soils swell when wet. When dry, expansive soil shrinks. This means that, depending on the weather, expansive soil can have a twisting effect. Ceilings can also be affected from the top down. For example, water damage from a leaky roof can be a big problem for ceilings. Mold and mildew can grow in ceilings if there is enough moisture present. Mold issues can be devastating. Ceilings that have moisture seeping in can be infected with dryrot which can eventually destroy the ceiling. This can be a very dangerous situation.

You need to evaluate what the construction defect is, its location, and how far it has progressed. Your first priority should be trying to repair any defect found. If you start to implement your repair plan, you need to keep all documentation you get from any contractors and keep your own detailed notes. Take pictures if you can. Although right now your focus is on getting your ceilings or your fireplace repaired, later you will want to decide who is ultimately responsible for the construction defects and who should incur the repair costs. Any documentation you have will be very helpful to an attorney that will help you with your case. You need to contact an attorney to help you make the right decisions moving forward.

Problems and defects with Floors

Soil issues can be a real problem for a home buyer. They are a common problem that has a tendency to mostly affect the foundation, i.e., floors, slabs and hardwood floors, but can very easily affect the rest of the house.

Your first step is to try to locate all areas of your house that are showing symptoms of a construction defect. This would include floors, slabs and the hardwood in your home. Always inspect the exterior walls and exterior structures. Document the symptoms you find with detailed notes and pictures. Take measurements of the cracks as well. Measuring the major cracks will help determine the severity of the issues since you can track any changes in the size of the cracks.

Besides cracks in your floors, slabs or hardwood, you may also discover water damage. Water issues can stem from a number of construction defects. They could include construction negligence, improper soil analysis, poor building materials or inferior workmanship. When the builder or developer chooses land to develop, it is important to conduct a proper survey of the land as well as a proper soil analysis. The findings obtained from this due diligence allow the builder and developer to determine what is the best construction strategy based on the type of subsurface discovered.

Unfortunately, the wrong construction strategy is sometimes used because of negligence or improper soil analysis. The builder could have chosen substandard building materials, e.g. roof shingles or dry wall materials. Contractors and subcontractors that worked on your home may not have been qualified to do so. These errors can results in leaks, drainage issues, sewage issues, moisture entrance and so on, all of which can lead to ongoing, very damaging water issues.

After inspecting your floors, slabs or hardwood and other areas of your house, your next step is to decide on a repair plan. Again, any contractors you contact and/or communication you have with the builder and/or developer should be documented. You should also contact an attorney today to help you take the best step forward towards obtaining a resolution with these construction defect issues.

Plumbing and Shower Problems

If you have begun to see what you suspect are construction defects in your house, condominium or townhouse, it is important that you understand what your options are. Some construction defects can start out as manageable but turn into very damaging issues. Construction defects associated with plumbing or showers are examples of such damaging construction defect issues.

Water issues are significant building deficiencies that cannot go too long without being repaired. Unfortunately, depending on the origin of your water issue, you may not be aware of any issue until it has reached a dangerous level. Water could have seeped in through your roof and produced an environment behind your shower perfect for mold or mildew to grow. It may not be until you start to experience some allergic reaction such as breathing problems or skin rashes that you realize that you may have a mold issue in your showers. It is usually then that you break your shower wall to discover that you have mold. Mold can sometimes be cleaned up simply by using a household cleaner, and other times it can require a professional to come in to remove it in its entirety. On the surface this will take care of the mold, but not the root cause of how it got there in the first place. Are there leaks in the roof? Are your showers made from bad building material? Do you have substandard insulation in your walls? Did the builder not use a contractor that was qualified?

Water issues can be a devastating experience since it can also impact your plumbing system or even stem from your plumbing. A leak or faulty plumbing can result in flooding rather quickly. As with other water issues, plumbing problems can be caused by contractor negligence or a bad product choice. Builders have a choice to make with contractors and/or subcontractors. Using the right contractor can help prevent some of the most common construction defects like those that are found with the plumbing. Conversely, hiring a contractor who does not know what they are doing just to cut costs can result in the situation you are facing - leaks, trapped moisture, or even mold.

What should your first step be? You need to find the source of your water issue. Again, this could have been going on for a long time, so do not take any more time to repair the issue. Not to mention, your aim is to keep your house safe and clean. It is your responsibility to fix the issue once you have discovered it. Some homeowners think they can let their repairs go until they complete any legal steps they have started. This is not a good practice. Once you have begun your repairs, make sure you document everything. This includes taking pictures and keeping all work statements and contracts. The initial discovery of a construction defect with your plumbing and/or showers is a good time to contact an attorney. Even if you are further along in the process, it is still a good idea to contact a construction defect lawyer, as he or she will make sure that your rights are protected.

Decks and Balconies, Crawlspaces

Construction defects can be hard to discover and repair. Each person you talk with will tell you something different in regards to what the construction defect is and how you should deal with it. One thing to understand is that construction defects do not only occur within your house. They can also impact exterior structures such as decks and balconies. They can also reach your crawlspaces. Areas like these are sometimes missed.

A common construction defect is improper soil analysis. A builder needs to survey the land upon which he is developing. There are different types of soil issues like expansive soil or collapsing soil that need to be discovered. If these types of soil issues are found before breaking ground, the builder can then construct with the soil type in mind. Water issues are also another common construction defect issue. These issues can include leaking roofs, moisture getting into walls and/or drainage issues.

Either of these common construction defects will have a direct impact on the obvious areas of your home, i.e. dry wall, showers, stucco, and so on. But these issues will also cause damage outside your house, i.e. to your decks and balconies, and above/below your house, i.e. your crawlspaces.

Crawlspaces can be above or below your house. These areas allow workers to have access to plumbing, electrical systems and other wiring systems. A homeowner will rarely visit this area and therefore, when a construction defect occurs here, the homeowner does not usually know. Water can seep into the walls of crawlspaces and moisture can linger here. Both of these scenarios will allow mold or mildew to grow. Cleaning up mold and mildew can be easy and done with a household cleaner. Other times mold can spread so much that you may need to contact a professional to clean up the mold in its entirety. The soil issues can cause cracks in the walls of the crawlspaces.

Water issues and soil issues impact decks and balconies in similar ways. You will see mildew grow if water seeps into the wood and/or dryrot problems. Soil issues cause ground movement that can shift decks making them unleveled, warped or cracked. Balconies will also become cracked or unleveled.

Construction defects with decks, balconies, and crawlspaces can be costly to repair. If you suspect you have these construction defects document what you are seeing and take pictures. Do not hesitate - contact an attorney to determine what your best next step would be.

Construction Defect Lawyers are available in these States:

Cities and communities in Nevada (NV) Las Vegas, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, The Lakes, Queensridge.

Cities and areas in Arizona (AZ) Prescott, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Anthem-Parkside, Tucson, Casa Grande, Chandler.

Cities and communities in California (CA), Bakersfield, Sacramento area Elk Grove, San Diego area EastLake, Moreno Valley, Rancho Cucamonga.