Construction defects can occur during the initial building of the home or following a renovation project. In both cases, the defect greatly reduces the overall value of your Texas residence. Three main types of construction defects can take place.
Material defects involve faulty products
Defective materials are common construction defects. These defects occur when inferior building materials are used. Even when installed correctly, an inferior material may cause damage to your property.
Some material defects occur in transit, while others occur during production of the material. The International Conference of Building Officials and the American Society for Testing and Materials test all materials used in construction projects, but some products still end up defective and shipped to construction projects. Common material defects that occur within construction projects include:
- Leaky seals
- Delaminated shingles
- Flaking concrete slabs
- Bent window frames
Design defects result from faulty engineering
A design defect occurs during the planning stage of the project. Engineers and architects most commonly create design defects. For example, if the roof is not designed to allow for correct water runoff, your home can experience water leaks and poor drainage.
Workmanship defects occur due to human error
A workmanship defect occurs when the people working on the construction project make a mistake. These mistakes may occur due to a lack of skill or expertise. But often, a workmanship defect results from a simple accident. These defects most often occur in these parts of the project:
- Molding
- Plumbing
- Electrical wires
- Foundational cracks
Property owners must address construction defects quickly
Sometimes construction defects show up immediately. Other defects take years to become apparent and only become noticeable once significant damage has been done to your property. If you believe you have a construction defect, taking steps right away may help reduce any additional harm coming to your property.
