CONSTRUCTION DEFECT
WARNING SIGNS

Water Intrusion

Every building has what is called a building envelope. This envelope consists of building paper and flashing at all openings. Stucco or siding is then installed on top of the paper, and if not installed properly, can puncture or damage the building envelope. Many times the building envelope is installed improperly which causes water to pass through into the interior of the building. This may result in water stains in the interior. However, very often water intrudes only into the wall cavity causing mold and damage. Many times, homeowners are unaware of what lurks in their walls.

Water intrusion through roofs is also a common complaint. Roofs are complex systems that need to be sloped properly, and sheet metal plays an important role in transitioning the roof materials to other components such as plumbing vents and stucco.
Water Intrusion through concrete slabs can be an indication of ground water or the absence of a vapor barrier under the slab. Plumbing leaks are also a sign of improperly installed components.

Cracks

Stucco and drywall cracks can be an ominous sign. Many different issues can cause the cracks. Settlement of the home is a possibility, which could mean that the soil was not compacted properly, or the soils could be expansive, meaning when the soil is exposed to moisture, it expands. Structural issues can cause cracking as well. Framing a home is not as easy as one would think. Structural engineers call out for special types of straps, nails and hold-downs, all of which must be installed in specific locations. Also, shear walls (plywood) must be installed properly as well to avoid a house from deflecting or shifting. Cracks can also be caused by the improper installation of the stucco or drywall.

Doors and Windows

Many times doors and windows are "racked" (twisted) before they are installed causing them to be hard to operate. Settlement and poor framing can also cause the doors and windows to sit improperly. Either way this can be a problem that will only get worse over time. Defects associated with windows most often have to do with leaks, which can be a result of poor installation. This means the windows were not flashed properly, or the window product itself is defective and leaking. In many buildings windows are difficult to operate. This can be a sign of soil settlement, structural deficiencies or just a bad product.

Tub and Shower Leaks

Constant plumbing leaks can be a sign of a plumber who didn't follow the rules. There are literally hundreds of plumbing connections in a home and very often a plumber will fit the connections together but will forget to solder them. These connections can hold for years before leaking. Bathtub and shower leaks are almost par for the course these days, primarily caused by penetrations leaking into wall cavities.

Shower Enclosures

The installation of a shower enclosure can be difficult. Most problems usually stem from a poor or improper installation of flashing, waterproofing or tile installation. Many times a homeowner has no idea their shower enclosure is leaking until it is examined.

Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding glass door defects are very similar to window defects. They leak either because they were installed improperly or the door itself is defective.

Balconies and Decks

Balconies and decks have many of the same problems as roofs. Usually, there are installation problems involving the underlayment and flashing. Ponding of water on the decks is also an issue. Ponding will cause the premature deterioration of the deck surface.

French Doors

French doors most often leak at the threshold, which is the component you step on as you walk through the door. It's relatively difficult to flash a threshold properly and very often they leak. If water enters the building, the stucco or siding is removed and the area is investigated for a cause.

Musty Sub-grade Areas

Water intrusion through sub-grade areas is a sign that waterproofing was installed improperly, which can mean a very costly repair. Also penetrations through sub-grade walls can let water pass.

Moisture through Floors

This is a relatively common complaint. Usually, I find that the concrete was not properly mixed and/or the vapor barrier below the concrete is incomplete, pierced by a penetration, or in some cases missing.

Ponding of Water

The ponding of water whether on decks, roofs or in backyards can be problematic. Not only will the water eventually make its way into the building, but in the case of roofs and decks, ponding of water on any material will eventually cause the premature deterioration of that product.

Soil Settlement

Soil issues usually fall into a couple of categories. The settlement of buildings is usually caused by improper compaction of the soil or placement of the structure upon expansive soils. Expansive soils expand when exposed to moisture. This causes the soil to heave and the structure to move or deflect. Simple soils tests can determine the state of the soil. Every now and then, I see a building where there is high ground water or even subsurface streams which run underneath the home. This too can be remedied through proper redesign and remediation of the defective condition.

Concrete

The most common defects with exterior concrete are cracking and improper slope, which means when it rains the water, drains toward the building instead of away from the structure.

Drainage

This issue usually has to do with ponding in yards or water draining toward the building instead of being carried away from the structure.

Roofs

The most common defects associated with roofs generally have to do with the installation of the component parts and not the roofing material itself. Roof tiles overextended or underlayment, which is short, torn, or just plain missing.  Also, improper slope on a flat roof is almost always an issue. Another issue is flashing which is the metal that helps transition one material to another, such as from stucco to the roof. Many times the flashing is lapped incorrectly or improperly installed which again will cause leaks.

Mold

Any water intrusion, no matter how small, can cause mold to appear in as little as 24 hours. And the problem is many leaks will not manifest in the interior of the home, but rather mold will grow and thrive in the wall cavity. The very young and the elderly are the most affected and usually symptoms will manifest as a respiratory problem. Once discovered, mold infestation should be remediated immediately in an effort to minimize the possibility of health issues.

Builder Refuses to Make Repairs

A builder who refuses to make repairs may be a builder who has made enough repairs to homes in a particular project to know that repairing another home is opening another can of worms. This is why builders will always caulk everything rather than actually take it apart to see what the real problem is. It's the caulk and walk routine.

[ back to top ]