What are some common types of construction defects?
A lot goes into the planning, design and construction of a new building. However, sometimes structures built in the Waco area are faulty due to a construction defect.
What is a construction defect? In general, construction defects occur if there is a failure in the design, plans, workmanship, inspection or materials used to build a structure that causes the owner of the structure to suffer damages. Construction defects often fall under one of four umbrellas: design defects, material defects, construction defects or subsurface defects.
Design defects
These originate with the architect or engineer who designed the structure. If the design does not work as specified or is not up to code, this can lead to a design defect. For example, a roof that is designed in a way that leads to water penetration is a typical type of design defect.
Material defects
Sometimes a structure is built using substandard materials. This can cause problems that ultimately damage the structure even if the construction itself was handled properly. For example, inferior wall materials used in the construction of a bathroom could cause structural damage when wet.
Workmanship defects
These are defects that arise from poor workmanship. For example, if plumbing is improperly installed, leading to leaks that damage the structure, this may be considered a construction defect.
Subsurface defects
Subsurfaces must be properly compacted to ensure there is a stable foundation and they must allow for adequate drainage. If a structure is constructed without taking expansive soil conditions into account, leading the structure to move, shift or flood, there may be a subsurface defect.
This post is only a brief overview of some types of construction defects, and it does not constitute legal advice. Ultimately, owners of defective structures in the Waco area will want to seek the legal assistance necessary to determine if they have a claim against the designer, contractor or subcontractor responsible for the defect.