Casey & Skoglund has dealt with a wide array of defects in single family homes, condominiums and multi-use commercial buildings. It is our experience that construction defects generally fall into four broad categories. Below are a sampling of issues within the categories, and a broader discussion as to each will be had with each client.
1. Soils and Slope Stability
The Pacific Northwest’s expansive and collapsing soils and its many hillside communities present significant challenges to builders and developers. The areas building industry experts have an enormous influence over the soil engineers that they utilize during the construction process. At times, prior to conducting a serious analysis of the risks to the property, a builder’s soil engineer determines it is not “cost-beneficial” to use a certain construction technique that will better solve a problem presented by site conditions. This, amongst other factors, can lead to a defect.
2. Design Errors
As a result of the pressure to lower construction costs, structural systems are often designed in an inferior manner. This can include, but is not limited to, deficient design of septic, heating, sanitary, plumbing, ventilation, roof, and irrigation systems, as well as structural floor systems.
3. Poor Workmanship
The most common complaint we have seen at Casey & Skoglund is poor workmanship. In the not too distant past, the home construction industry had trouble keeping pace with the demand for affordable housing and new commercial buildings. As a result of the demand, the construction industry has experienced a shortage of skilled labor, and in turn we see unqualified, inexperienced, and/or unsupervised laborers being utilized by various construction trades.
4. Building Material Failures
Occasionally, we see structural components and building materials fail. Often this is due to errors in either the manufacturing process, compatibility of the systems and materials, and/or its installation.
If your home or investment property has experienced the problems identified above, an investigation, carried out by an independent construction professional, is recommended. Feel free to contact us for a list of construction professionals in your area.
