How to Spot a Poorly Done Building Construction Work

One of the advantages of choosing a reputable building contractor or construction company is avoiding a poorly done building construction work. Poor quality of construction has been identified as one of the major reasons for building collapse.

This is usually due to the engagement of services of untrained workers without proper engineering knowledge. Though it is highly impossible to see a building that is 100% constructed without an issue. The truth is that all newly constructed buildings are rarely perfect.

Either while construction is still underway or after completion, you may still notice some minor issues that you can live with. Such as; paint splotches where they shouldn’t be, or uneven tile grout.

Or you may notice major issues which may, in legal terms, be considered “construction defects,” and likely worth following up on. Such as; faulty installation of windows or anything else that may likely cause major accident or disaster if not properly followed up immediately.

What’s a Poorly Done Building Construction Work?

A poorly done building construction work is simply faulty or shoddy work on your construction projects. In the construction industry, a poorly done building construction work can occur during the design and construction phases of a project, or after a structure is substantially complete.

However, while a design professional is responsible to produce complete, accurate and well-coordinated design and construction documents that are substantially free of defects; and a contractor is required to adhere to the design and construction documents, nothing built is ever perfect nor does the law require a perfect design.

A poorly done building construction work can happen when;

• A design fails to meet the Professional Standard Building Code.
• The contractor fails to execute the work in accordance with the plans and specifications.
• The contractor fails to execute the work in accordance with the acceptable standards of workmanship in the construction industry.
• There is an improper installation of systems, equipment or materials that are of a lesser quality than required by the original plans and specifications.

This poorly done building construction work has the potential to directly affect the performance of a structure. So it is highly advisable that you spot out these construction defects in your structure and let them be fixed before making use of such property.

10 Possible Defects of a Poorly Done Building Construction Work

 The following are list of 10 possible defects of a poorly done building construction work.

1. Windows: improper lapping is sometimes blamed for leaks as well as failed or improperly installed flashings particularly at sill ends.

2. Roofs: badly installed flashing’s and faulty installation of roof membrane are some of the causes of leaking roofs.

3. Improper Drainage: reversed slope, i.e. towards building can create conditions that can be expensive to repair.

4. Concrete Slabs: slabs that are not properly cured or don’t have adequate compressive strength are issues that are difficult and costly to repair.

5. Decks: failure of water barriers and or improper installation is the most common issue here. Damage can be difficult to detect until it is well advanced.

6. Electrical: a multitude of difficult to detect issues can present themselves here including double tapping at connections. Failures can cause fires, which sometimes take years to occur, making tracing the cause difficult.

7. Plumbing: a myriad of problems from leaking pipes to improper or ineffective slope of drains.

8. Insulation: improperly installed or missing insulation often results in issues such as poor cooling or heating of the interior spaces.

9. Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning [HVAC]: improper location and installation of dampers, vents and ducting can result in ineffective heating or cooling and possibly even life threatening situations in the case of flammability issues.

10. Exterior Leaks: check possible leakage from roofing and exterior insulation.