Have you ever driven by a new residential development or commercial property as construction has gotten underway and then, just a few months later, driven by again and seen it selling or leasing already? While it may not happen as fast as it appears to, there’s no doubt that some construction is simply completed faster than it should be. When there’s a boom in the housing market, builders and investors are anxious to get properties finished and sold as quickly as possible.
To get these properties built on schedule and for as little as possible, construction businesses may cut corners. They may use the cheapest, most easily available materials and unskilled, unlicensed workers. People who buy homes affected by these issues may be completely unaware of just how quickly they were built. That may be especially true if they’ve just moved from another area.
Areas of a home where the effects of rushed construction are likely to show up
Some of the most serious problems with homes that are built too quickly often involve water getting in where it shouldn’t. In a rainy area like Seattle, this concern can be particularly damaging. Among the most common areas where construction shortcuts show up in unwanted ways are:
- Roofs: The materials may not be waterproof, the drainage may be inefficient, and roofers may skimp on the necessary layers – leading to a leaky roof.
- Basements: According to construction engineers, “moisture intrusion” is the leading complaint by owners of newly built homes. While some basement flooding may be inevitable, there are construction techniques for keeping water away from the foundation. Cracked foundations are particularly serious issues in hastily built properties.
- Windows: When windows aren’t hung properly, they leak, fog up, get jammed and often have openings where water and air can seep in.
One thing that these defects have in common is that water gets in where it shouldn’t. If a homeowner doesn’t notice it and take steps to get rid of it, they could soon have a destructive and potentially dangerous mold problem on their hands.
If you’re looking at homes in new subdivisions, it’s wise to find out just how quickly they were built and what companies were involved in the construction. If you’re already dealing with a problem, getting compensation for repair of construction defects can be particularly challenging. It can help to seek experienced legal guidance as proactively as possible.