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Why do construction defects happen?

On Behalf of | Jun 17, 2024 | Construction Law

Construction defects can cause major disputes. This is especially true on large projects, such as the construction of an apartment complex. If there are significant defects, it can cost a lot of money to fix them, and it can also delay getting tenants into those units. This means that it’s causing financial harm on two different fronts.

But why did these construction defects happen in the first place? Understanding why they occur may be an important part of the case, so let’s take a look at a few reasons.

Human error

First and foremost, human error leads to a lot of construction defects. Someone simply makes a mistake. Perhaps there’s poor workmanship. Maybe a subcontractor doesn’t have much experience. There are many reasons why people make mistakes, and they can all cause significant defects.

Design issues

Additionally, the design itself could be faulty. In some cases, the workers will do their jobs perfectly and follow those architectural plans. But if the plans have a significant flaw – such as a structure that isn’t able to correctly support its own weight – then there could be a dangerous defect even though human error wasn’t involved – at least not on the part of the builders.

Material issues

Finally, some construction defects are due to faulty materials. If an electrician installs all of the lights correctly but the wire connectors are faulty, the lighting systems may not work. This is certainly still a defect, even though no mistakes were made on the site.

Who is responsible for covering the costs of these types of defects? That becomes a significant question and it’s why everyone involved needs to understand their legal options.