Pacific-Coast Property Services
Common Construction Defects
The following list of common construction defects is not intended to identify every possible defect found in some new home developments in California:
Air Conditioning
Common Defects:
• Undersized units
• Air ducts not sealed
• Pans leak
• Power surges
• Freon leaks
Possible Damage:
• Inability to adequately cool
• Excessive energy usage and costs
• Freezing of units
• Mold
• Dry rot
Asphalt
Common Defects:
• Improper design
• Improper thickness
• Too cold before installation
• Overheated before installation
• Improper sloping
• Inadequate drainage
Possible Damage:
• Subsidence
• Vertical displacement
• Trip and fall hazards
• Cracks
• Alligatoring
• Water Intrusion
• Trip and fall hazards
Balconies and Decks
Common Defects:
• Improper drainage or slope
• Improper coating
• Improper installation of scuppers
• Improper flashings and deck to wall transitions
• Improper door threshold installations
Possible Damage:
• Interior leaks
• Stucco cracking and staining,
• Dry rot
• Mold
• Structural failure
Concrete
Common Defects:
• Improper Design
• Too wet before installation
• Too dry before installation
• Improper sloping
• Inadequate drainage
• Vapor barrier is missing or compromised
Possible Damage:
• Subsidence
• Vertical displacement
• Cracks
• Water Intrusion
• Structural failure
• Driveways are too steep causing cars to scrape
• Vertical displacement
• Trip and fall hazards
Crawl Spaces
Common Defects:
• Insufficient cross ventilation
• Inadequate clearance between earth and wood structural members
• Exterior grade slopes towards the structure
• Lack of code required access
Possible Damage:
• Water intrusion and/or moisture in crawlspace
• Mold
• Dry rot
• Structural damage
Drainage
Common Defects:
• Unsealed gas line penetrations
• Insufficient chimney height
• Missing or incomplete firestops
• Insufficient clearance between fireplace and combustive materials
• Improper installation of chimney caps
Possible Damage:
• Fire hazard
• Smoke entry into living areas
• Voiding of manufacturer
• Warrant
• Water intrusion
Framing
Common Defects:
• Missing fire stops
• Upper floor is slanted or sags
• Stairs are too steep
• Inconsistent riser heights
Possible Damage:
• Excessive fire risk
• Stairs become a trip and fall hazard
• Vertigo effect created
Foundation and Slabs
Common Defects:
• Cracks
• Missing, incomplete or torn vapor barrier
• Improper water proofing or no water proofing
• Excessive capillary moisture through concrete
Possible Damage:
• Water Intrusion, water vapor
• Buckling of hardwood floors
• Discoloration of hardwood floors
• Damage to carpeting and pad
• Mold
Hold-Downs
Common Defects:
• Missing nails
• Missing hangers
Possible Damage:
• Excessive earthquake damage
• Structural failure
Joist and Beam Hangers
Common Defects:
• Missing nails
• Missing hangers
Possible Damage:
• Excessive earthquake damage
• Structural failure
Landscaping
Common Defects:
• Sprinklers spray buildings
• Inadequate drainage
• Trees are located too close to buildings and walls
Possible Damage:
• Water intrusion, mold
• Ponding
• Structural damage
• Soil erosion
Paint
Common Defects:
• Watered down paint
• Wrong type of paint
Possible Damage:
• Peeling
• Discoloration
• Fading
Plumbing
Common Defects:
• Excessive noise when water is turned on
• Improperly installed toilets leak
• Shower pans leak
• Drainpipes leak
• Improperly installed tile leaks
• Improper venting to exterior
Possible Damage:
• Leaks, water intrusion
• Staining
• Mold
• Dry rot
• Structural damage
• Corrosion
Roofs
Common Defects:
• Improper slope to drains, ponding
• Inadequate drainage, ponding
• Underlayment is torn, short, missing or exposed
• Gutters are missing or leak
• Inadequate flashing
• Tiles are not fastened down
• Tiles are overextended
• Improper installation of parapet caps
• Unsealed penetrations
• Inadequate ventilation
Possible Damage:
• Water intrusion
• Stains
• Destruction of ceilings, walls, insulation and other components
• Structural damage
• Destruction of personal property
• Mold
• Dry rot
Shear Walls
Common Defects:
• Inadequate nailing
• Substitution of incorrect nails
• Missing or inadequate coverage
Possible Damage:
• Excessive earthquake damage
• Stucco cracks
• Drywall cracks
• Water intrusion and mold
Soil
Common Defects:
• Failure to adequately compact
• Inadequate drainage
Possible Damage:
• Stucco cracks
• Patio cracks and movement
• Slab cracks
• Interior tile cracks
• Water intrusion and mold
Stucco and Weep Screeds
Common Defects:
• Unflashed penetrations
• Missing weep screeds
• Buried weep screeds
• Weep screeds filled with stucco
• Improper installation of foam trims
• Inadequate attachment of the lath
• Corroded metal lath
• Insufficient embedment of lath
• Holes and tears in building paper
• Brick and stone wainscots improperly installed
Possible Damage:
• Water intrusion
• Water trapped in wall cavities
• Staining
• Mold
• Dry rot
• Stucco cracks
• Drywall damage
• Bricks and stones fall off building
Subterranean Garages and Storage Rooms
Common Defects:
• Lack of water proofing
• Exterior grade slopes towards the building
• Lack of proper drainage
• Inadequate ventilation
Possible Damage:
• Water intrusion and ponding
• Structural damage to steel reinforcing
• Excessive moisture and mold
• Efflorescence and water stains
Windows and Doors
Common Defects:
• Improper installation or damaged product
• Improper window and door flashings
• Improperly installed building paper around windows and doors
• Improper installation of alarm components
Possible Damage:
• Excessive condensation
• Water Intrusion
• Staining
• Mold
• Dry rot
• Fogging between glass sheets in double paned windows
• Excessive energy usage and costs
Pacific-Coast Property Services
818-991-5200