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