What are your options for common construction defects?

On Behalf of | May 31, 2019 | construction law, Firm News |

Many prospective Winston-Salem homeowners choose to purchase newly constructed homes. They do so in hopes that it will give them years of problem-free living that buying an older residence can’t afford them. What many prospective homeowners don’t realize though is how common construction defects are with newer homes. They can take a great deal of time and cost a lot to address.

Construction defects can occur at many different stages of the home or office building process. They can happen at the planning or design stage. It’s possible for a home to be built exactly as specified and for it to still have defects. This often happens because there was a design error. Contractors can also make mistakes when building a property. This frequently happens when they’re not adequately supervised.

Defects that are both the most common and costly include electrical or mechanical ones. Those that involve water intrusion, expansive soils or structural integrity issues can also be quite time-consuming and expensive to address. The former can cause mold growth. The latter can result in masonry and concrete having to be broken up and replaced to address foundation issues.

Other common defects include moisture protection, thermal or finish problems. Glass, window and door issues are common construction flaws encountered as well. Many of these defects are only discovered when an inspection is performed on the completed building.

The purchase contract that you signed with your contractor will clearly spell out what steps you two have agreed to take if construction defects are found to exist. In many cases, it will list arbitration as the first option for trying to resolve your differences. If that doesn’t prove fruitful, then it’s only then that you may be allowed to pursue litigation.

A construction law attorney can review your contract to see what type of dispute resolution that you agreed to. They can then advise you of the different courses of action that you’re able to take in your North Carolina construction defects case.