Common Construction Defects

Every state and municipality has certain building codes that must be followed when building any type of structure. South Carolina is no exception. Under South Carolina construction laws and codes, every home, building and construction project has to meet certain standards. When these standards are not met, this can be considered a construction defect.

Some common construction defects are obvious, but others might not be discovered for years after the project is complete. These defects could cost the owner thousands of dollars to remedy. Therefore, litigation over the construction defects could be necessary.

The following is a list of some of the most common construction defects. Every project is different which can lead to different defects:

• Water leakage that causes mold and rotting wood;
• Improperly installed windows that allow water leakage;
• Leaking and failing roofs;
• Foundation movement and cracking due to soil settlement;
• Warped and cracking flooring due to improper installation or movement of the building;
• Inadequate water drainage on the property due to improper grading;
• Inadequately sized HVAC systems that do not perform as designed.

There are several different causes for these common construction defects. The most common cause is negligence by the contractor and failure to meet the standards in building codes. The second most common cause to construction defects is the use of defective building materials or the use of materials beyond their manufacturing specifications. Another common cause of defects is negligent soil analysis, or negligent soil placement or grading.

If you believe that your home or building has a construction defect due to the negligence of a contractor, please do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at The Steinberg Law Firm at (843) 720-2800. The initial consultation is free.