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Construction Defects - What to Look Out For

Thu 19 Nov 2009 - 11:28

Construction Defects - What to Look Out For
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matt_Cumberland]Matt Cumberland

Most of us don't know how to build a house or a commercial structure. So we hire a contractor who builds it for us, and we trust that we have chosen a competent contractor who employs a good crew - carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, masons, excavators. After the long, arduous building process, the last thing we expect is to find defects in the construction. Some defects are obvious, and may be detected immediately. Doors that don't hang properly, exterior finishes inexpertly applied - these types of defects are easily visible to the eye. However, serious construction defects may be harder to detect, and may be so dangerous that significant work must be done to correct them.

How do we determine if there is a serious defect in the construction of a house? Look for inadequate connections between railings and walkways, and between balconies and decks and the house itself. We have all read stories about decks collapsing in the midst of a summer party. Structures attached to a house must be fastened securely, and a building inspector signing off on the certificate of occupancy should look at all attachments.

Other signs to look for include cracks in a foundation wall, or cracks in poured concrete in a garage or a basement. While some minor cracking may be meaningless, foundation cracks may indicate settling, or soil subsidence, that weakens the structure. Interior cracks in finished walls also may indicate that the structure is unsound. Window and door frames that are not plumb can indicate either poor carpentry or a problem starting with the foundation. All of these problems should be addressed with your contractor immediately upon discovery. The serious problem of toxic mold may be very difficult to detect. Any indication of mold on a household surface should be immediately investigated, and if mold is found, corrected.

Too often construction defects go undiscovered until serious [http://www.laffeybuccikent.com/aop/Pennsylvania-construction-injuries]Pennsylvania construction injuries results. If you believe that an injury occurred due to a construction defect, contact a construction accident lawyer in Pennsylvania.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Cumberland http://EzineArticles.com/?Construction-Defects---What-to-Look-Out-For&id=3275105


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