Lack of quality workmanship and construction defects are two of the most common construction-related dispute areas in the construction industry. Our experts possess extensive experience and knowledge involving all phases of construction.
Clients utilize our services throughout the construction process from up-front drawing and specification compatibility reviews to post-construction forensic analysis. Interface Consulting’s experts assist clients worldwide in analyzing and evaluating workmanship quality issues and construction defects and determining the underlying root cause.
Our construction defects experts assist clients with the following:
- Construction Drawing and Specification Review
- Design Consistency and Constructability Analysis
- Errors and Omissions
- On-site Inspections/Standard of Care
- Relevant Building Code and Industry Standard Compliance
- Root Cause Analysis
- Remediation and Repair Recommendations/Cost to Repair
- Forensic Defect Evaluation
- Destructive/Non-destructive Testing
- Building Envelope/Moisture Infiltration
- Water Damage/Mold
- Property Damage Assessment
- Material Quality
Types of Construction Defects
At Interface Consulting, we understand that a “construction defect” encompasses any issues that arise with a completed project, ranging from minor aesthetic problems like peeling paint to critical structural issues such as foundation defects.
Construction defects fall into two main categories:
- Patent Defects: These defects are visible and can be detected during routine inspections by qualified professionals. They are identifiable through standard examination processes.
- Latent Defects: These defects are not immediately apparent and may only come to light over time, often years after the construction is completed. They are more challenging to detect and may require specialized investigation.
There are four primary categories of construction defects:
- Design Defects: These occur when the design of a building, created by architects and engineers, does not meet safety, stability, or code requirements. While a construction company might execute the project flawlessly, a flawed design can lead to issues such as code violations, utility problems, and structural concerns. In these cases, the responsibility usually falls on the architect or engineer who created the defective design.
- Material Defects: These arise from the use of substandard or inappropriate materials. Whether due to error, fraud, or cost-cutting measures, the use of inferior materials can lead to significant long-term problems. Responsibility may lie with the supplier if they knowingly provided defective materials, or with the construction company if they chose to use them.
- Workmanship Defects: These are due to poor construction practices or failure to meet acceptable standards of workmanship. Such defects can result in serious mistakes and affect the overall quality and safety of the construction.
- Subsurface Defects: These occur when a construction project does not account for issues related to soil conditions or terrain. In areas with extensive hills or shifting soil, inadequate design and construction can lead to foundation instability, slope problems, and other severe safety concerns.
Determining whether your issue is a routine maintenance concern or a serious defect can be challenging. At Interface Consulting, our construction defect experts are here to assess your situation and provide guidance on whether you may have a viable claim.