Sarasota Construction Defects Lawyer
Southwest Florida is a fast-growing metropolis in the United States and every year, more new homes and commercial buildings are being constructed here. When you buy a property that is newly built, you hope that you can trust the contractors, subcontractors, and others who worked on the property used high-quality materials and followed the necessary building codes.
Unfortunately, contractors and construction companies are often under tight deadlines and so, they may rush through the process or take shortcuts in order to move onto the next project. This can result in property damage to the home or building and impact its stability. Below, our Sarasota construction defects lawyer explains in greater detail.
What are Construction Defects?
State law in Florida defines a construction defect as any existing deficiency in a building caused by a failure to comply with standard building codes, the use of defective materials, a deviation from industry standards, or an improper design for a construction project. Construction defects can occur during any phase of construction from designing, planning, and surveying to renovations and remodeling.
In any new building, construction defects generally fall into one of two categories. The first is apparent defects. These construction defects are obvious and noticeable right away, even to those not involved in the construction industry. For example, a defective HVAC system may not properly or evenly cool a home. As the temperature continues to increase, the homeowner should realize the issue fairly quickly.
Latent defects, on the other hand, are not as obvious. For example, if a roof is not properly installed, a homeowner may not realize it until there is a major weather event, which may not happen for months, or even years, until after they have moved into the home.
Common Types of Construction Defects
There are many different types of construction defects that often give rise to a claim. These include:
- Improper installation: Cloudy windows, doors that stick, and leaks are all signs that a door or window may not have been properly installed. Improper use of flashing or flashing tears can also cause defects in floors and walls, as this is the barrier that is meant to keep moisture out of a structure.
- Improper drainage: Improper grading and drainage can result in serious flooding issues that can cause mold to grow in a home. Drainage issues are becoming more and more common in new neighborhoods and they are often not found until a heavy rainfall occurs.
- Damage to exterior walls: Nail pops, cracking paint, and other issues with exterior walls can indicate a failure to comply with proper building codes or the use of inferior products.
The above are just a few of the most common types of construction defects that can impact any area of a home or commercial building. Our Sarasota construction defect lawyer can help if you have noticed any defects.
Our Construction Defects Lawyer in Sarasota Can Help with Your Case
If you have noticed any construction defects, or you need to defend against an unfair claim, our Sarasota construction defects lawyer at The Cahall Law Firm, PLLC, can help. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorney and to learn more about how we can protect your rights.