The following list of common construction defects is not intended to identify every possible defect found in some new home developments in California:

 

Air Conditioning
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Undersized units	• Inability to adequately cool
• Air ducts not sealed	• Excessive energy usage and costs
• Pans leak	• Freezing of units
• Power surges	• Mold
• Freon leaks	• Dry rot

Asphalt
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Improper design	• Subsidence
• Improper thickness	• Vertical displacement
• Too cold before installation	• Trip and fall hazards
• Overheated before installation	• Cracks
• Improper sloping	• Alligatoring
• Inadequate drainage	• Water Intrusion
	• Trip and fall hazards

Balconies and Decks
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Improper drainage or slope	• Interior leaks
• Improper coating	• Stucco cracking and staining,
• Improper installation of scuppers	• Dry rot
• Improper flashings and deck to wall transitions	• Mold
• Improper door threshold installations	• Structural failure

Concrete
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Improper Design	• Subsidence
• Too wet before installation	• Vertical displacement
• Too dry before installation	• Cracks
• Improper sloping	• Water Intrusion
• Inadequate drainage	• Structural failure
• Vapor barrier is missing or compromised	• Driveways are too steep causing cars to scrape
	• Vertical displacement
	• Trip and fall hazards

Crawl Spaces
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Insufficient cross ventilation	• Water intrusion and/or moisture in crawlspace
• Inadequate clearance between earth and wood structural members	• Mold
• Exterior grade slopes towards the structure	• Dry rot
• Lack of code required access	• Structural damage

Drainage
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Unsealed gas line penetrations	• Fire hazard
• Insufficient chimney height	• Smoke entry into living areas
• Missing or incomplete firestops	• Voiding of manufacturer
• Insufficient clearance between fireplace and combustive materials	• Warrant
• Improper installation of chimney caps	• Water intrusion

Framing
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Missing fire stops	• Excessive fire risk
• Upper floor is slanted or sags	• Stairs become a trip and fall hazard
• Stairs are too steep	• Vertigo effect created
• Inconsistent riser heights

Foundation and Slabs
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Cracks	• Water Intrusion, water vapor
• Missing, incomplete or torn vapor barrier	• Buckling of hardwood floors
• Improper water proofing or no water proofing	• Discoloration of hardwood floors
• Excessive capillary moisture through concrete	• Damage to carpeting and pad
• Improper slopes	• Mold

Hold-Downs
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Missing nails	• Excessive earthquake damage
• Missing hangers	• Structural failure

Joist and Beam Hangers
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Missing nails	• Excessive earthquake damage
• Missing hangers	• Structural failure

Landscaping
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Sprinklers spray buildings	• Water intrusion, mold
• Inadequate drainage	• Ponding
• Trees are located too close to buildings and walls	• Structural damage
	• Soil erosion

Paint
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Watered down paint	• Peeling
• Wrong type of paint	• Discoloration
	• Fading

Plumbing
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Excessive noise when water is turned on	• Leaks, water intrusion
• Improperly installed toilets leak	• Staining
• Shower pans leak	• Mold
• Drainpipes leak	• Dry rot
• Improperly installed tile leaks	• Structural damage
• Improper venting to exterior	• Corrosion

Roofs
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Improper slope to drains, ponding	• Water intrusion
• Inadequate drainage, ponding	• Stains
• Underlayment is torn, short, missing or exposed	• Destruction of ceilings, walls, insulation and other components
• Gutters are missing or leak	• Structural damage
• Inadequate flashing	• Destruction of personal property
• Tiles are not fastened down	• Mold
• Tiles are overextended	• Dry rot
• Improper installation of parapet caps
• Unsealed penetrations
• Inadequate ventilation

Shear Wall
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Inadequate nailing	• Excessive earthquake damage
• Substitution of incorrect nails	• Stucco cracks
• Missing or inadequate coverage	• Drywall cracks
	• Water intrusion and mold

Soil
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Failure to adequately compact	• Stucco cracks
• Inadequate drainage	• Patio cracks and movement
	• Slab cracks
	• Interior tile cracks
	• Water intrusion and mold
	• Landslides

Stucco and Weep Screeds
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Unflashed penetrations	• Water intrusion
• Missing weep screeds	• Water trapped in wall cavities
• Buried weep screeds	• Staining
• Weep screeds filled with stucco	• Mold
• Improper installation of foam trims	• Dry rot
• Inadequate attachment of the lath	• Stucco cracks
• Corroded metal lath	• Drywall damage
• Insufficient embedment of lath	• Bricks and stones fall off building
• Holes and tears in building paper
• Brick and stone wainscots improperly installed

Subterranean Garages and Storage Rooms
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Lack of water proofing	• Water intrusion and ponding
• Exterior grade slopes towards the building	• Structural damage to steel reinforcing
• Lack of proper drainage	• Excessive moisture and mold
• Inadequate ventilation	• Efflorescence and water stains

Windows and Doors
Common Defects:	Possible Damage:
• Improper installation or damaged product	• Excessive condensation
• Improper window and door flashings	• Water Intrusion
• Improperly installed building paper around windows and doors	• Staining
• Improper installation of alarm components	• Difficulty in opening and closing
	• Dry rot
Other	• Fogging between glass sheets in double paned windows
• Unsafe Fireplaces	• Excessive energy usage and costs