3 issues that could lead to construction defect lawsuits

Property owners and businesses hire construction firms and reputable contractors to ensure professional job performance. While people might feel comfortable painting interior spaces or replacing a faucet, professional help is often necessary when laying a foundation, wiring a property or making major modifications to an existing structure.

Construction companies typically spend a lot of time negotiating contracts with clients and then do their best to meet the expectations of the parties who hired them. Occasionally, despite those efforts, clients feel dissatisfied with the outcome of a project and may decide to take legal action against the company. A construction defect lawsuit can lead to financial losses and a court order to perform additional work for a client. The following are some of the most common inspirations for construction defect lawsuits.

Material substitutions

Clients often feel strongly about the types of materials used, especially for the finishing details in visible spaces. Residential clients, in particular, are notorious for wanting high-value materials and products used during remodeling or new construction projects. However, commercial and industrial clients may also take issue with material substitutions. Clients may claim that a substitution breached the contract or drastically altered the value of the final product.

Major construction delays

Often, the timeline for the completion of a construction project strongly influences who a client chooses to hire for a project. Therefore, if the company fails to meet key deadlines for the project, the delay could constitute a breach of contract. Delays in gaining access to new or remodeled facilities can cause massive operational disruptions for businesses and significant additional expenses. A construction defect lawsuit related to delayed project completion could end up costing a company quite a bit.

Questionable workmanship

Construction firms often hire subcontractors for specialty work, such as drywall finishing and tile installation. These professionals often command premium wages. Sometimes, construction firms hire cheaper, less-skilled workers. Other times, subcontractors who have previously done excellent work cut corners on a project. When a client is dissatisfied with the final look of the space, they might try to claim that the unprofessional final look of the project is a defect that impacts the value of the space and violates the contract that they signed.

Companies performing construction work for clients may find that protective clauses in contracts and proactive communication with clients can go a long way toward eliminating or at least reducing the risk of a defect lawsuit. In the event that a dispute should arise, seeking informed legal guidance is generally wise, given how much is likely at stake.