Buying a new home is a great idea in theory. Most people buy a new home because they don’t want to deal with the problems that they think come with buying an older home. 

But when they move in to their new home and realize it has been thrown together haphazardly and the builder has no interest in honoring their warranty claims, it can be incredibly frustrating, especially since most of us have a tremendous amount of our own money, wealth, or debt tied up in this new home. 

​

New construction defects are more common than you might think.

​

Builders subcontract out most of the work when it comes to large building sites. All that coordination can lead to missed items and construction defects.

​

Here are some common examples construction defects for new homes here in Colorado:

​

Damage from expansive soils

Expansive soils are common in Colorado. 

They have the unique ability to absorb a lot of water so that the soils expand and contract. As you can imagine, this expansion can cause devastating effects to your home. This movement below your foundation can cause your foundation to crack. The swelling or settling of the soil can cause stress throughout your home such that will uncommon cracks throughout your home. In the worst cases, the fix is to require a new foundation type.  

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

Inadequate grading and drainage 

​

This can be a serious problem. Proper grading and drainage are a necessity to ensure that water does not seep around the foundation and cause water damage. 

This is especially problematic if your home was constructed on “expansive soils.”   The water not properly draining off your property can cause the soils under your home to heave or settle when exposed to water. This will cause damage to your foundation, concrete slabs, while will lead to damage to your interior.  You really need to look out for negative drainage and uneven surfaces. Also, it’s important to make sure your gutters and downspouts are installed and working properly. You don’t want the builder to turn around and blame you for allowing water to infiltrate the soils near your foundation.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

​

​

Doors or windows that don’t close properly

​

If they’re not installed properly, your doors or windows may have gaps, be crooked, or otherwise fail to close properly, even in a newly-built home. In some cases, like exterior doors or windows, this can be an expensive fix.

You should keep in mind that doors or windows that don’t open or close properly could be a sign that you have foundation movement or other structural movement.  If you have problems opening doors and windows, and you also have cracking starting to appear in your drywall, you should pay close to attention whether your home might be experiencing movement.  This may be a very expensive fix. You should consult a construction defect lawyer for advice. 

​

 

Incomplete construction

​

It is no secret builders rush finishing homes.  They are losing money on projects where they haven’t been paid yet.  Getting that certificate of completion is gold to them.  

You may expect that county inspectors will catch problems with construction but they often do not.  

​

Heating and cooling systems

Improperly installed heating and air conditioning can be costly. You need to try and get your builder to fix these issues for you while they are under warranty.