Homeowners and developers in North Carolina have a lot riding on the construction of a new home, whether it’s a place to live or a paycheck. If a project gets delayed or completed improperly, both of these parties stand to lose quite a bit. Thankfully, you do have legal options if you have been negatively impacted by construction problems.
For example, if you identify construction defects on your property, you can file a legal claim and pursue litigation if the defect is not immediately addressed and mitigated. In order to understand this option a little better, it can be helpful to first understand what a construction defect is and why it can easily lead to a serious dispute.
Construction defects are deficiencies in the way a specific product is designed, manufactured, installed or inspected. They can include:
- Non-compliance with specific codes
- Poor insulation installation
- Use of expansive soils
- Deteriorating moisture protection
- Inadequate structural support
- Use of substandard building materials
Each of these defects has the potential to cause serious — and costly — problems in a home.
Homeowners who hire others to complete construction projects should be able to expect that any construction or renovation being completed on a house will be done using safe, reliable and properly designed materials. When this doesn’t happen, you can and should be enormously upset.
However, fighting with subcontractors, retailers and even product manufacturers may not get you the relief you deserve, namely compensation for damages and delays as well as action to address the defect including repairs or replacements. They may lie, deny your claims or try to pass the blame onto someone else.
In these situations, litigation may be the most effective option for holding the appropriate party responsible, getting the help you need and getting the answers you deserve. Considering the fact that your home could be at stake, speaking with an attorney about construction defects and legal action as soon as possible will be crucial.