The Main Signs That a New Building Was Poorly Constructed
When it comes to buying anything, there’s always an argument to be made for buying something brand new rather than something used. Whether it’s clothes, a car, or a house, buying new is supposed to offer certain guarantees, including lower maintenance costs and less hassle. New homes , for example, are theoretically less likely to have serious problems for at least some time, allowing you to simply enjoy life.
Unfortunately, any newly built home can be a hidden redecoration. New does not necessarily mean quality, and builders can (and do) skimp on materials and installation. Workers who are constantly being transported from house to house will look for shortcuts, and builders under pressure to show profits may choose low-quality materials without disclosing it. However, detecting signs of redecoration in a new building can be difficult, since the newness and freshness of the finish can hide problems with quality or installation. But there are a few relatively subtle points to look out for.
Missing screws
A subtle sign that the builder cut corners on your new home? Missing screws. Look at hinges, light fixtures, wall plates—anywhere that screws are needed. If, for example, there are four screw holes in the structure and only two were used, that’s a clear sign that the crew was rushing the renovation, or that the builder is struggling financially and trying to cut corners on materials. Either way, it’s a sign that you’ll be buying a lot of screws yourself once you move in.
Several nails popped out
Nail and screw popping (when the head of a nail or screw lifts up slightly, causing the drywall to warp) is not uncommon, even in new construction. As the wood used to frame a home dries, screws and nails may pop out a little. If you notice a few pops in your home, it’s probably normal, and your builder can (and should) fix them all before you move in.
If you see a lot of loose nails throughout your home, that’s a problem. It likely means that the wood used to frame the walls wasn’t properly dried and seasoned, which could be a sign that the builder rushed the project. Loose nails aren’t hard to fix (and they’re definitely something your builder should do), but they’re a red flag that should make you take a closer look.
Other signs of sloppy work
It may seem obvious, but if you see sloppy work in a newly built home, it’s a red flag. The thing is, slop can be hard to spot, especially if the finish is shiny. Here are some relatively subtle signs of slop to look out for:
-
Paint. Look closely at the paint on the walls – holiday stains, noticeable brush strokes or uneven color indicate sloppy work.
-
Caulk. Caulk is deceptively difficult to apply: easy to apply sloppily, difficult to apply neatly. If the caulk around bathtubs, windows, and other surfaces looks like it was smeared with a butter knife, you know more about the work ethic of construction workers than you’d like to know.
-
Drywall: Look at the walls – do you see tape covering the seams? Are there large areas covered with huge amounts of caulk (that never dries)? You may not notice these defects just by walking around the room, but once you notice them, you’ll probably see them everywhere.
-
Miters. If your home has moldings on the floor or ceiling, miters (angled cuts that create a seamless structure as the molding bends around corners and obstacles) were used. They need to be perfect—if they’re uneven (or if the builder didn’t do them at all and simply joined two moldings at 90 degrees), that’s a sign that the rest of the work was done poorly.
Cracks
As your home settles , it’s natural for cracks to appear in your walls , especially around windows and doors. If these cracks are thin and vertical or horizontal, they’re likely harmless and just require a quick repair. But if you notice larger diagonal (or “step”) cracks, especially around windows and doorways, you should be wary. These could be a sign of more serious foundation problems, and you should probably consider hiring a professional to inspect the area or avoiding the area altogether.
Broken boxes
When looking at a newly built home, pay attention to the kitchen. Kitchens are expensive, and they are one of the first places where builders try to save money when building a new home. If the cabinets and appliances look nice but feel cheap , that is a sign that you need to pay special attention to all the details.
When in the kitchen (and bathroom), be sure to open drawers and cabinet doors. If they stick, wobble, or don’t work properly, it’s a sign of cheap materials or very sloppy installation. Given the importance of the kitchen in the home, it’s reasonable to conclude that if the builders didn’t bother to do a good job in this room, they probably didn’t do a good job in other rooms either.
Grouting corners
Consider shower enclosures, kitchen countertops, and splashbacks. Anywhere two surfaces meet—a wall and a floor, or a wall and other walls—should be sealed with caulk, not grout. Walls and floors move slightly over time, and caulk is flexible enough to accommodate this movement while maintaining a watertight seal. Grout is brittle and cracks easily when used in corners, eventually failing. The fix is fairly simple—remove the grout and apply caulk—but if you see this in a new home, the installers were either incompetent or in a hurry, neither of which are appropriate for your new home.
Bad floor
It’s easy to get distracted by the beautiful new floors that are polished to a shine, but look closely for signs of poor workmanship :
-
Uneven gaps between wood planks
-
Cracking grout between tiles (or cracked tiles!)
-
Glue residue or visible nail heads (clear signs of hasty and careless work)
-
Slope – If you feel like you’re sliding down as you walk across the room, check to see if the floor is level. If not, it could be due to improper flooring or subflooring, or a much more serious issue.
Stagnant water
Always walk around the outside of the house and try to inspect a new home right after it rains to see how it drains. If you see puddles of water near the house, this is a sign that the site has not been properly planned. This causes water to pool against the house instead of draining, which will eventually cause problems for the foundation and structure.
While you’re there, inspect your gutters and downspouts to make sure they’re channeling water away from your home. And if you see standing water, head down to your basement and check for standing water. If so, you’ll be dealing with this problem for years to come.
Not enough sockets
You might not think you can save a lot of money by cutting corners, but when a builder is working on large projects and building dozens of homes at once, small savings can add up to a lot of money. One way to save money is to reduce the amount of wiring throughout your home. There is always a minimum number of outlets that you should meet, but that minimum is pretty meager, especially today when we have so many devices and appliances that need power. Count the number of outlets in each room and imagine how many you will need to plug into the network. If those two numbers don’t match, you’re not just buying a house. You’re buying a future electrician’s bill.