Defect Data for New Single-Family Home Construction

This article first appeared in the PB May 2006 issue of Pro Builder.

Breakdown of highest risks of builder defects on single-family new home construction. Building envelope and framing issues account for 75 percent of all risk issues in the top 10.

A survey of leading construction defects identified by Quality Built, a risk management and quality assurance service, shows that building envelope/house wrap installation flaws, improper framing around windows and doors, and missing structural straps and connectors are the highest-risk defects found in newly constructed, single-family homes.

The findings were obtained during a construction data collection process conducted by Quality Built field inspectors on 31,995 completed homes and condominiums across 27 U.S. states for the 12-month period ending Oct. 1, 2005.

"None of these defects for either category would be visible to a homeowner or building owner upon completion," said Stan Luhr, Quality Built CEO and survey author, "but the defects can be easily corrected during construction if identified early through a quality assurance program."

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