Additional Construction Defects

Additional Construction Defects

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Flashing Defects

Flashing failures typically are related to the following:

improper design;
detailing;
materials selection; or
improper installation.
Joint Defects

Joint defects in building facades and paving are generally related to sealant failures. Joints are protected against water penetration and air infiltration by use of sealant or mortar. Many types of sealants are used, including silicones, polyurethanes, and polysulfides, as well as acrylic, latex, and butyl-based sealants. Common sealant failures involve the following:

loss of bond to the substrate;
separations within the sealant;
loss of flexibility; and/or
aging and weathering.
Balcony or Deck Defects

Balcony and deck failures can include, but are not limited to, the following:

improper flashing;
improper threshold transfer from deck to sliding glass door or front door;
improper deck to wall transition;
improper drainage or slope to drain;
improper deck finishing (coatings); and/or
improper installation of deck scupper drains.
Soil or Grading Defects

Soil Movement can cause extreme damage to a structure, including cracking and “heaving” of slabs and hardscape. It can also cause separations of drywall and stucco or the complete destruction of the structure. Damage can be caused by a major event, like a landslide, or by very slow processes called lateral fill extension or “slope creep.”

Chinese Dry Wall

In the last ten years, American construction companies used millions of pounds of Chinese-made drywall because it was abundant and cheap. That decision is causing serious concern to builders, developers, insurers and hundreds of homeowners and apartment dwellers who believe that the wallboard gives off fumes that can corrode copper pipes, blacken jewelry and silverware, and possibly make people sick.

© 2021 – Barry Zalma

Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, now limits his practice to service as an insurance consultant specializing in insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud almost equally for insurers and policyholders. He also serves as an arbitrator or mediator for insurance related disputes. He practiced law in California for more than 44 years as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer and more than 52 years in the insurance business. He is available at http://www.zalma.com and zalma@zalma.com.

Mr. Zalma is the first recipient of the first annual Claims Magazine/ACE Legend Award.

Over the last 53 years Barry Zalma has dedicated his life to insurance, insurance claims and the need to defeat insurance fraud. He has created the following library of books and other materials to make it possible for insurers and their claims staff to become insurance claims professionals.

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