5 Common New House Construction Issues

So, you’ve been saving for a while and are ready to start the home-buying process. If you’re like most in today’s market, you’re probably weighing all your options, including new home construction. But, if you’re leaning towards this option because you’ve heard new homes have fewer issues, we might have some bad news. Yes, while new homes are generally lower-maintenance, that’s not always the case. So, here are some common new home construction issues often noted by Inspect360 on our new construction reports.

1. Gaps in Patios and Concrete

The decks and patios are usually poured early in the home building process. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for us to find large gaps between the patio and the home's foundation. That's because, with all the movement of dirt, the house tends to settle and shift as it's being built. This gap could lead to major basement flooding or foundation issues in just a year or two.

2. Drainage Issues

Even though your plot of land was graded before the build doesn't necessarily mean it'll pass the same inspection once the structure is up. With so many moving parts and different contractors on-site, mistakes can happen, and you could be left with drainage issues in the yard. This, too, can lead to a wide variety of moisture and mold issues in basements and crawlspaces. So, it's important that you have a final inspection conducted.

3. Drywall Cracks

Lumber tends to lose moisture over time. So, this can translate to cracks in the drywall in a new build. The federal standard for moisture content in residential lumber is less than 18% once the framing is up. But after just one summer season, moisture content can decrease to 9%, pulling the drywall apart. Depending on when you build your new home, drywall cracks can appear sooner rather than later.

4. Flooring Issues

Flooring issues are common with new builds. Unfortunately, contractors are usually on a tight deadline to meet the closing date and your expected move-in date. This means some jobs are rushed through, such as flooring installation. Unfortunately, not all the dust, dirt, and nails are cleared before the flooring is put down. So, this makes issues more noticeable and troublesome.

5. Doors that Stick

Doos that stick could be a result of a couple of different scenarios. The first could be because of wet paint. If a door or door jam was painted and left shut, the paint drys and acts like glue holding both surfaces together. Or doors sticking could be a result of excess moisture that has caused the wood in the new build to expand.

Inspect Before You Buy

If you're thinking about building a new home, then we highly recommend calling the team at Inspect360. Not only do we offer new construction inspections, but we also offer 18-month home warranties. We even offer specialty inspections like pool and septic inspections. We proudly serve residents throughout Dallas, TX, so give us a call today at (817) 754-0360.