New Construction Tid Bits

If you haven't visited a new construction site, it could be an interesting experience.  Our family has only had one custom built home done for us, but the process was indeed fascinating.  Our story may not be typical as builders and markets vary, but it is our story and we're sticking to it!

While our home was under construction, there was a daily excursion to see how much progress was made.  The resultant education in home building has been invaluable for my real estate career.  No other time could I see a rim joist installed; or the care put into application of vapor barriers and water proofing; or even how whole house wiring is done.  Construction is indeed a complex task that needs lots of knowledge and experience.

Little oversights happened in our home that surprised and shocked me.  The big mistakes that happened appalled me, but they're not what this post is about!

We built in the mid-'70's during a new construction boom.  Sub-contractors were scarce and builders were hiring inexperienced people from the street to complete their projects.  The resultant mistakes were sometimes minor but sometimes far worse.  The problems that happened in our construction included the following:

• The bulldozer was going to take down the trees we paid a premium to buy!
• Half cans of pop were left in the unfinished wall and sheet rock was installed without removing the debris.   Hmmmm.  I wonder where those ants came from?
• Big globs of taping mud were dropped on the uncarpeted floors during the finishing of the sheet rock.  Carpet was almost installed over these lumps.
• No insulation was installed in the outer corners of the home.
• Stairs were not installed where they showed in the blueprints.  Our front to back split level was built as a side to side split.
• Regular sheet rock (not even "green board") was installed in the tub surround area behind ceramic tile.

The list goes on, but these were the minor issues.  The trees were saved by being there just in time and convincing the contractor they could stay.  The solution to the pop cans was to cut a hole in the sheet rock, remove the debris and close it back up.  (This works for dead animals as well, which regrettably smell much worse and are yucky to remove!)  The carpet layer's solution for the taping mud lumps in the floor was to take a hammer and pound the lumps to powder and attempt to vacuum the dust through the pad and carpet.  Thankfully I arrived to see the carpet being installed over the lumps and promptly scraped and swept away the debris myself.  The missing insulation was the worst mistake as the corners of the house formed mildew if furniture was placed in them.  The solution would have been to remove the outer siding so the corner could be packed with insulation.  It was never done.  The stairs?  They framed the whole house for 2 days as a side to side split level instead of a back to front split level and then spent 2 days tearing it back down so it could be rebuilt!  The tub surround drywall met its demise two years later when it became spongy and mildewed.  The ceramic tile had to be removed  and installed over a cement board replacement.

My clients' new construction experiences have not been as negative as my own, thank goodness!  Most builders clean the job site on a regular basis so debris is not hidden in walls or under flooring.  Insulation, ventilation, and vapor barrier construction has improved drastically so mildew on interior walls is rare today.  Seldom have I seen ceramic installed on anything but cement board in today's buildings.  My experience was unusual, but a great tool for learning what NOT to do!

Comments

[Carole Cohen]

Luckily Bonnie, the construction of the 70s is not normal for most contractors now. That does not sound like a wonderful experience! But it certainly made you dilgent for your clients, I am sure!