Conducting a physical condition survey is a useful way to diagnose construction defects in a building's major systems and components.
Leaks, drafty windows, cracked balconies, loose floorboards, and mold are not things you would expect to see in a newly constructed or newly converted building. Unfortunately, they're not uncommon in the wake of the country's building boom over the last decade.
In most cases construction defects are caused not by faulty design, but by contractors improperly following the project drawings and specifications--either because of defective or low-quality materials and/or poor workmanship.
It's critical to address construction defects as quickly as possible. Aside from retaining experienced legal counsel, the first step should be to engage an engineering/architectural firm to conduct a comprehensive forensic survey (sometimes called a physical condition survey) of the building's major systems and components.
In RAND's latest Ask the Engineer column, we discuss how a forensic survey is conducted and what the survey report should contain, as well as the most common types of construction defects and how to remedy them.
For more on construction defects, read the full article and send us your questions or comments to info@nullrandpc.com, or call us at 212-675-8844.
Peter Varsalona, PE, is RAND's Principal and head of the firm's Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Team.
