Wild Ride
Condo builders and converters alike need to watch for trouble spots. Buyers aren’t the only ones checking out the latest condo projects. Construction defect lawyers are too. Here are three major issues that often lead to lawsuits involving new construction:
Mold. The mold scare still hasn’t gone away, but some insurers will provide some protection against it. “We actually put a pollution policy in place that covers the land for unknown conditions that they have had during construction,” says Ken Caldwell, executive vice president of Aon Construction Services in Los Angeles. “It also covers property damages and bodily injury that might result from mold during the construction defect period.”
Concrete. Be smart with concrete, because when this part of the project goes wrong, major problems follow. To avoid trouble, pay attention to all aspects of the project. “It could be a bad mix, poor design, or poor installation and connective hardware from the slab into wood frame,” says Don Neff, president of La Jolla Pacific, an Irvine, Calif.-based construction consultant.
Noise. Soundproofing has always been an issue with apartments, but it becomes imperative with condos, where owners are far less tolerant of neighborly noise.Converters must be prepared to confront their own challenges.
Wiring. Older apartment properties weren’t designed for the tech expectations of today, cautions Jim Taylor, a vice president with Sperry Van Ness in San Diego. When new condo owners discover that the wiring in their place can’t handle all their tech toys, they may be upset.
Piping. Concrete and metal pipes don’t mix. “Concrete has a corrosive effect on copper,” Taylor explains. “At the corners of the units (where the water takes a turn), you will develop slab leaks.”
Washers and dryers. As desirable as these features are, they can’t always be added to older units. “Converters would find a spot where they would fit, but they wouldn’t re-plumb the drain pipes,” Taylor sighs. “If you mix the sewage line with the soap, then that could cause clogs.”
