Design & Construction Defect Claims

As experts in construction management, GlassRatner evaluates and analyzes a wide array of design and construction problems, including construction defects. Despite the best laid plans, construction defects can occur. GlassRatner has a long history of evaluating and analyzing construction defects for all parties involved in the construction process including, but not limited to, the following:

• Owners and developers
• Contractors and subcontractors
• Attorneys
• Architects, designers, and engineers
• Vendors and material suppliers
• Insurance and bonding companies
• Banks and lending institutions
• Government and municipal agencies

Design and construction defects can and do occur due to a variety of problems, including the following:

• The owner chooses materials or hardware or provides owner-furnished material, which is not sufficient for the purpose intended.
• The architect/engineer specifies the incorrect material or fails to specify the materials to be used.
• The contractor’s quality control and workmanship is poor or the contractor didn’t follow the proper construction/installation guidelines.
• The contractor/subcontractor uses substandard materials in an effort to reduce costs.
• The material supplier’s product is insufficient or defective.

All of the above, as well as many other design and construction defects, can lead to issues such as cosmetic defects, water intrusion/water infiltration, mold, structural instability, excessive foundation movement, code violations, etc. These can result in problems during construction, as well as claims and disputes after the project is completed.

GlassRatner provides a wide range of design- and construction defect-related services to both assist our clients in avoiding potential issues during construction, as well as performing after-the-fact site investigation and forensic analysis to determine the root cause of the construction defects. GlassRatner’s services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Construction Drawing and Specification Review
• Design Consistency and Constructability Analysis
• On-site Inspections/Construction Standard of Care Reviews
• Relevant Building Code and Industry Standard Compliance
• Root Cause Analysis
• Remediation and Repair Recommendations/Cost to Repair
  • Forensic Construction Defect Evaluation
  • Destructive/Non-destructive Testing
  • Building Envelope/Moisture Infiltration
  • Water Damage/Mold
  • Property Damage Assessment
  • Material Quality
  • Selection and Coordination with Other Experts
• Quantification of Construction Defect Damages
• Direct cost of Repair
• Diminished Value Analysis
• Loss of Use and Other Indirect Damages