Field of expertise
Construction defects assessment
Having defective workmanship recorded by an independent technical eye, before or after handover.
The problem
A construction defect is work that does not comply with good building practice, the specification or the contract documents. It is not always dramatic: a defect in flatness, incomplete waterproofing or interrupted insulation can have lasting consequences.
The most serious defects are also the most discreet, because they disappear behind the finishes. Once the works are complete, it becomes difficult to demonstrate what was actually built behind a lining or a screed.
Handover is the decisive moment: this is when reservations are recorded and warranties take effect. Signing off without reservations markedly weakens the client's position.
Faced with building professionals, a private individual rarely has the technical references needed to argue on equal terms. The expert restores that balance through objective findings.
Warning signs
- Defects in plumb and flatness: walls, screeds and tiling outside tolerance create visible problems and complicate the finishing trades.
- Irregular finishes: uneven joints, approximate junctions and visible making good often reflect rushed workmanship.
- Interrupted insulation: untreated areas create thermal bridges, a source of condensation and excess energy use.
- Incomplete waterproofing: bathrooms, terraces and upstands that are badly formed cause damage that only appears later.
- Departures from the drawings: substituted materials, altered dimensions or works not carried out must be recorded and documented.
Our assessment method
Review of contract documents
We study the quotation, drawings, specification and site records in order to define precisely what was owed.
Site inspection
Each defect is observed, measured and photographed, then compared with good building practice and the applicable standards.
Characterisation and costing
We distinguish cosmetic defects from technical ones, assess the consequences and estimate the remedial works required.
Report and support
The report, structured item by item, provides the basis for recording reservations, issuing a formal notice or negotiating with the contractor.
In which setting
Before or at handover, our involvement takes the form of amicable technical assistance: we attend site with you and help you record precise, defensible reservations.
If remedial works are refused or a dispute arises, the report of a sworn judicial expert documents the condition observed and its compliance with the contract — decisive before a court as well as in discussions with an insurer.
Unsure about your building?
Tell us about your situation: we will set out the most appropriate scope of work and arrange the visit as promptly as possible.