Window Water Leak Testing: What It Reveals Before the Building Opens
Window water leak testing uses a calibrated spray rack and negative interior pressure to simulate a wind-driven thunderstorm against a finished window. It reveals installation defects that visual inspection cannot catch, including failed pan flashings, gaps in perimeter sealants, and improper interface with adjacent wall systems. For commercial projects, window water leak testing performed during […]
Are You Really Getting the Roof You Paid For?
A commercial roof inspection during construction is the single best way to make sure you actually get the roof you paid for. New roofs are routinely damaged by other trades, hold trapped moisture, fail to drain properly, or include sheet metal that does not meet code. This post covers what goes wrong, how a qualified […]
The Myth of the Roof Warranty: What Your Document Actually Covers
Most commercial building owners believe their roof warranty is an iron-clad shield against water damage. It isn’t. The roof warranty covers far less than you think — and it can be voided by things entirely outside your control. This post breaks down what’s actually covered, what isn’t, and how to protect yourself so the warranty […]
Why Construction Defect Cases Are About to Surge And What Attorneys Need to Know Now
Buildings constructed between 2020 and 2023 are starting to show serious defects from COVID-era material substitutions, labor shortages, and rushed schedules. Water intrusion is the primary failure mode — and according to AIA data, it already drives more than 70% of construction litigation. A significant wave of construction defect cases is coming. Attorneys who are […]
Skilled Trades Gap Construction Defects: What We Are Seeing in the Field
The construction industry is short 300,000 to 400,000 workers, and the effects are showing up in roofing, waterproofing, and exterior wall systems right now. Subcontractors are being handed too much autonomy without adequate supervision. Manufacturer instructions are going unread. Mock-ups are being skipped. Language barriers are breaking down communication between spec and the field. Jeff […]
Electronic Leak Detection Testing: What ELD Finds That Visual Inspections Miss
Electronic leak detection (ELD) testing applies an electrical charge to a roofing or waterproofing membrane and scans for defects that no visual inspection can find: pinhole voids, incomplete seams, and construction damage invisible to the naked eye. It is most critical before overburden materials like pavers, growing media, and green roof systems are installed. Once […]
Construction Defect Expert Witness: Why Contracting Experience Changes Everything
A construction defect expert witness who came from the contracting side brings something no credential can replicate: direct knowledge of how the work actually gets done in the field. That knowledge changes what they find in investigations, what they can challenge in opposing testimony, and how credibly they hold up when it counts. Here is […]
Building Envelope Expert Witness: 5 Things Good Attorneys Look For
Not all building envelope expert witnesses are equal, and the difference matters in court. Certifications tell part of the story. Field experience tells the rest. This post walks construction litigation attorneys through exactly what to look for when evaluating a building envelope expert witness, including why a contractor-turned-consultant often outperforms a licensed engineer or architect […]
COVID Construction Defect Litigation: Why the Wave Is Just Beginning
Buildings constructed between 2020 and 2023 were built under conditions unlike anything the industry had seen before: material shortages, forced substitutions, labor gaps, start-and-stop delays, and reduced supervision. Those conditions created defects that are just now showing up as real damage. COVID construction defect litigation is accelerating, and the cases coming down the pipeline in […]
Construction Defect Water Intrusion: Why It Drives 70% of Construction Lawsuits
Water intrusion is the No. 1 cause of construction litigation, accounting for more than 70% of all construction defect cases according to data tracked by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This post walks attorneys through why water is such a persistent culprit, which building envelope components fail most often, and what strong expert witness […]