74 Construction Fails That Might Make You Wonder How These People Got The Job

Seeing the photos on this list may make many of you wonder how these construction projects failed. Was it a lack of planning? Maybe even budget issues? 

According to Brian Czerniak, COO of August Roofing & Solar, it's often due to miscommunication between contractors.

As Czerniak tells Bored Panda, roofers, for example, have no way of knowing what work was done on a job. This can lead to problems that go unnoticed until after the work is completed. 

“One issue we encounter in roofing is when plumbing or HVAC contractors run water lines directly beneath the roof decking without protective metal covers. When a roofer later installs the roof, a nail can penetrate one of those hidden lines,” he explained.

Another issue is having multiple reviewers for a specific project. According to Andrew Baldwin, criminal trial specialist and co-founder of The Criminal Defense Team, each one assumes that it is easy to catch obvious problems. 

“The framer assumes the inspector will notice it. The inspector figures the plan reviewer already gave the ok to that item a few months ago. The plan reviewer trusts the framer to speak up if something seems fishy,” he said, adding that schedule pressures and sudden inspections lead to the exposure of more problems.

For the layperson, it can be hard to tell whether a botched construction job is a cosmetic mistake or a potentially dangerous defect. 

Baldwin says unless the problems are obvious, you can’t really determine the severity of these flaws. However, everyone can be held responsible for the repercussions, including the property owner. 

“Construction defect liability can rest with the owner that pushed to meet a schedule milestone, the designer that selected the component, the contractor that installed the component, or the inspector that signed off on the component,” he explained.

Prevention is always better than remedies that may or may not work. Baldwin suggests writing down changes, substitutions, and verbal instructions, along with the corresponding dates. 

“This is rarely done as the changes seem insignificant at the time, but as memories fade, the dated written record is still there,” he said. “Dated records don’t lie.”

Meanwhile, Czerniak’s prevention measure is simple: clear communication between property owners and contractors. Like Baldwin, he urges documentation, including concealed work. 

“A construction project can look flawless when it's finished and still have serious hidden problems. Quality construction contractors ensure each step is executed correctly and documented before the next step begins,” he said.