How To Check Construction Quality Of The Building

Competition in the construction industry has always been intense. This is generally good for the customer as it helps to keep prices low. But, high levels of competition can also mean that some constructors are prepared to cut corners, in effect, you may not be getting the building you’re paying for. So how do you check the construction quality of a building?

Testing the Soil

Soil is not the same everywhere you go and it’s important for a construction firm to look at what type of soil is present, this will affect the techniques they use to build your property. You can easily take a look at the soil yourself to help you decide what it’s like and whether it can support the foundations of a building.

It’s important to note that clay-rich soils and black cotton soil are not generally recommended for building on. If the soil around your property is made of this then you may find that your building will move in the future. 

The construction firm should have conducted a soil test before they started building, you should be able to get a copy of that test from them.

Structural Integrity

It can be difficult to understand when a structure is designed to withstand an earthquake and when the design is weak. If you don’t have any knowledge of building structure you should take an expert along with you to see the architect’s drawings. 

Checking Concrete

The stronger the concrete the better it can handle loads. While the construction team should check every load when time is limited this is one thing that can easily be overlooked. It’s not easy to verify how strong the concrete actually is although it should all be a uniform color. 

But, you can check the thickness of the wall, your plans should show the thickness they are meant to be, make sure this is how thick they actually are.

Magnetic Particle Inspection

The magnetic particle inspection is a great way to see if a surface is smooth or if it is pitted. It works best on metallic surfaces, a magnetic field is pushed through and across a surface and the field is recorded by a special meter. The resulting chart will show you if there are any irregularities and allow you to query them with the developer.

It’s especially useful if you want to check the structural integrity of metal beams part way through the build.

Paint & Plaster

If you’re expecting a completed property then it will have been plastered and painted. You should inspect the finish of these two items to ensure they have been done by competent workmen.

But, you can also look for cracks in the plaster, these can indicate that the building is already moving, you’ll need to investigate further as a moving building is likely to subside or need a significant amount of funds spent on underpinning.

Don’t forget, if you’re having a building constructed you should visit regularly during the construction phase, this will reduce the likelihood of the construction form cutting corners.