New Home Defects You Should Take Care of Before Moving In

You have your new home (congratulations) and you’re likely very excited to start your new life. As you get the first whiff of that new home smell, take in the premises, and absorb the sense of satisfaction that comes with owning a new house, you should return to reality real soon. Do enjoy yourself in your new home, but also remember that there are still a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders and a few issues you need to take care of before you make yourself comfortable.

Believe it or not there can be some common problems with new homes that will need to be addressed. These are typically small and are nothing too serious. But the earlier you take care of these common issues with newly built homes, the fewer problems you’ll face in the future. Taking care of these new house construction problems will help you breathe easier in the years to come, knowing that everything is as it should be. 

Uneven Flooring

The Problems With Uneven Flooring and What to Do About It

Very widespread new home issues often have to do with the floors. Flooring installation is one of the most arduous parts of building and renovation. Our bodies are so in tune with what is under our feet that even a very small uneven area in the floor is felt, so getting the underflooring and the flooring itself to be smooth is a crucial task if you want to walk around your home in comfort.

Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t check their flooring properly and simply trust their eyesight to determine whether the flooring is leveled or not. However, over time, once the foundation begins to shift and move, the unevenness of the flooring will become much more perceptible. Not only will that, but at some point, you’ll even be able to see the unevenness with your naked eye. So, call in a flooring specialist and ask them to take a look at the floor to determine whether it is fully level or not. And even if according to them the floor is completely leveled, make sure that you know which areas may be susceptible to warping and bending in the future. 

Doors Getting Stuck

Why Some New Doors Get Stuck and How to Fix It

Brand new doors may not be painted for some time after installation. Depending on the circumstances of the construction project, your doors may have been bare for some time. The problem with this is that paint is not only applied for aesthetic purposes but has several practical applications as well. Paint protects wood from the moisture in the air which keeps it from bending and warping.

However, when there is no paint on the surface of the door, nothing can protect it from moisture. So the wooden door expands and as a result, gets stuck in the doorframe requiring you to exert extra force to pull it out or push it open. So, make sure that your doors are painted as early as possible in the construction process. If not, then find a carpenter who can carefully trim the door without damaging it to help you fit it into the frame once again. The national average for carpenters is $60 so don’t expect to pay more than $200 for the expanded doors. 

Window Gaps

Why Your Windows May Be Getting So Cold

Even with the best window frame materials used, the most expensive and heat retentive glass panes installed, there can still be some gaps in your windows which will cause insulation problems. This can be the result of shoddy workmanship, but it can also be a problem with the construction material or even the window frame itself. But instead of finding something or someone to blame, you should take a more proactive approach and try to solve this problem.

Find yourself a thermal scanner, which is around $200 online, and use it to see where there are any temperature differences. It’d be very convenient to simply use a thermometer, but unfortunately, they’re not accurate enough. Once you’ve located the faulty area you can use caulk or sealer to close off these areas and insulate your windows further. For a more thorough job and to help you fit the glass panes or window frames better, hire a professional window installer or glazier to help you with this process. 

Inconsistent Sealant and Caulk

How Small Gaps Have the Biggest Impact

External sealant and caulk are crucial in helping you insulate your home. Whether it’s the insulation around your door and window casings, or the sealant in between the exterior cladding, getting this right is super important. If fault sealant and caulk layers are left unattended, they will wear out much faster and lead to much bigger gaps in the future.

Check the caulk right after the construction is finished. Look through all the gaps and see if there are any open areas. Use plenty of sealant or caulk and the type that is recommended by your contractor. Also, inconsistent sealant and caulk layers lead to water seepage in new construction projects as well as pest infestations as they find their way into your home through the tiniest of holes. So do yourself a favor and cover all the gaps, unless you wish to deal with some tiny guests living inside your walls. 

Garage Insulation

Insulating the Garage In Case You Ever Want to Live In It

It’s easy to overlook the garage’s insulation when all you see it as is a storage room for your car, tools, and boxes of old stuff no one uses. But the garage is a lot more than that and will require proper insulation. Who knows? Perhaps one day you may want to turn it into a proper livable space. Or maybe you enjoy tinkering with your car and are planning to spend a lot of time in there. During the winter months, you’ll need proper insulation to keep the cold weather out.

The easiest way to see if your garage is insulated is by checking the door. Get a thermometer and measure the temperature of your door on a hot or cold day. If it’s a hot day, an insulated door should be colder on the inside than the outside. On a cold day, it’s the other way around. If the temperature between the outside and inside doesn’t change then your door is not insulated. Fortunately, insulated garage doors are not an expensive luxury and you can purchase a well-insulated one for around $800 to $1,000. As far as the walls are concerned, you can insulate a two-car garage for anywhere from $400 to $800, also making this a viable option for those who spend plenty of time in their garage. 

Faulty Electrical Wiring

The Benefit of Having Spare Wires In Your Electrical System

Even the best contractors out there are going to sometimes put cost-effectiveness over quality. You can’t always blame them since they are meant to not exceed a certain budget that you’ve imposed. However, there’s a difference between being cost-effective and being a little stingy. Most problems with construction arise when the latter is true.

Having an extra bit of wiring built into your home is very important. If you even look to expand your electrical fixtures and appliances, such as installing a new lighting fixture or an outlet, you need extra wiring to reach the desired location without having to bore through a chunk of the wall. However, because some builders choose to save every bit of cash possible, they will not install extra stock wiring in the walls, and without those, you won’t be able to expand your electrical system. So, ask an electrical engineer to come in and check on the wiring to see if there is any extra tucked away.

Additionally, this allows you to check on all the wiring to see if there are any faulty connections. For example, all the lighting fixtures and outlets may be functioning properly, but some of the connections may be slightly loose and will become problems over time with use. It’s better to be on the safe side and have a professional check them for you instead of taking chances with your electrical system.