If you are a general contractor, the day will come when a customer complains of a defect. They might just want you to fix it free of charge, or they might claim you should compensate them as well as resolve the problem.
Regardless of what the customer may presume, a construction defect is not always the fault of the general contractor. Here are some reasons this might be true.
You were given flawed plans
Often, your job is to follow the plans that an architect has laid out in agreement with the customer. You are not the one making decisions about materials or aesthetics. Architects can make mistakes, just like anyone else, and if the plans they made were flawed, it may be their door the customer should be knocking on to sort things out, rather than yours.
You were supplied with faulty materials
You did what the architect said and installed a particular model of fittings, or a particular calibre of material, which should have been up to the job. Yet, a problem still occurred. Not every product that comes out of the factory will be up to the required level. The occasional subpar example may slip through, and that may be where the problem lies. Alternatively, some materials can be damaged before they get to you due to improper transport or storage by the materials supplier.
Your subcontractor let you down
It’s not always clear where the responsibility lies when a subcontractor makes an error. As a general contractor, you have a responsibility to the client to choose subcontractors wisely and supervise their work. But subcontractors also have a responsibility to do the job properly.
As you can see, construction defect disputes can be complex, so it’s worth having guidance to examine your options if you find the finger pointed at you.