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 Creative Defect Prevention in Shear Wall
Construction
Ironically, residential shear walls are nearly always adequately designed. When they are
the subject of defect claims, such complaints usually stem from failure of the
construction process to faithfully follow the design.
To prevent defects and resulting claims, developers and
general contractors should consider incorporating the following basic procedures:
- Meet with the framing subcontractor in the presence of that
subcontractor's superintendent or foreman, in advance of the shear wall construction.
- Give them the specification requirements for the
construction of the shear walls, especially the nailing. This information is typically
part of the construction structural drawings.
- Go over the requirements with them.
- Have them sign one copy of the requirements for the shear
walls, which is to be retained by the developer or general contractor, indicating that
they received the documents.
- Memorialize this meeting in a memo or minutes and retain in
job records; send the subcontractor a copy.
- Routinely inspect and photograph or videotape a sampling of
the shear walls during construction and nailing so that the framing subcontractor is aware
of this inspection and documentation procedure.
- Find fault with certain shear walls and insist that they be
corrected.
- Inspect, photograph and/or videotape each shear wall after
completion of nailing but before concealing behind other construction.
- Obtain a certification from the framing subcontractor
following completion of the shear wall construction that they inspected the walls during
and upon completion and that the construction was completed in accordance with the
specification requirements.
- Upon completion, collect all the above documentation into a
file labeled "Shear Wall Construction" and retain in long-term storage with
other project records.
The above procedures can help prevent losses from defect
claims involving defective shear walls in two ways. First, they stimulate a higher quality
of workmanship and attention to detail, thereby reducing the incidence of defects.
Secondly, they discourage the filing of claims regarding defective shear walls, because
the procedures were in place and documented. Third, the documentation produced is a
substantial body of evidence that the work was done correctly.
An even better approach is for the developer or contractor,
or subcontractor to engage the services of an independent testing laboratory to monitor
the shear wall construction and certify that it conforms to the drawings and
specifications. The same approach offers benefits for other components concealed during
construction and other components typically involved in construction defect claims.1
1Construction Defect Claims and Litigation
(Aspen Publishers, Inc., 1995).
CCL's Tech Briefs are published periodically by CCL
Construction Consultants,Inc. Copyright © 2003, CCL Construction Consultants, Inc. All
rights reserved. Inquiries and comments are invited and may be forwarded by mail to the
address listed below or via e-mail to cclcc@ix.netcom.com
- CCL Construction Consultants, Inc. -
- 4600 College Boulevard, Suite 104 -
- Overland Park, Kansas 66211-1606 USA -
- Tel: 1 (800) 533-8626, Ext. 206 ~ Fax: (913) 491-9469 -
- E-mail cclcc@ix.netcom.com - |