Houses in Florida stand up to some of the harshest of conditions. From scorching heat during the summer to hurricanes in the fall, Florida houses take a beating unlike any others. As a Florida Homeowner, you want to make sure your house is prepared against any of the things mother nature has in store for you. You maintain your yard, make any fixes, or even hire contractors to repair areas but sadly, that may not be enough… The fact is, your house may be extremely susceptible to damage because of its faulty construction.
Florida homes can vary in the building material their walls are made of, such as: brick, wood, metal, stucco, and others. However, being in Florida, stucco is one of the most common materials used to seal your home. Stucco is often chosen for its ability to prevent water from entering the home, sealing if from the elements. Because stucco is so common, there are many builders’ codes and laws applying to its installation. Common enough, some builders will disregard these codes and laws in order to complete their construction of your home faster, to save money, but in the same breath use the most expensive of materials to drive up costs to you. When these codes are bypassed, you lose.
How Can I Tell If My Stucco Is Defective?
If you believe you have defective stucco it is important for you to inspect your house for signs. Signs of defective stucco may range from crumbling walls to a slight discoloration in your stucco. While you inspect your house and stucco, try to keep an eye out for these:
- Cracks in the stucco
- Stucco falling off walls and siding
- Stucco is pulling away from your home
- Discoloration in your stucco
- Blistering in the stucco
If you found any or multiple of these, you may have defectively installed stucco. However, if you do not see these visible signs it does not mean that your stucco is not defective. Many times when there are no visible signs of stucco damage an engineer is required to test the wall. Engineers who are trained to test stucco can easily tell if the wall was constructed within the required building codes. If the engineer finds that the wall was not created in accordance with the building code, you may be entitled to compensation.
What Is at Risk If My Stucco Is Defective?
Defective stucco is just the surface of potential damage to your home. To a lay person, the cracks in a wall, pillar, or garage are merely cosmetic, however it’s what the cracks let in that is harmful. The real damage done by defective stucco it the fact that your house and walls are no longer safe from mother nature. These small cracks allow water, bugs, and mold to get into your home making it unsafe. If left unchecked, defective stucco can lead to catastrophic damage to your home and potentially be life threatening.
Properly installed stucco is a serious matter. So serious that builder codes exist to make sure that the stucco installed in your home is sealed correctly to keep water and moisture out. Possible damages that can occur due to defective and damaged stucco are:
- Rotting Wood
- Water Soaked Insulation
- Mold
- Insect Infestation
- Toxic Mold
- Inhabitability
Defective stucco is usually just the surface of the damage to your home. Please inspect your walls for any cracks in the stucco. If you find a crack, go inside the room it seals and inspect for water damage or sniff for mold. Don’t leave things to risk – protect your home.
If You Think You Need a Lawyer
If you believe that you or someone you know is being mistreated by an insurance company and need help during the claim process, or to rebut a denial, do not hesitate to contact to contact a lawyer or make a claim. The more signs of roof damage, the more important it is to have your home checked out to prevent further damage and possibly deadly mold. If you do not see visible roof defects but believe your roof is in fact defective, a lawyercan hire an engineer to test your roof.
If you liked this information go to www.DifatoLaw.com to read more. If you need to speak to a lawyer call the Difato Law Office at 813-616-1110 for a free consultation and evaluation of your home or simply fill out a free case evaluation form.
– Stephen Difato
Attorney at Law
The information contained in this post or on http://www.difatolaw.wordpress.comis provided for advertisement, illustrative, educational, and informational purposes only. The contents of this site are not legal advice, and this website is not an offer to perform services on any matter.
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