How to check the quality of construction?

How do you check the quality of construction in the projects you have invested in? We here at OSS have simplified all the steps to be taken for simplifying the process of checking the quality of construction being carried out. 

India is a growing economy hence there are a lot of companies that are investing for obvious reasons, that is so that they too can enjoy the fruits of a growing economy. Now for this reason there are many residential units at very attractive prices. For this reason, it is very important to make sure that the quality of construction is maintained and not played around with for personal gains. 

  It is of great importance that any potential home buyer must make sure he checks and evaluates the construction, if he or she is having thoughts about making a purchase in any up-coming projects. That means after making the booking, the best thing an individual can do is to make surprise visits to the property. But as we all know checking the quality of construction is not an easy task. Being a layman, it is a very hard task to understand the structural design of a building.

  So, assuming you have arrived at the construction site the first thing you must do is check the quality of concrete mix. The quality of the concrete mix is closely monitored. Although, at times it really does get difficult to prepare the mix and constantly monitor it. Hence, ready-mix concrete is preferred. 

  The next job would be to see if all the safety features are given by the developer such as resistance levels from earthquake and fire exits and such things which are bare essentials of a building. 

  Examination of the elevators there have been many cases where because of poor maintenance or improper installations the lifts have just fallen. What you can have a look at is the checking of plastering on the outer walls. The uneven cracks on the wall plastering are an indication that the foundation or quality of the building construction is not good. Which can turn out to be very risky in dire situations. There are many third parties that can audit the project and protect the buyers from any unpleasant surprises.

While talking about these aspects we do not differentiate if it is specifically for commercial or residential properties. We discuss the process as a whole. We have separately discussed these topics in detail in several other blogs, if in need of detailed explanation do give the other blogs posted a glance. 

But, now an overview of How to check the Quality of construction follow or put in your checklist the following list of things... 

Look out for the exteriors... Cracks in the wall indicate that the building has a weak foundation. One should observe even minor cracks as this shows that faulty building materials were used during construction.

Have a good look at the concrete mix being used... The strength of concrete will determine whether the building can carry a load. Use a nail while testing the quality of building materials. Drive the nail into a brick. If the nail bends easily, the brick is of good quality. You can do the same thing with mortar between the bricks.

Now comes the tricky part! The checking for how good the plaster if. You can check the quality of plaster by driving a nail into it. If the nail easily goes through, then the mortar between the plaster is bad. If the nail bends, the plaster is of good quality. Okay, so the reason this is so tricky is because you may end damaging walls. Hence, it is advised that you get it done with the help of the construction laborers on the job.  

All of us are mainly concerned about the interiors of the property. Be it of whatever kind! For starters checking the quality of paint would go a long way! Good paint will enhance the longevity of walls and wooden surfaces other than creating a visual appeal for the building. Inexpensive paint, on the other hand, will reduce the durability of the walls.

Next, floor alignments must be another factor to be considered. We might not know when we would end up in a situation like the scene from How I met Your Mother where Lily and Marshall buy a crooked apartment because of their lack of knowledge of how to buy one! To validly make mistakes like they did you can follow this sweet and simple trick... A homebuyer can follow this simple test. Take a few marbles and set them loose on a floor. The marbles should roll in the direction of the drain, if there is one.

This can also be tested in a bathroom. Use water instead of marbles. The water should flow directly into the drain. 

It is always better to choose the fixtures being used in the house before the construction has begun just to keep you free for the little things your house will need for making it the perfect home. Fittings inside the kitchen and bathroom such as taps and showers should be thoroughly investigated. Doors should not make creaking sounds while being used. The tiles that are used in the bathroom and kitchen can indicate the overall quality of the construction. Homebuyers shouldn’t forget to check out the electrical fittings, door handles and window latches.

Besides the rooms inside the building, common areas can also give an insight into the construction quality. Buyers can check the maintenance facilities for elevators. Lifts will usually have a maintenance contract which is checked periodically by the management. Green spaces inside the building complex are also a sign of quality construction. This indicates that the developer is not trying to use every measure of space inside the layout. The average life cycle of a building lasts around 60 to 70 years. A building of poor construction quality will have a much shorter life span. It is important to do a maintenance check on the building at least once every decade. Every home buyer should be aware of these tips to assure good standards of construction.

Author- Mohammed Nadeem