The
one-two punch of coronavirus and supply chain disruptions has led to a
construction labor crisis and scarcity of critical building materials.
To complicate matters, the demand for new homes has never been higher.
From
my experience as a legal professional in construction defect
litigation, high demand for new housing is often accompanied by an
increase in construction defects. When experienced labor is unavailable,
construction companies can, often, rely on questionable resources that
may include unlicensed individuals who would do (and say) anything to
work. This also applies to building materials in short supply, where
developers make substitutions or changes in installation best practices.
Builders substitute inferior materials for traditional building
products and systems, which ultimately negatively influence construction
quality.