When Building Products Let You Down

Many building materials made by mother nature will last years longer than man made materials.

What used to be solid concrete blocks have eroded into sand and small rocks. The blocks failed because of a manufacturing defect. The mortar used to lay them didn’t fail. Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS

Building materials made in factories can contain latent defects. These are hidden time bombs that can explode, causing mayhem in your life. It’s not easy to spot them, but there are some things you can do to prevent both physical and financial harm. I’ve dodged the bullet several times in my career and lifetime.

Several decades ago, I built a stunning Queen Anne Victorian replica home for my family. I purchased top-quality windows made by a major brand. These windows looked exactly like ones you’d see in a home built in the late 1800s, including the distinctive extended window-sill horns that the exterior trim rested upon.