📋 What Are Construction Defects?

Construction defects are deficiencies in the design, materials, or workmanship of a building that cause damage, reduce its value, or make it unsafe. California law provides extensive protections for propietarios through the Contratistas State License Board (CSLB), the contratista's license bond, and the SB 800 Right to Reparación Act for new residential construction.

Common Types of Construction Defects

This guide applies if you are dealing with any of the following defecto types:

🏠 Structural Defects

Foundation cracks, settling, inadequate framing, roof structure failures, load-bearing wall issues

💧 Water Intrusion

Roof leaks, window/door leaks, stucco failures, improper drainage, waterproofing failures

⚡ Electrical Defects

Code violacións, improper wiring, overloaded circuits, fire hazards, grounding issues

🔥 Plumbing Defects

Pipe leaks, improper slope, inadequate water pressure, sewer line failures, fixture defects

🏭 HVAC Issues

Improper sizing, inadequate ductwork, code violacións, efficiency problems, noise issues

🛠 Finishing Defects

Cracked drywall, uneven floors, poor paint work, tile failures, cabinetry problems

California's Construction Defecto Framework

California provides multiple overlapping protections for propietarios dealing with construction defects:

📚 CSLB Contratistas State License Law (B&P Code 7000+)

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California's comprehensive contratista licensing law requires all contratistas performing work over $500 to be licensed. Key provisions include:

  • B&P Code 7109: Departure from accepted trade standards or negligent construction is grounds for discipline
  • B&P Code 7110: Material deviation from plans without consent is a violación
  • B&P Code 7119: Failure to prosecute work diligently is grounds for discipline
  • B&P Code 7159: Contract requirements including scope, timeline, and payment terms

🏗 SB 800 Right to Reparación Act (código civil 895-945.5)

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SB 800 (also known as the Right to Reparación Act) applies to new residential construction sold after January 1, 2003. It establishes specific construction standards and a mandatory pre-litigio reparación process:

  • Detailed standards for each building component (código civil 896-897)
  • Mandatory notice and reparación opportunity before filing suit
  • Specific timelines for builder response (código civil 910-938)
  • Statutes of limitation specific to each defecto type (código civil 941)

🔒 Contratista's License Bond (B&P Code 7071.5-7071.11)

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Every licensed California contratista must maintain a $25,000 contratista's license bond. This bond protects propietarios:

  • Minimum bond is $25,000 (some specialty licenses require more)
  • Claims can be filed directly with the bonding company
  • Bond claims are separate from CSLB demandas and lawsuits
  • 2-year deadline from violación or 1 año(s) desde completion, whichever is later

🔗 Mechanic's Lien Protections (código civil 8000-8848)

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Understanding mechanic's liens is crucial when dealing with construction defects, as unpaid subcontratistas may file liens against your property:

  • Subcontratistas must provide preliminary 20-day notices (código civil 8200)
  • You can demand lien releases before payment (código civil 8132-8138)
  • Joint check provisions protect you from paying twice
  • You can bond around filed liens (código civil 8424)

⚠ SB 800 vs. Common Law Claims

The type of reclamación you have depends on your property:

  • New residential construction (sold after 1/1/2003): SB 800 applies with mandatory pre-litigio reparación process
  • Remodel/renovation work: Traditional incumplimiento de contrato and negligencia claims apply
  • Commercial construction: SB 800 does not apply; common law claims only
  • Multi-unit residential: HOAs may pursue SB 800 claims on behalf of owners

✅ Lista de Evidencias

Building a strong construction defecto case requires comprehensive documentation. Use this checklist to gather the evidencia you need.

📋 Contract Documentation

  • ✓ Written contract with scope of work
  • ✓ All change orders and amendments
  • ✓ Plans, specifications, and drawings
  • ✓ Payment records and invoices

📷 Defecto Documentation

  • ✓ Photos of all defects (dated)
  • ✓ Video documentation of water intrusion, etc.
  • ✓ Written description of each defecto
  • ✓ Timeline of when defects appeared

🔧 Professional Reports

  • ✓ Inspección reports from licensed inspectors
  • ✓ Engineering or structural assessments
  • ✓ Reparación estimates from licensed contratistas
  • ✓ Building code violación notices

💬 Comunicaciones

  • ✓ All emails and texts with contratista
  • ✓ Written demandas sent to contratista
  • ✓ Contratista's responses and promises to reparación
  • ✓ Any garantía documents

Contratista License Verification

Before proceeding, verify your contratista's license status at the CSLB website (cslb.ca.gov). Document:

  • License number and classification
  • License status (active, suspended, revoked)
  • Bond information and bonding company
  • Any prior disciplinary actions
  • Workers' compensación seguro status

⚠ Unlicensed Contratista Work

If your contratista was unlicensed, you have additional remedies:

  • Contratista cannot enforce the contract or sue you for payment
  • usted puede recuperar all money paid (Business & Professions Code 7031)
  • Criminal misdemeanor violacións apply (B&P Code 7028)
  • Report to CSLB for investigation and prosecution

💰 Daños

California law allows propietarios to recover multiple types of daños for construction defects, including reparación costs, diminution in value, and consequential daños.

Recoverable Daños

Damage Type Descripción Notes
Cost of Reparación Reasonable cost to reparación defects to acceptable standard Primary measure of daños; get multiple estimates
Diminution in Value Reduction in property value if reparación is impossible/impractical Requires appraisal; alternative to reparación costs
Daños Consecuentes Temporary housing, storage, lost rent, damaged belongings Must be foreseeable and proven
Expert/Investigation Costs Inspeccións, engineering reports, testing Recoverable as part of daños
Honorarios de Abogado If contract includes fee provision or statutory basis Check your contract for fee clause

📊 Ejemplo de Cálculo de Daños

Example: Roof and Water Intrusion Defects

Original contract price for roofing $35,000
Roof tear-off and proper reinstallation $52,000
Drywall and interior reparaciones (water damage) $18,000
Mold remediación $12,500
Engineering/inspección reports $3,500
Temporary housing (2 months) $6,000
Damaged personal property $4,500
TOTAL DAMAGES $96,500

Bond Claims

The contratista's $25,000 license bond provides an additional source of recuperación:

🔒 Direct Filing

File directly with the bonding company listed on CSLB website; no demanda judicial required

🕑 Timing

2 año(s) desde violación or 1 año(s) desde completion date, whichever is later

💰 Limits

$25,000 minimum; may be shared among multiple claimants if exceeded

📋 Documentation

Enviar written reclamación with evidencia of violacións and daños

💡 Multiple Recuperación Sources

You can pursue multiple remedies simultaneously:

  • Contratista's Bond: Up to $25,000 from bonding company
  • CSLB Demanda: May result in restitution order
  • Civil Demanda Judicial: Full daños plus abogado fees if contractual
  • Small Claims: Up to $12,500 (or $6,250 for business claims)

📝 Texto Modelo

Use these paragraphs to draft your construction defecto carta de demanda. Customize the highlighted portions for your specific situation.

Opening - Carta de Demanda
DEMANDA FOR REPAIR OF CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS

Dear [CONTRACTOR NAME]:

This letter constitutes formal notice that the construction work you performed at [PROPERTY ADDRESS] under our contract dated [DATE] contains serious defects that violate the standards of good workmanship required under California código de negocios y profesiones Sections 7109 and 7110, as well as our contract specifications.
Defecto Descripción - Structural
The following structural defects have been identified:

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC DEFECTS - e.g., "The foundation exhibits multiple cracks exceeding 1/4 inch in width, indicating improper concrete mix, inadequate curing, or insufficient reinforcement. The floor framing in the living area is visibly sagging, with a deflection of approximately 1 inch over 12 feet, suggesting undersized joists or improper joist spacing."]

These conditions violate California Building Code requirements and represent a material departure from the plans and specifications without our consent, in violación of B&P Code Section 7109.
Defecto Descripción - Water Intrusion
The following water intrusion defects have been identified:

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC DEFECTS - e.g., "Water is entering through the roof at multiple locations during rain events, causing damage to interior ceilings and walls. The flashing at the roof-to-wall transition was improperly installed without step flashing. The roof underlayment is torn and improperly lapped. Exterior stucco lacks proper weep screeds and has reverse laps allowing water penetration."]

Under California código civil Section 896(a), residential construction must not allow unintended water to pass beyond or around the exterior weather-resistant barriers. Your work fails to meet this standard.
SB 800 Notice (New Construction Only)
NOTICE de conformidad con CALIFORNIA código civil SECTION 910

This notice is provided de conformidad con California código civil Section 910, the Right to Reparación Act (SB 800). This property was sold as new residential construction on [DATE].

The following defects violate the standards set forth in código civil Section 896:

[LIST DEFECTS BY CATEGORY - Water intrusion (CC 896(a)), Structural (CC 896(b)), Plumbing (CC 896(e)), Electrical (CC 896(f)), etc.]

de conformidad con código civil Section 910, you have 14 días from receipt of this notice to acknowledge receipt and schedule an inspección. Under Section 913, you have 14 días from acknowledgment to complete your inspección. Under Section 914, you then have 30 días to make a written offer to reparación.
Daños Demand
We have obtained estimates from licensed contratistas for the cost of repairing these defects. The total cost of reparación is estimated at $[TOTAL], broken down as follows:

[ITEMIZE: Structural reparaciones: $X; Waterproofing reparaciones: $X; Interior reparaciones: $X; etc.]

Además, we have incurred the following consequential daños:
- Inspección and engineering reports: $[AMOUNT]
- Temporary housing during reparaciones: $[AMOUNT]
- Damaged personal property: $[AMOUNT]

TOTAL DAMAGES: $[TOTAL]
Closing and Deadline
You have two options to resolve this matter:

1. REPAIR: Complete all necessary reparaciones within [30/60] days using licensed subcontratistas, at your expense, with reparaciones subject to our inspección and approval; OR

2. PAYMENT: Pay the total daños of $[AMOUNT] dentro de 15 días, allowing us to hire our own contratistas for reparaciones.

If we do not receive a satisfactory response within [15/30] days, we will:
- File a demanda with the Contratistas State License Board
- File a reclamación against your contratista's license bond
- Initiate legal action to recover our daños plus abogado fees

Please be advised that your license bond (Bond No. [NUMBER] with [BONDING COMPANY]) is subject to claims for violacións of the Contratistas State License Law.

🚀 Próximos Pasos

Construction defecto cases can be resolved through negotiation, CSLB demandas, bond claims, or litigio. Here is the process to follow.

Recommended Timeline

Step 1: Document Everything

Photograph all defects, gather contracts and communications, and obtain at least two reparación estimates from licensed contratistas.

Step 2: Verify License and Bond

Check the contratista's license status at cslb.ca.gov. Note the bond number and bonding company for potential bond reclamación.

Step 3: Enviar Carta de Demanda

Enviar certified letter with acuse de recibo. For SB 800 claims, follow the specific notice requirements of código civil 910.

Step 4: Allow Response Time

Give contratista 15-30 días to respond (or follow SB 800 timelines if applicable). Document any response or lack thereof.

Step 5: Pursue Remedies

If no satisfactory response, file CSLB demanda, bond reclamación, and/or demanda judicial simultaneously.

CSLB Demanda Process

Filing a CSLB demanda can result in license discipline and restitution orders:

  1. File Online or by Mail

    Enviar demanda at cslb.ca.gov or call (800) 321-CSLB. Include all documentation, photos, and your carta de demanda.

  2. CSLB Investigation

    An Enforcement Representative will investigate, potentially including site inspección. Contratista will be asked to respond.

  3. Resolution Options

    CSLB may facilitate acuerdo, order arbitraje, cite the contratista, or refer for administrative prosecution.

  4. License Discipline

    Serious violacións can result in license suspension, revocation, or conditions requiring restitution.

Bond Reclamación Process

  1. Identify the Bonding Company

    Find bond information on CSLB license lookup at cslb.ca.gov.

  2. Enviar Written Reclamación

    Enviar reclamación to bonding company with all documentation of contratista violacións and your daños.

  3. Bonding Company Investigation

    Company will investigate and may request additional information or documentation.

  4. Payment or Denegación

    If reclamación is approved, payment up to bond limit. If denied, you can pursue through CSLB or tribunal.

⚠ Cuándo Contratar un Abogado

Consider hiring a construction defecto abogado if:

  • Daños exceed $25,000 (beyond bond limit)
  • Defects involve structural or safety issues
  • SB 800 procedures apply (complex process)
  • Contratista disputes responsabilidad or has a abogado
  • Multiple parties involved (subcontratistas, developers)
  • You need expert testimonio (engineering, architecture)

Get a Construction Law Consultation

Construction defecto cases involve complex technical and legal issues. Get a consultation with an experienced California construction abogado.

Agendar Consulta - $125

Recursos de California

  • CSLB License Lookup: cslb.ca.gov - Verify license, find bond info, file demandas
  • CSLB Consumer Guide: cslb.ca.gov/Consumers - Hiring contratistas, filing demandas
  • Autoayuda de Tribunales de California: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov - Small claims and civil procedures
  • Referencia de Abogado del Colegio de Abogados: calbar.ca.gov - Find construction law abogados

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