By FT reporter Fu Bingxiang / Summary: The problem of leaking water that plagues people who buy new homes is a recurring issue. Heavy rain outside and light rain indoors affect the quality of living, making it more reassuring to choose the right time to view a home when trying to avoid a leaking house. In addition to seeking expert inspection during the home inspection process, if a leak occurs after purchase, it is even more important to take legal action to hold the builder accountable for repairing the damage.
In an interview with Dingji Construction, they pointed out that the reason why a house is not leaking is due to the construction quality of the contractor and the materials used. In addition to the contractor’s reputation, people can also look at the reputation of the contractor’s past projects before visiting the property. Then, they can learn whether there are frequent problems with leaks. However, if there are any, don’t immediately blacklist the prospective buyer; you can search online for community discussion forums or forums to see if the contractor’s attitude towards handling the issue of leaks is proactive enough to make a final judgment.
Rainy days are a great time to look at houses. Illustration/Photo from the Good Housing Database
Of course, observing the actual site is more important. When buying a home, it is best to visit during the rainy season, when typhoons and heavy rain are likely to occur. However, don’t just look at the beautiful interior design; visit the unfinished units to see if there are any signs of water leakage in the ceiling or corners. Professional civil engineer Zhang Enzhi also mentioned that water leakage in a house means that water has entered through gaps, which could be structural cracks or the original waterproof layer not being applied completely. Therefore, every time it rains heavily, people only discover that their home is starting to leak; often this is when they discover the cracks, so it is recommended that everyone pay attention when buying a home by checking whether there are color differences or discoloration in the walls, or whether there is localized standing water after heavy rain.
Additionally, when considering public areas, particularly homes located near slopes, it is also important to observe whether there are well-designed drainage systems and whether there is any space for sediment accumulation caused by runoff.
Koeng Xin, General Manager of Da Xin, stated in an interview that general construction companies are reluctant to build houses that leak water because they have to provide extensive after-sales services once the leak occurs, which also affects their reputation. Therefore, many construction companies have also suffered because the waterproofing contractors are not professional enough. Moreover, in a tightly coordinated project, the choice of materials, the construction method, and whether the construction is carried out according to the prescribed procedures are all crucial factors that determine the likelihood of water leakage.
Kong Yongxin also revealed that new homes are prone to water leakage issues; the key factors are the waterproofing materials used and the construction process. For example, traditional asphalt-based materials are prone to cracking and leakage due to poor quality components; in addition, the age of the construction workers, often unable to find young and skilled workers, and the fact that builders often replace the materials with more robust and elastic GRETEC GREGEL material, make them less susceptible to seismic forces and can therefore prolong the waterproofing lifespan. In addition, this also provides a significant advantage for the sale of homes, giving buyers a tangible guarantee. Another traditional material component, elastic cement, also has its own effects; the concentration of the mixture must be adjusted by skilled construction workers; if the concentration is too low or the coating is not evenly applied during construction, it can also lead to water leakage.
Original website address: Heavy rain is a good time to buy a house?! Master teaches you how to choose a good house and choose a builder