Construction Defects

At Hamilton Rucker, our focus is helping property owners in Texas recover money they’ve lost due to poor construction. This includes schools, hospitals, condo boards, retirement communities, and more. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our clients never pay anything unless we win.

If you’re facing leaks, water damage, exorbitant energy costs, or other building problems, we may be able to help. budget to pay for repairs or pursue a negligent general contractor? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

In Texas, building owners can generally file a claim against contractors, engineers, architects, and other construction professionals for up to 10 years following the completion of construction. If you’re stuck with expensive repair and maintenance bills because of defective materials, subpar workmanship, or faulty design – even if your building is several years old – our lawyers may be able to help you out on a contingency basis.

Roofing

Window

Wall Systems

Grading & Drainage

HVAC

Texas Independent School Districts

We frequently represent the owners and administrators of public-sector properties, such as Texas Independent School Districts (ISDs). Too often, these ISDs are taken advantage of by general contractors who unload old or refurbished HVAC equipment onto them. Other times, GCs or subcontractors will install roofs incorrectly, which causes air and water leaks and reduces the life of the building. Superintendents and school boards may be able to recover damages from general contractors for this poor workmanship, as well as recover the higher bills it created.

Charter Schools

Charter schools are under immense pressure to open quickly and cheaply, which often leads to construction corners being cut. This can result in serious problems like leaking roofs and windows, water damage, and malfunctioning HVAC systems. charter schools only have a limited time to take legal action against the construction companies responsible, so it’s crucial that they act quickly.

Universities

Many universities make the mistake of either hiring an inexperienced construction defects lawyer or waiting too long to file a lawsuit against a negligent general contractor. Although public universities have a 10-year window to file a claim, in some cases private universities may only have four years. If your students and faculty are suffering from the effects of water and air leaks, moisture buildup, or failing buildings—not to mention increased energy costs—you should take action sooner rather than later.

County and Municipal Jails

County jails are construction projects that must follow specific guidelines in order to ensure the safety of both inmates and guards. However, some general contractors take shortcuts in order to save time and money, which can lead to serious problems down the line. The most common problems associated with negligent GCs at county jails are failing smoke evacuation systems, followed by issues with air conditioning, roofs, windows, and grading and drainage systems. If your facility is facing any of these issues, Gravely can help you find a solution.

Municipal Facilities

Buildings belonging to states and counties, such as courthouses and offices, face difficulties due to carelessness on the part of contractors. The main problem among these is air conditioning systems that don’t work right. However, windows that let in air and water and land grading and drainage problems also lead to higher bills and more expensive maintenance – something that states and counties can’t afford.

When it comes to public hospitals, they are already working with tight budgets. This means that they can’t afford to overspend on building maintenance. For example, if there are leaks in the HVAC system, it could lead to higher costs for heating and cooling. Additionally, if the walls, windows, and roofs aren’t installed properly, it will only make the problem worse. Public hospitals have 10 years to file a claim against a negligent contractor, but it’s better to file the lawsuit sooner rather than later so that the hospital can recover damages.

Local, county, and state governments need to be financially responsible with tax money. That can be hard to do when a government is spending too much money to fix things like energy costs, water damage, and crumbling buildings. The good news is that contractors can be held accountable for poor workmanship and the extra costs that it causes – like high utility bills.

Retirement Communities

Retirement communities often have issues with their HVAC systems, which can lead to higher heating and cooling costs. Water damage is also common in these communities, due to improperly sealed balconies and windows. Furthermore, retirement communities are often overcharged by construction companies with Guaranteed Maximum Price Contracts.

HOAs

HOAs can be a huge pain for homeowners, especially when it comes to construction defects like windows, roofs, HVAC systems, and drainage systems. If you’re part of an HOA that’s dealing with these issues, a construction defect lawyer can help you review your by-laws and put a stop to unnecessary maintenance and emergency costs.

Condominium Boards

Condominium Boards: New condo construction has increased rapidly in the last decade as the Texas population has grown. The desire to build more condos faster and cheaper means that, unfortunately, some buildings aren’t designed and built properly. This can show up as drafty windows, leaking roofs, pooling water, and incorrect cooling and heating systems, all of which put a financial burden on condo boards and residents. Boards can pursue action against negligent contractors, but they must carefully review condo by-laws and also ensure they’re within the TX statute of limitations.

Hospitals

Healthcare related buildings serve a special and important purpose – to support the professionals healing the sick. Unfortunately they aren’t exempt from the problems and challenges faced by any building owners caused by negligent general contractors. Due to their medical purpose, it is all the more important to take quick action to effect structural, site, or systems repairs and be compensated for losses caused by those defects.Hamilton Rucker’s experts and reputation in construction enable us to find a confidential and prompt resolution with the GCs. otherwise, they would be “too busy” to properly address claims from individual building owners.

Apartments

In Texas, a lack of experience among contractors when it comes to building apartments often leads to residential buildings with windows that aren’t properly flashed or installed. This, in turn, allows water to pool near doorways and leaks both air and water. Furthermore, the land around the building is not properly graded, which causes runoff to drain towards the building. All of these problems result in increased energy and maintenance costs.

Mid and High-Rise Condos and Offices

Defective roofs, faulty windows, cracking walls, and failing balconies and parking garages are common at mid- and high-rise buildings, whether residential or used for office space. Many of these problems lead to water leakage and pooling, contributing to deterioration and a shortened building life. You may be able to recover the costs you’ve sunk into dealing with these issues by taking legal action.

At Hamilton Rucker, PC, we provide a no-cost review of your construction contract to determine your rights and remedies. Our experts will perform a 50-point investigation of the building to identify the exact cause and extent of the damage. Finally, we will provide a detailed report outlining who the responsible parties are and the legal options available.

At Hamilton Rucker, we don’t wait for our clients to come to us with their construction defect issues. We offer our services in advance, and we front all the expenses. That way, you don’t have to pay anything if we don’t win your case. Our motivation is to help owners with limited budgets resolve construction defect issues as efficiently and effectively as possible – something we’re able to achieve due to our experience and staff.

If you’re experiencing problems with your windows, roof, walls, drainage, HVAC, or another system in your building, and your building was constructed less than 10 years ago, contact us today. You may have a construction defect claim.

At Hamilton Rucker, PC, our lawyers and construction experts can evaluate your options and help you decide the best course of action. Call 713-589-2960 today to learn more.
Why do building owners choose Hamilton Rucker, PC?

Our lawyers use a process that not only increases the chance of a quick resolution with full compensation, but ensures that we’re fully prepared to go to trial. We approach every case as if it will end in a courtroom battle, even if we’re able to settle it quickly through negotiation. We carefully gather evidence and build a strong case from the very beginning – it’s more work but in our experience this is the right way to practice construction defects law.
Call 713-589-2960 today to speak with one of our experienced construction defects attorneys.
At Hamilton Rucker, PC, our construction experts have seen every type of problem imaginable in both private and public sector buildings. Not only are our lawyers and construction professionals knowledgeable about construction law, but they also have a deep understanding of the construction industry. This allows us to provide the best possible service to our clients and take on cases on a contingency basis.