Defect evaluation
Is it a defect — and what will it take to put it right?
Not every complaint is a defect, and not every defect justifies the same remedy. A useful defect opinion separates the two: first, whether the work departs from the contract documents, then what correction is proportionate.
What is evaluated
- Work against drawings, specifications, and contract requirements
- Workmanship and installation, on the evidence available
- Whether an item is incomplete, defective, or simply a matter of preference
- Scope of correction — repair, replacement, or other remedy
- Cost of correction, measured and priced, not estimated in bulk
Where causation or a specialist discipline is in issue — for example, structural, building-envelope, or mechanical questions — the analysis identifies that boundary clearly, so the right specialist can be engaged alongside it.
Evidence first
Defect opinions rest on the contract documents, photographs, site records, inspection reports, and, where available, site observation. Where access or records are limited, the opinion says so and explains how that affects confidence in the conclusion.
For owners, contractors, insurers, and counsel
Defect evaluation supports deficiency claims, warranty disputes, insurance assessments, and remediation planning. In each case, the goal is the same: a clear, itemised picture of what is wrong, why it matters, and what it costs to correct — so the dispute can be resolved on facts, not on competing assertions.