The Trouble With Building Condos

The March 14 article headlined “Staying on Top of Trouble” encourages me to believe that the catastrophic 75% decline in condominium construction can be reversed using private sector building inspections and associated litigation defense procedures.

But I wonder why it is necessary for builders using these procedures to continue paying for ineffectual city plan check and inspection services.

Historically, city building departments, who themselves have no legal liability for their services, have been content to accept significant mandatory inspection fees without providing adequate services.

It is time for them to step aside and allow the private sector to do the job.

MICHAEL D. PATTINSON

President

Barratt American Inc.

Carlsbad

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If the construction defect law had made provisions for placing any funds awarded into an escrow account payable only when repairs of the claimed defects have actually been made, the number of cases would recede.

Further, if the legal bills were to be withheld until the repairs are actually made, the windfall profits from these cases would soon dry up.

While the law is viewed as consumer protection, and may be needed in some drastic cases, the actual effects of the law as it is constituted now does nothing but raise prices of housing.

ERIC DAVID

Long Beach

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The article overlooks the most obvious cause of increases in construction defect lawsuits.

In the cutthroat residential market, builders simply cannot afford to hire the level of workers to build a quality project and stay competitive.

While the cost of land and building materials has shot up, the labor rates have gone flat or even declined.

I made more per hour 10 years ago wiring houses than many electricians earn today. With lower wages and health or pension benefits virtually nonexistent, the construction industry is no longer able to attract the quality of workers required to perform at the necessary level of excellence.

This problem is compounded by the fact that contractors are unable or unwilling to sponsor meaningful programs to provide the workers they do get with the skills required to do the job right.

If builders and developers would shift some of the $3,500 to $6,000 they spend trying to catch mistakes into developing a quality work force, they could eliminate most of those mistakes.

HANK LEWIS

Cayucos