#for instance i live somewhere with high humidity and high earthquake and liquifaction risks aka southern bc | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

awkward-teabag · 1 year ago

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It's not just mansions, either, condos (really, any development) also suffer from rushing development and not giving construction workers enough time to do things properly. Which is made all the worse by developers cutting as many corners as they can and hiring sub-contractors who are under-qualified, look the other way, or help them cut said corners.

So you have things happen like an entire condo having to be vacated immediately because it's structurally unsound, terrible noise control, rot and mould from water damage, etc.

Not to mention the move away from solid wood to MDF to keep development costs down (while charging more for buyers) and MDF does not hold up remotely as well the moment moisture comes into play. Also ignore the little fact it can release a carcinogen.

I see so many new developments that mysteriously have major issues <5 years in, but by then the developer has fucked off and residents have to pray their insurance covers having to stay elsewhere for weeks or months.

Prior to the 80s, you run the risk of asbestos being in the place. In the past couple decades, you run the risk of developers having cut corners and getting permits they should never have been given (assuming they have permits in the first place) because they planned to let someone else hold the hot potato while they got out of dodge.

This makes me so sad and also I'm trying to remember if any of the Discworld books dealt with late stage capitalism

#we build buildings like we do products now #with a lifespan of years before expecting someone to pay to either fix it or buy a whole new one #this is all the more important if you live somewhere with natural disasters and/or foundational issues (e.g. sink holes)#for instance i live somewhere with high humidity and high earthquake and liquifaction risks aka southern bc #my life is on the line if i don't do research to make sure it's structurally sound and isn't in a liquifaction zone #and there's a huge amount of development that isn't actually meant for people to live in #it's for investors to buy and sell and trade #so corners get cut even more #also it tends to be built in liquifaction zones and you kinda don't want a tall building built in one of those areas #especially if it's also at sea level #of course with older buildings you also have possible wiring that isn't up to code or can't handle current electric amounts #basically it's a shit show and don't assume just because the home is new doesn't mean it won't cost you tens of thousands in the near futur

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