How to Check Construction Quality Before Buying an Apartment

Buying a home is a big milestone, but don’t let the excitement make you overlook the basics. Before you fall in love with the layout or the view, make sure the construction is actually solid.

Why The Quality of Construction is Your First Priority

Owning a home is a dream for many but that dream only feels right when the apartment is built to last. That’s why it’s worth choosing experienced builders like sivantafoundations, who don’t cut corners.
Poor construction quality might not cause issues immediately, but it can lead to serious problems later.
For example, in early 2023, a tragic incident in Gurgaon saw six floors of a luxury apartment collapse, leading to two deaths and prompting a structural audit of over 60 housing societies.
In competitive markets, some builders may cut costs and compromise on materials or workmanship; therefore, it’s essential to stay alert.
This guide is designed to help you, even as a layman, to judge the quality of building construction.
You don’t need technical expertise, this apartment buying guide covers checks for under-construction, newly built, and resale homes.

I. Pre-Purchase Considerations: Laying the Foundation for Quality

Selectable, Reputable Builders:
Choose experienced builders in Anna Nagar like ours, who have a solid reputation and years of trusted work in the industry.

Learn Regulative Structures:

With the Real Estate (Regulation and Amendment) Act, 2016 (RERA), the housing projects will be completed on time and with speed as per the directives of the government.
Safety in construction activity is regulated by the National Building Code (NBC) the violation of which is punishable and the violation of the working process may be accompanied by certain delivery of approvals.
State Building Regulations impose minimal design, construction quality, and alteration requirements.

Ask a Question on Structure Design and Materials:

Soil Structure: The builder should provide the results of the soil test, since weight-bearing properties depend on the variety of soil. High-rises do not thrive well in black cotton and clayey soils, as they shrink and swell with changes in moisture.
Concrete Mix: Ask the manufacturer about the concrete mix, as its composition will indicate how much load the structure can sustain. To ensure high construction quality, we utilize ready-mix concrete.
Earthquake Resistance: Buildings must be constructed in a manner that allows them to withstand earthquakes of a certain magnitude. It is recommended to take professional assistance to check this.
Construction Style: As a layman, the structural design may be hard to understand but it is vital as far as understanding about earthquake resistance is concerned. With a professional, one should visit the location and close on any “aberrations.”
Quality and shelf life of materials: A rule of thumb here is to ensure 100 percent inspection, quality of materials align to specifications, and they possess good shelf life and this reduces future maintenance cost.

II. What to Look For in On-Site Inspection

A. In case access to the site is allowed to the Under-Construction Building

Pillars:

Pillars should be straight, even without streaks or gaps and a pillar should not have chips.
Such problems normally come as a result of poor shuttering, pointing to a general lack of strength and construction quality.

Plaster:

Check cracks, outer walls, and inner walls.
Ensure that it is well finished.
Seek to notice loose areas between the wall and the plaster, which is commonly patched over at a later stage and is not so strong.

Conduct a Thumb Test:

Press your thumb or nail on the wall with plaster on it. It should leave a little mark, but when your entire thumb goes inside or plaster is flaking, it shows that it is of bad construction quality, and the brick and plaster are also weak.

B. In case of Newly Ready/Ready-to-Move-In Apartments

External Walls & Plaster:

No cracks should be there, nor should there be any peeling plaster. This is totally unacceptable in a new building.

Thumb Test:

Use the thumb test mentioned in the case of buildings under construction. This is a very viable means of inspecting a new house.

Corner Test:

Run your hand slowly along the corners and edges of walls to feel for uneven surfaces, bulges, or cracks. Use a flashlight at an angle to highlight surface flaws or patchwork that may have been done to cover poor workmanship. Well-constructed corners should feel solid, sharp, and seamless without signs of chipping or filler material.

Door Frames (Chaukhat):

The Test of Knocking: Knock out the door frame to test to see whether it makes a hollow sound or feels heavy and robust.
Surface Finish: Check if the surface of the door frame is smooth and well-finished. If it feels rough, uneven, or bumpy, it may indicate that the low-quality materials or skipped proper finishing steps to cut costs, a sign of poor workmanship and careless construction practices.
Adjacent wall inspection: Use the adjacent wall and inspect wall behind door frame to see if there are any cracks or chips.

Walls:

Make sure that the walls are smooth, even, and crack-free or uneven.
Look at the surface area and seek any signs of dampness or bubbling of the paint, which might suggest there is latent moisture.

Balconies:

Check them carefully to see whether there is flaking paint or bare rebar.
The ceiling finish should be checked for evenness and gaps.

Windows:

Search the possibility of the window frame and the wall gaps, whether they have an opening to the sunlight or a breeze.
Check whether windows open, close, and lock.
Window seals should be airtight and watertight.

Wiring:

Peek inside the switchboards, if possible, good quality wires usually have brand names like Finolex or Havells printed on them.
Also, try switching on a few lights and appliances simultaneously. If the power flickers or trips, it could be a sign of weak or unsafe wiring.

Flooring:

Walk around and examine any loose or chipped/broken tiles.
Identify microcracks and check grout lines between tiles.
Marble Roll Test: Rolling the marbles on the floor causes any irregularities in the finishing of the floor to be noticed.

Fixtures and Finishing:

Check fittings on the bathroom, wires, electrical fittings, and pressure of the water.
Check the sanitary fittings that are functional and clean.
Test window and door locks to confirm they are made of good-quality materials and operate smoothly.
Enquire about the brand of tiles and marbles employed.

Lighting and electric outlets:

Carry a small lamp or device (like a phone charger or nightlight) to test if each electrical outlet is working properly.
Turn every light on to test if it is functional.
Make sure there is a sufficient number of plug points.

Ventilation and Lighting:

Check whether all rooms are ventilated properly and well-lit.
Ensure that there is cross ventilation in the bedrooms and the living rooms.

Bath and Kitchen:

Pour water on the floor to test the slopes and drainage.
Waterproofing in the kitchen and bathroom (top, bottom, and the side walls) should be thoroughly checked.

C. Older/Resale Buildings (as well as the checks of all new buildings)

Exterior Examination:

Search for broken parts or exposed rebar.
Look on outside walls for water and seepage, especially where pipes run.
Look whether it is damp and whether that is hard to get rid of.

Nail Test (brick quality):

If a nail produces a large hole by one blow, this indicates poor quality of bricks.
If the nail bends, then the mortar quality is good.

Water Test (of leveling and drainage):

Fill the water in the balcony and bathroom to observe drainage.
In case of water accumulation, it is a slope problem.

Walls Around Wet:

Inspect walls adjoining bathrooms or beside pipes.
When they are cold or wet, this may mean some water leak.

Paint Variations:

Note paint color all around the house.
Wrong color or redundant coats may indicate waterproofing or concealed seepage problems.

Basement Inspection:

Inspect the basement for waterlogging or seepage.
Presence affects overall construct and strength of the building.

III. Common and Safety Features Areas

Safety Features:

Emergency exits and broad stairways.
Earth-Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCBs) and Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs).
Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, radon indicators and fire extinguishers.

Commons spaces and Exterior:

Check cleanliness and maintenance of staircases, elevators, parking, and corridors.
Inspect deteriorated doors and windows.
Check porches, decks or balconies for stability, cracks, or water damages.
Shared facilities (gym, laundry room, parking) should be in good condition.

IV. Checks and Due Diligence in Advanced

Ground water Quality:

Groundwater and treated water at WTP should be tested.
Request lab test report of a third party.

Speech to Neighbors and Building Management:

Gather information and testimonies from existing residents.

The Timing of taking the help of Pros:

If you’re unsure about the building’s strength or the quality of materials like cement, it’s a good idea to bring in a qualified expert, someone who knows what to look for and won’t miss the details.
Do self checks first to determine if a professional is necessary.

An Informed Decision

making emotional decision Avoid s based on attractive deals or offers. Use these construction quality checklists to evaluate the building and flat construction quality. If you’re exploring options like apartments in Puzhal, ensure you don’t overlook essential inspections. Note that cosmetic flaws, such as seepage or uneven walls, are capable of repair, whereas structural flaws, like poor bricks, imply you should not purchase the property.

For peace of mind and lasting value, it’s worth going with a trusted developer like sivantafoundations, a name known for solid construction, safety standards, and happy homeowners. When you choose a well-built home from sivantafoundations, you’re not just investing in comfort today but also ensuring better resale value down the line.