Defective workmanship is defined as “Work that is unsatisfactory, deficient or damaged, does not conform to the Contract Documents, or does not meet the requirements of any inspection, test or approval.” Irrespective of the contract, the builder is not permitted to produce defective workmanship and is required to revise works that are deemed to be defective.

There are multiple causes of defective workmanship. It can result from a builder attempting to save money on materials to increase profits, leading a builder to choose materials that cannot serve the intended purpose. It can result from a builder failing to take the necessary time and apply the necessary skill to complete a specific work. At times, it can result from disregard for the quality of the work and the well-being of the client, who will be left to bear the costs of the faulty work. To guard against defective workmanship it is crucial to survey the building works as they proceed.