The new home construction industry is plagued with class action suits targeting everything from plumbing to exterior finishes.

Multi-million dollar court judgments against insurers over moisture and mold related claims, often stemming from inadequate construction, is prompting the insurance industry to exit markets, raise premiums, reduce coverage for certain types of claims and refuse to renew policies.

In California, lawsuits over building defects scared off insurers and so decimated the multifamily housing construction industry the state was forced to pass a new law effective in 2003 that regulates how defect claims must proceed.

And swelling grass roots movements are brandishing a Homeowners Bill of Rights that effectively says "We are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore."

Why not simply build it right?

While not making excuses for the building industry, Portland, ME-based Criterium Engineers, a company of home and building inspectors who are licensed engineers, says building the perfect home simply isn't possible.

The human condition of imperfection, the unpredictability of Mother Nature and the unsettled nature of the Earth upon which homes are built make the perfect new home the real American Dream.

While some builders are beginning to increase the odds of building a better home by joining the prefabrication industry in a controlled manufacturing environment, builders are hard fought to squeeze more quality out of the product.

Criterium, inspecting homes since 1957, explains why.

Published: November 7, 2002

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A journalist for 35-years, Broderick Perkins parlayed an old-school daily newspaper career into a digital news service offering editorial content and consulting services. Perkins' San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group includes the flagship news site, DeadlineNews.Com, offering real estate, personal finance and consumer journalism, and a backshop, the Deadline Newsroom.