Safety and quality above everything, right? Alas! That’s not how the real world works. Caution, common sense, and genuine effort are sometimes completely ignored during construction projects, replaced by speed, shoddy workmanship, and risking your neck (sometimes very literally).
Whether due to a lack of skill, budget constraints, or a complete disregard for safety protocols, some construction workers spook the internet with the fruits of their labor. The very worst of the bunch end up on the r/ConstructionFails subreddit. This online community shames everything that’s related to construction gone wrong. Things that would probably make OSHA or any structural inspector mad and sweat with worry.
Whatever you might be thinking of, dear Pandas, we assure you—it’s a lot worse. Scroll down to see just how bad things can get. If we’ve got any architecture and design professionals in the house today, make sure you don’t faint. And don’t forget your hard hats!
#1 Ooppsss
Image credits: nopenope911
#2 Parkour!
Image credits: mpcromar
#3 Fan Go Bonk
Image credits: Theodorefortesque
Created back in early 2017, the ‘Construction Fails’ subreddit has grown to a community of 19.8k members.
Anyone hoping to join the community should know not to spam the sub with any promotions for products or services. There’s also to be no trolling (memes are still fine, but they have to be tasteful), and any photos or videos or fatal accidents are absolutely not allowed. The mod team also asks members to be kind and civil towards each other.
#4 Doing The Roof With Concrete Blocks
Image credits: bofhsp
#5 Bathroom At Local Bar…
Image credits: G_W_Winsterhammerman
#6 What Could Go Wrong
Image credits: PuzzleheadedRaise565
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that we at Bored Panda have seen this sort of reckless attitude towards building safety. A while back, we spoke to the team of structural inspectors at Alpha Structural, Inc., who shared their thoughts about safety, shoddy repair and building jobs, and contractors.
“There are many factors that can affect the repair of a home such as budget constraints, timing, accessibility of workspace, etc. For the most part, we would put the responsibility on the contractors that were hired to do the work,” they said.
#7 Bro Think Your House Is Separating From You
Image credits: Aquila_1214
#8 The Stairs On The Side Of This Building
Image credits: anthonyhui
#9 There Must Be A Better Way
Image credits: 1-12TH
“Most homeowners are not aware of the repair ‘methods’ used, especially when the work is under the home. For example, we’ve seen brick foundations that have been ‘retrofitted’ by bolting the framing to the brick walls. However, this doesn’t serve any purpose as the bricks can’t hold these bolts. Many times, the homeowner had no idea that there was any problem performing this type of retrofit on a brick foundation. Without trying to sound cliché, we can say the old maxim, ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true when selecting a contractor to repair, or upgrade your home’s foundation,” the Alpha Structural team explained to Bored Panda.
#10 Windy
Image credits: hollidaytamale
#11 Neighbors Attempting To Reinforce Their Stone Wall With….spray Foam Insulation
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#12 "Construction Is My Passion" 2.0
Image credits: MadMax686
“I would say one of the worst homes we inspected was back in 1992. We went to a 3 story hillside home located in Playa del Rey. The condition of the soil supporting the home was so bad that, during our assessment, we found that the home was cracking and actually moving,” Ben Reinhart, from Alpha Structural, told Bored Panda.
#13 To Install An Air Conditioning Unit
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#14 Why.......just Why?
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#15 No Ac? No Problem
Image credits: ShipHistorian
“We are not alarmists in any sense but this was the first time we had to evacuate. Temporary shoring was put in the next morning to prevent the home from collapsing. The complexity of the repair required, getting a large rig on a steep hillside to excavate a 55’ deepened foundation, made this one of the worst and most challenging in our long history. Let’s just say if we were on a reality TV show, this episode would’ve been a season finale,” he shared the experience.
#16 Hey Boss, Tucked The Light Switch In The Corner Like You Asked
Image credits: wheekwheekmeow
#17 Spirit Level Not Needed
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#18 That's One Way To Do It, I Guess
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“Basic maintenance will keep your home strong for a long time to come. Our advice would be to clean out gutters, ensure you have downspouts that direct water away from your foundation and see that the hardscape (walkways, patios, etc.) and landscape grade away from the home,” the structural inspectors shared how to take care of your home.
#19 We Call This One, “The Landlord Supremo”
Image credits: wheekwheekmeow
#20 A Friend Just Bought New Construction
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#21 Why Poop Alone When You Can Poop With Friends
Image credits: 73randon
“Most foundation problems are caused by water and poor drainage. If you look under your home, check to see that there is no earth to wood contact. Not only will moisture from the ground get to the wood and cause rot, it also allows for wood-destroying organisms to get to the framing of your home. Additionally, earthquake retrofitting is a cost-effective upgrade encouraged by not only engineering communities, but also local and state officials,” they told Bored Panda.
#22 Shower Bench Failure At Less Than 3 Years
Image credits: WantToUnderstandToo
#23 Who Needs Wall Ties
Image credits: Heam21
#24 Looks Straight To Me
Image credits: fluffito5
“In order to be a structural assessor, it is required you have years of experience in the field of construction. They must be familiar with all types of building construction and must understand current building codes and hillside building codes,” Alpha Structural said.
“Remember, we are not dealing with new construction, we deal with existing structures that may have had many repairs over the course of their life. As far as values, we require that no one is an alarmist and honesty is key,” Ben, from Alpha Structural, said what it takes to be a structural inspector.
#25 My Brother Was Painting A House And Sent Me This. Corner Cutting At Its Finest
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#26 Legendary
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#27 Courting Disaster
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“All homeowners have options when repairing their home. Our job is to explain all of those options and let them choose what they want to do, it is their home after all. We recommend that when buying a home, get all of your inspections done. This would include a general home inspection, foundation, sewer, plumbing, etc.”
#28 No1 Rule In Construction!!
Image credits: New-Home-QC
#29 When The Roofers Decide To Take Creative Liberties
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#30 Load Bearing To Boot
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He continued: “If you own a home and think there might be foundation or structural issues, make sure that the contractor you decide to hire is reputable and knowledgeable. Due diligence would include looking at their reviews online and checking their status with the CSLB to verify that they are licensed for the work they are performing.”
Which photos horrified you the most, dear Readers? Were there any that shook you to your very core? Have you ever seen something as bad or even worse? Tell us what you're thinking and feeling right now. Go on, we promise the comment section is built on a firm foundation.
#31 Used The Wrong Template?
Image credits: haileypetrov92
#32 No Problems Here
Image credits: Dalton_P
#33 Well Somebody Screwed Up
Image credits: raaustin777
#34 Who Do You Blame For This?
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#35 Several Roof Trusses Anchored Together. Came Down Like Dominos. Even What’s Still Up Is Warped All To Hell. Hire Professionals Kids…
Image credits: nobuouematsu1
#36 Nailed It
Image credits: ObjectCapital1468
#37 ‘Boss, We Need A Bigger Partition.’ ‘Make It Work.’
Image credits: JIMMYJAWN
#38 5 Boxes = 5 Times As Safe?
Image credits: slinkyderp
#39 Lunch Poured In A Beam
Image credits: Skier94
#40 How Many Hidden Electrical Connections Would You Like?? .. Yes
Image credits: OvoApeJay
#41 Perfect
Image credits: James_T_S
#42 My Friend Is Having Trouble Finding Good Contractors For A Garage Conversion. Saw This Yesterday
Image credits: SacrificeLambz
#43 The Way This Job Is Going It Honestly Could Be Anyone's Fault. (Look At The Railing For The Stairs)
Image credits: DungeonNDegenerates
#44 Atleast The Chiropractor Is Nearby
Image credits: HubertJackson22
#45 More Fine Blockwork In Florida
Image credits: i_might_be_me
#46 Preventative Maintenance Is 3x Cheaper Than Reactive Maintenance
Image credits: Zestyclose_Bed_6338
#47 What’s The Point In This Balcony
Image credits: TD-TradeMarked
#48 Good Enough From My House
Image credits: Stunning-Space-2622
#49 When The Brick Guy Says “Not My Problem”
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#50 Meh, No One Will Ever See It; Until Someone Does
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#51 No One Will Ever See
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#52 Idk How This Passed Inspection
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#53 Local Gas Station In Beloit, Wi Has A "Minor" Setback Today
Image credits: tombosdrunk
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