El Inmobiliario published several stories about the situation of leaks in buildings and homes, a problem that extends throughout the country and affects many of the buildings constructed in the country, regardless of their age.
These are issues that spark conflicting opinions; on one side, the builders present their arguments, and on the other, the buyers, who live the situation, voice their complaints about the difficult reality of having a water spring, the problem of which sometimes takes time to identify the source from which it flows.
Our regular reader, Alberto Bernadó, sent us a comment via WhatsApp that we are sharing because in our publication all voices have a place.
“I sometimes get indignant when I read or hear about these kinds of guarantees from construction companies and their construction flaws. In Spain, they offer 10-year warranties, even taking into account the movements buildings make as they settle, which create cracks. If they used good materials and proper grates in rainwater drainage systems, they would reduce all kinds of risks.”.
He continues: “In Spain, there’s no problem flushing paper down the toilet, I suppose because the plumbing allows it, avoiding the need for a bin full of dirty paper. But I think construction companies try to cut costs as much as possible, and that’s where quality suffers.”.
He continues: “I can understand that good maintenance is necessary and that human error or lack of maintenance can clog pipes, but that becomes clear quickly when a plumber shows up. There's a serious problem with the warranty and the lifespan of the materials being used.”.
One of our interviewees this week was Luis Manuel Rosario, General Manager of ATTICO Constructora, who assures that the industry is creating waterproofing products every day that help to reduce leaks more and more, ensuring that the materials used by construction companies are of high quality.
He attributes many of the leaks to the lack of maintenance by the condominium owners, stating that there is a deeply rooted culture in the country that prevents the properties from being offered maintenance as provided by the manufacturing companies.
One of the worrying consequences of the constant humidity caused by leaks is the health problems they create. Ivelise Acosta, a pulmonologist we consulted, cited the respiratory and allergic reactions that leaks can cause.
Regardless of the reasons each person gives, the reality is that this is an issue that has become part of the litany of problems affecting Dominican society, a health risk, and one of the most frequent fears that real estate agents have to deal with with their clients, especially those who are dedicated to resales.
Certainly, in this country there is no culture of prevention in any aspect of life, not even in health, which is vital, because it is not addressed as part of the State's public policies, which is primarily responsible for carrying out national programs; nor do private companies care or allocate resources to support their clients in this regard, as we are always adrift like a ship at sea.
