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20 Construction Fails That Cost Customers Big

Work Bizarre May 23, 2025

Last Updated on May 23, 2025 by Matt Staff

Some construction fails are the result of poor communication, others of pure carelessness, but all serve as a reminder of how important it is to hire the right people for the job. These stories range from frustrating to unbelievable, offering head-shaking moments that anyone planning a project should see. Here are 20 construction fails that cost customers big.

1. This is actually impressive, but it looks awkward

dapper333

2. Needless to say, the house collapsed

A house under construction on a steep, wooded hillside. The wooden frame and plywood walls are partially built, and construction materials are scattered on the ground in the foreground. Trees surround the site.
sjsei

3. Fire the plumber and promote the tiler

A bathroom wall with a row of white tiles, one of which is decorated with a 3D trompe-l'oeil design that appears to show misaligned plumbing pipes running through the wall under a toilet.
passivepig

4. Now that pool has some structural integrity

A rectangular swimming pool built inside a shipping container is elevated on metal supports beside a modern house with a balcony, surrounded by greenery.
userdeleted

5. What is the purpose of this?

A wall shows a sharp dividing line between two patterns of bricks: the left side has light-colored bricks, while the right side has reddish bricks, with zigzag-cut bricks forming the boundary between them.

6. Someone’s getting fired

Top: A large wooden barn frame under construction with a white pickup truck nearby. Bottom: The same barn frame has collapsed, with the roof and walls caved in on the ground.
wooddoctor12

7. At least he owned up to his mistake

A white PVC pipe with handwritten text reads, "I'M AN IDIOT HAVE A BEER ON ME." A five dollar bill is taped below the message. The pipe is inside a wooden structure with a copper wire nearby.
please_type_louder

8. “The contractor built these stairs for my 90-year-old grandparents”

A wooden staircase is built in a basement, but each step alternates direction, making it impossible to walk up or down safely. A white support pole stands next to the stairs.
joe_bruce

9. “The handyman ruined my crawl space to fit”

A view under a wooden floor showing multiple beams with precisely cut, matching arch shapes, creating a tunnel-like effect; debris and dirt are visible on the ground in the foreground.
barry_mcoiner

10. What caulk can fix this?

Two granite kitchen countertops meet at a corner but do not align, leaving a large, uneven gap between them above white cabinets. A window and electrical outlet are visible on the beige wall.
silent-composer-873

11. This plate compactor was left in wet concrete, and now it’s stuck

A plate compactor sits on a patch of dirt amid a sidewalk construction site, surrounded by bricks, wood planks, and yellow caution tape.
acidbrn391

12. How did they get their CDL?

A yellow construction vehicle tipped over a curb at a construction site, partially fallen into a ditch next to a damaged wooden fence and a Prairie Vista Apartments sign.
fut1492

13. Ah, what a nice balcony

A two-story building with barred windows and a rusty, decorative metal balcony railing. The exterior walls are white with a section of gray stone. A satellite dish is mounted near the roof, and power lines cross overhead.
agencylogic

14. Setting the ladder up like that is just begging for trouble

Two men use two ladders to scale a steep church roof; one man is near the top holding onto the roof, while the other steadies the base of the ladders on the ground next to a parked car.
dhaerrow

15. This seems like an unnecessary use of materials

A stairway with a handrail positioned at an angle that does not match the slope of the stairs, making it unusable for support; the handrail is attached to a sloped concrete wall beside the staircase.
agencylogic

16. “And we’ll put some pointless steps right here”

A short staircase with metal railings leads to a blank wall with no door, next to a gray building with a stone foundation. A car is parked nearby on the asphalt.
agencylogic

17. The door that leads to nowhere

A staircase leads downward, but there is a door at the top that opens directly over the stairs, blocking safe access and creating a hazardous obstruction.
agencylogic

A bathroom break in the middle of the night could end in catastrophe.

18. “I love watching the big game”

A man sits in a stadium seat directly behind a large pillar that completely blocks his view of the field. He smiles and gives a thumbs-up to the camera while other spectators watch the event.
agencylogic

19. Yeah, that isn’t going to hold

A carport with a corrugated metal roof supported by wooden beams is shown, partially sheltering a silver pickup truck. Nearby are a metal gate, blue barrels, and a light-colored building. The sky is cloudy.
mrgreingene

20. Someone wanted to be a class clown

A porta potty toilet is covered in a thick layer of snow and frost, with the seat, lid, and surrounding surfaces completely frozen and white.
barry_mcoiner

Want to see more outrageous fails?

Check out these 20 Home Improvement Fails That Cost Homeowners Big, or take a look at 18 Roof Repair Fails That Hang Over Us. Finally, if you want to see some hilarious plumbing fails, check out 25 Plumbing Fails That Ruined Houses Entirely.

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