Construction expert warns of hidden flaws in new-build apartments

Construction expert Saša Perko warns potential homebuyers in Croatia about common cost-cutting practices in new residential developments. According to Perko, developers often prioritize visible finishes while saving money on critical structural elements that are hidden beneath surface layers. These neglected components include reinforcement, waterproofing, connection details, thermal bridge breaks at balcony slabs, and sound insulation elements.

While these savings represent only a small percentage of the total investment, they can lead to significant long-term issues such as dampness, mold, and poor acoustic privacy. Perko notes that the pressure to meet deadlines and control costs often results in these compromises, which may not become apparent to buyers until several years later when maintenance costs and repairs increase.

To address common issues like hearing neighbors through walls, Perko recommends the use of dense materials, such as reinforced concrete walls between apartments, supplemented by mineral wool and plasterboard for both thermal and sound insulation. For impact noise, such as footsteps, he suggests implementing floating floors with 2 cm of EPS under the screed and using expansion strips along all walls to prevent noise transfer.