For those of us in the industry, a good construction fail compilation presses that schadenfreude button. Schadenfrued: the pleasure we get from someone else’s misfortune. Because let’s be honest, a 2x4 to the groin is painful, but it’s pretty funny when it happens to someone else. In the end, laughter fixes most of the aches and pains from a long day of work on the jobsite. We laugh, but boy do we feel sorry for the homeowners of these epic construction fails.
30. What a view!
What came first, the chimney or the window? It's a new take on that age old question. While decorative attic windows are nothing new to craftsman construction, this brick and mortar view is certainly a new one. Well, sometimes you've just got to work with what you've got!
29. So close... but yet so far!
Don't you just hate when the toilet paper roll is too close? Yeah, me neither. But someone said they wanted it this way - right? To make this work you either need 6-foot arms or a very close friend. Most likely, you'll be waddling over to this TP dispenser every time you need to use the loo.
28. Speaking of using the bathroom...
Whoever installed these signs has a sense of humor, but walk through the wrong door and I guarantee the other occupants wont be laughing one bit. I wonder which sign is the correct one... best keep walking and find another rest stop before it's too late!
27. Water vs. Electricity
Who wanted this?! If there was ever an image of what not to do, this would be it! Every OSHA compliance officer is having a field day this one. It's pretty obvious that water and electricity don't mix... unless you're into house fires. We really hope not, you pyromaniac, you!
26. Absolutely useless.
Did you forget to install a vent in your bathroom? No worries, just tack on the vent cover and no one will notice. I wouldn't pin this one on a professional. This feels more like a do-it-yourselfer.
"I have no idea what I'm doing, but I know I'm doing it really, really well..."
25. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Construction waits for no one. Rest-in-peace decorative balcony, it never saw this vent coming. Every time the homeowner looks out their window at this metal vent they are going to wish they had paid their contractor whatever extra money was needed to move that vent just a little to the left. You get what you pay for!
24. "You shall not pass!" - Gandalf
I don't know what's worse, the floating gate or the railing-less stairs? You'd think this was an ongoing project but the overgrown grass says otherwise. No one has been back here to finish what they started in quite some time! I don't know what those stairs lead to, but that gate will mildly irritate whatever thief that has to haul your flat screen around it.
23. Watch your step!
Obstacles like these are great for any aspiring American Ninja Warrior. Just be careful bringing furniture into your new apartment. Gosh forbid you have to walk up these steps after a few drinks out celebrating with friends on your birthday. Perhaps the homeowners are great admirers of space-saving design... or they have abnormally small feet.
22. Open Sesame
Someone thought this was a good idea, and I'm just not sure why. Maybe it keeps the puddles away when it rains. However, it certainly has made more than one customer stumble. In the interest of avoiding injury lawsuits, I recommend they reconsider their design.
21. Beachfront Bench
The perfect spot for a family photo at the beach as long as you're flexible.
20. A lighting solution for every home.
If creative problems need creative solutions, dumb problems must need dumb solutions. Why move the outlet when you can cut the switch plate? We would like to kindly point out that triple combination light switches are available from most major retailers. Order and get it delivered in 2 days with Amazon Prime. There are options, and you don't have to settle.
19. Taking the express lane!
Wheelchair ramps bring accessibility to any location. However, this ramp belongs in the X-Games. Play it safe and take the elevator.
18. Um, this spot is taken.
Parking assistance may be required.
17. Who is going to change this light?
I just wonder... how is anyone going to change that light? And which room's light switch turns it on and off? Don't go 'halfway' on your office remodel or you may just have to live with mistakes like these!
16. Bigger is better.
Bigger is always better, if you're shopping at Costco. Hit this speedbump at -5 miles and hour or risk leaving parts of your vehicle behind. Size rating: monster truck or larger. Drivers can thank the asphalt layer for being so generous with materials on the job.
15. Splash!
We can only hope no one was relaxing inside when the deck took a nose dive. When projects like this go belly-up it's difficult to tell what went wrong first... or who is responsible.
14. The upperdecker disaster.
It's either completely wrong or devilishly genius, but either way super gross. Still, it's nice to have a toilet designed just for those mornings when you want to brush your teeth and pee at the same time. We're all pressed for time as adults, and we need plumbing solutions for pesky problems.
13. Juuuuust right.
Geometry. You need it. Your math teacher always told you that what you learned in class would come in handy for the real world, but you just didn't believe her. Now look at you trying to fit a square window into a rhombus shaped hole.
12. I'm blown away.
Business Man: Let's just toss out my paper towel.
Hand Dryer: Let's not.
11. Level the playing field.
"Caution. Uneven surfaces". Not my place to criticize, but I do wonder if there was a better solution that just slapping a sign on it. I'm sure it's one of the things the locals know and avoid, but it's probably scuffed up a few unsuspecting tourists.
10. Divide and conquer!
Some savvy homeowners think on their feet. Why pay for two air conditioners when you can make one work double-duty? That's got to be one cold wall. And if you're in the other room, just shout through to hole so your friend can adjust the settings.
9. Leg support.
I can't even look. What were they thinking?! Cutting corners on buying the right tools never pays off.
8. Parking for your hovercraft.
The garage of the future: store your hovercrafts and flying cars here. We'd like to think this was a road mapping issue gone awry, or maybe the homeowners wanted a cheaper way to get that open-air feeling. Either way, Dominic Toretto would probably say "challenge accepted".
7. Don't fix the problem: add to it!
Look, no one likes to do the plumbing. It's smelly, wet, and prone to leaking if not sealed perfectly. It's a job best left to a professional plumber - of which none were part of this plumbing disaster. I'm confused about what's actually going on here. Why is there a water pump on the right, an extra faucet to the left, and metal attached to PVC?! Whatever problem they were trying to fix is probably worse now.
6. Keep the door shut!
Nope. No way! I know this door. Hidden little doors always show up in horror movies and there's never anything good behind any of them.
5. The not-so-private privy.
In this bathroom, the privacy is optional... or rather not an option at all. Imagine spending all that time installing a new toilet, seating it, caulking the edges... only to find out at the end that you can't close the door! Luckily the contractor can take the door off at the hinges. I'm pretty sure he's going to install the door opening outwards next time.
4. Fun with water.
There's nothing kids love more than a day at the water park. Slides, waterfalls, and sprinklers are so much fun. But finding water in places you didn't expect it can be the worst. This one here is a head scratcher. They'd better start looking for a broken pipe!
3. Holding it together.
If there are two things every DIYer needs in their tool belt, it's WD-40 and duct tape. I'd also recommend saving the number of a local electrician.
2. That's good enough.
Sure they could have made the pathway slightly to the left of the pole, but this is just as good - right?! When life gives you lemons, go around the telephone pole.
1. No room for leg room.
Everybody goes, but not everybody has to go like this. This loo may be great for the goer with extra tiny legs: toddlers, Santa's elves, sugar gliders... but for everyone else- squeeze knees! Or try sidesaddle.