Normal settling produces hairline cracks in drywall at corners, minor gaps around trim, and small variations in floor level that appear within the first year and then stop progressing. Construction defects are different in three ways: they continue to get worse, they affect structural or waterproofing systems rather than just finishes, and they cause secondary damage like water intrusion, mold, or deteriorating framing. If a crack is widening, a leak is recurring after repair, or doors and windows that once worked properly no longer do, those are signs worth taking seriously. A one-time consultation with a California construction defect attorney costs nothing compared to the damage that compounds while you wait to see if it gets better on its own.