Post-construction service: what it is and how it should really work

Updated on 07/06/2026 by EZA Engenharia

Post-construction support is everything that happens between the construction company and the client after the keys are handed over: the adjustments of the first months, the technical assistance and the guidance on maintaining the house. Almost no one asks about this before signing the contract, and it makes an enormous difference in real life. After more than 35 years delivering projects in Criciúma and the region, we have learned that a good house is one that keeps working well years after moving in. In this text I explain what post-construction support is, what to expect in the first months and how to assess this care when choosing who will build.

What post-construction means in practice

A newly delivered house is not a finished product sealed in a box. It is thousands of components, from window frames to plumbing installations, that start working together in the family's daily life. It is normal for something to need adjustment in the first few months: a door that needs alignment, a finish that deserves a touch-up, a fixture that needs tightening.

After-sales service is the process the construction company maintains to take care of this. It involves a clear channel for the client to reach out, people responsible for answering and guidance on how to use and maintain the house. When this process does not exist, the client keeps messaging the project engineer, who is already on another site. The response takes time and the relationship sours.

The first months after handover

Every new property goes through a settling period. The structure settles, materials move with temperature and humidity variations, and small surface cracks or gaps in window and door frames may appear. In most cases it isn't a structural problem, it's the expected behavior of the materials.

What sets a serious construction company apart is how it deals with this. Taking the call, going to the house, explaining what is natural settling and what needs correction, and correcting whatever is its responsibility. The delivery also includes a use-and-maintenance manual for the property, with cleaning guidance, care for each finish and the frequency of maintenance tasks.

Much of the post-construction service requests, in fact, originate far earlier, in design and execution decisions. It's worth getting to know the stages of building a house: a well-planned project brings far less trouble once finished.

Technical support and maintenance are not the same thing

Technical support is the correction of execution or material defects that are the responsibility of the construction company. Brazilian law addresses this: the Civil Code, for example, provides for the builder's responsibility for the soundness and safety of the project. If the problem came from the execution, whoever built it must resolve it.

Maintenance is another story. It's the ongoing care that every property requires, such as checking grout and seals, cleaning gutters and inspecting the waterproofing exposed to the weather. This part is the owner's responsibility, and ignoring the maintenance foreseen in the manual can even compromise warranties.

I see a lot of confusion between the two things. A good construction company makes this clear from delivery: what it covers, what depends on the owner and how each situation should be reported.

How to evaluate after-delivery service before signing a contract

When someone asks me how to choose a construction company, I always say: ask about the after. The sales pitch talks about the project and the finish, but almost never talks about who answers the phone two years after you move in.

A few simple questions reveal a lot. Those who answer without hesitation usually have a real process. Those who dodge here will dodge later too.

• Is there a dedicated department or person for post-completion service, or does support fall to whichever engineer is available?
• Where does the client open a support request and how do they track the response?
• Does the construction company deliver a use and maintenance manual for the property?
• Does it offer preventive follow-up or only show up when something breaks?

How after-project support works at EZA: EZA Care

Here at EZA we have a department dedicated to this, EZA Care. It handles service requests, of course, but the focus is not just putting out fires: the department works proactively, offering preventive maintenance to clients who want to keep their home closely looked after. These maintenance services are contracted separately, with the advantage of being carried out by those who have known the project since its foundation.

The client also receives a digital maintenance management tool, Easy Alert, to organize requests and control the maintenance of the house. Our vision is simple: the relationship does not end when the keys are handed over, the house continues to be looked after.

And the best post-construction phase is the one that gives you little trouble. That is why we invest in prevention during the project itself, such as the watertightness test done before the finishes: it takes time, but it ensures the waterproofing is truly working. Leakage is one of the most common problems after delivery, and it's much cheaper to prevent than to correct.

In the end, after-delivery service is a test of the construction company's character: the contract has already been paid and what sustains the relationship is commitment. If you are planning to build, weigh this care with the same importance you give to the portfolio and the budget. And if you'd like to talk with someone who has taken the after seriously for more than 35 years in Criciúma, reach EZA on WhatsApp (48) 99191-2018, send an email to [email protected] or discover our projects at eza.com.br.