Getting it Right
Practical Completion Inspection
The Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) is probably the most important inspection, your chance to identify any faults and get them fixed before handover. It’s a lot simpler to get them fixed before you move in! If you have employed an…
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Keith, Hero of ‘The Block’
If you are having a new house built Keith should be your hero too! Over the years, foreman Keith Schleiger “The Blockinator” seems to be cast as the bad guy. The guy who causes delays, disruptions, and upsets the contestants….
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Practical Completion Inspection – 12 Hints
Here are some hints for your PCI Inspection Take your time. There is no need to rush, you have spent a lot of money and it’s your chance to get things fixed. Look at things from a different angle. It’s…
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Working With Your Site Supervisor
If you are building your new house with a big builder once the contract is signed the most important person in the build is going to be the Site Supervisor(SS). The site supervisor is responsible for programming the works, ordering…
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Energy and Water Ombudsman
If you have an ongoing problem with the supplier of Water or Energy utilities its worth contacting the Ombudsman in your state. Our Problem About the middle of June we got rid of our last gas appliance and asked for…
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Occupancy Permit – What Does It Mean?
Occupancy Permit (or Certificate of Final Inspection) is not the same as Completion. It doesn’t even mean the house is ready for PCI Inspection or even that you would be happy to move in. What’s typically needed for an occupancy…
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Pre-Plasterboard Inspection
Plasterboard can cover a lot of defects . . . . . . . so if worth checking on things before it goes up. Typically the timing of this inspection will be after the ‘Lock Up Stage‘ but before the…
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Asbestos or Not?
What is Asbestos The various forms of asbestos are naturally occurring silicate materials which form long fibrous crystals. Each visible fiber has of millions of microscopic fibres that can be released by cutting, drilling, breaking, or as it wears Inhaling…
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Wall Penetrations
The pipes that penetrate exterior walls bring the power, water, gas, telecommunications into a house and take away the waste. If not properly sealed, but they can also bring in drafts, insects, mould and wood rot. Make sure all penetrations…
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Who Is Checking on the Quality?
When you sign your building contract you are told the Builder will appoint an ‘Independant’ Inspector. So how does pathetic brickwork like this get past this Inspector? Well you may be surprised to find out the Inspectors just check on…
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