Getting it Right
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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Don’t Rush Your PCI
Why it’s Worth Your Time A new house is probably going to be your biggest ever purchase, Most new houses cost upwards of two hundred thousand dollars and I always want to make sure I’m getting my moneys worth. That…
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Drain Fail?
How about this picture of the water missing the drain? Is this a design failure? Well that’s what www.diply.com, where I found this photo, thought! Actually its a construction quality failure that is more common than it should be. Whats happened is…
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Poor Building Quality In The News
For anyone who thinks they can just leave everything to the builder this recent report in the Melbourne Age makes depressing reading:Faulty Building Crisis. A lot of the issues relate to damp, particularly: Leaks through the ceiling. Leaks through rendered foam…
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What Do Builder’s Warranties Cover?
The ‘Statutory Builders Warranty’ or Guarantee is 10 years although some builders offer periods of up to 25 years . . . . but what do you get? Well the overall Warranty only applies to the main elements of the house…
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What Is The PCI?
Well PCI stands for Practical Completion Inspection. . . . but what does that mean? Practical completion is when the building work is all but completed, and the house meets the requirements for an Occupation Certificate. There may be minor works required…
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