Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 2Jan 23, 2014 8:05 pm At what stages during the build would benefit most to have a building inspector availible to look at the build? Approximately how much does the service cost? What power do building inspectors have to ensure things are fixed? Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 3Jan 23, 2014 8:53 pm ST13 At what stages during the build would benefit most to have a building inspector availible to look at the build? Approximately how much does the service cost? What power do building inspectors have to ensure things are fixed? For an existing building, it would be beneficial that the building were inspected prior to you making a decision to purchase them. For constructing a building, there are 3 main stages that should be inspected: foundation/slab, framing, completion. If you have appointed the building inspector as your superintendent as part of your building contract, then the building inspector as the superintendent can issue notices to the builder for repair, if work are not rectified, the superintendent can issue a stop work notice. It is important to note that the building inspector needs to be appointed as your superintendent for your contract first. The building inspector can also work with the superintendent and provide them the information, for them to follow up. Cost for building inspection range from $350 - $600. I wouldn't select the cheapest one, I have been at inspection where there were other inspectors that doesn't even bring a ladder and asks if they could borrow mine, he came after I have already arrived on site and left before I was done. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 4Jan 23, 2014 9:18 pm wood bang ST13 At what stages during the build would benefit most to have a building inspector availible to look at the build? Approximately how much does the service cost? What power do building inspectors have to ensure things are fixed? For an existing building, it would be beneficial that the building were inspected prior to you making a decision to purchase them. For constructing a building, there are 3 main stages that should be inspected: foundation/slab, framing, completion. If you have appointed the building inspector as your superintendent as part of your building contract, then the building inspector as the superintendent can issue notices to the builder for repair, if work are not rectified, the superintendent can issue a stop work notice. It is important to note that the building inspector needs to be appointed as your superintendent for your contract first. The building inspector can also work with the superintendent and provide them the information, for them to follow up. Cost for building inspection range from $350 - $600. I wouldn't select the cheapest one, I have been at inspection where there were other inspectors that doesn't even bring a ladder and asks if they could borrow mine, he came after I have already arrived on site and left before I was done. Cheers for the great response! Had been thinking about this recently. Guess I better read through my contract on how to appoint a superintendent. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 5Jan 23, 2014 11:28 pm A question. I was recently given the following information... "Extract from NCC 2011 Volume Two Australian Building Codes Board 3.1.2.3 Surface water drainage Surface water must be diverted away from Class 1 buildings as follows: (a) Slab-on-ground — finished ground level adjacent to buildings: the external finished surface surrounding the slab must be drained to move surface water away from the building and graded to give a slope of not less than (see Figure 3.1.2.2)— (i) 25 mm over the first 1 m from the building in low rainfall intensity areas for surfaces that are reasonably impermeable (such as concrete or clay paving); or (ii) 50 mm over the first 1 m from the building in any other case." I can find no definition or reference as to what denotes a low rainfall intensity. Note that I have only consulted plumbing standards; I do not have copies of the building code manuals but one would think that any such reference would also be found in the plumbing standards. Also, what is figure 3.1.2.2 mentioned above? Can you please refer to where the definition can be found and, if possible, also post the applicable text. Thanks 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 6Jan 23, 2014 11:51 pm Please refer to the below link for diagram on 3.1.2.2 https://law.resource.org/pub/au/ibr/au. ... 119_01.jpg Within Part 1.1 of the NCC Interpretation Low rainfall intensity area means an area with a 5 minute rainfall intensity for an average recurrence interval of 20 years of not more than 125 mm/hour. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 7Jan 24, 2014 12:07 am That was quick! Much appreciated. I don't know why they reference a 1:20 ARI when surface drainage systems are calculated by a 1:100 ARI. A 1:100 ARI is about 50% greater than a 1:20 and the slope is applicable to surface drainage. Any ideas? The query came up in the thread that I have linked below. viewtopic.php?p=1126516#p1126516 BTW; Welcome to the forum. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 8Jan 24, 2014 12:39 am From my understanding the 1:100 fall is only for hard surface area (eg. concrete), 1:20 fall is for soil and soft landscaped area. If you have a hard concrete area (eg driveway) the fall away from the house should be 1:100, where are if you have soft landscape the fall is then 1:20. Thanks, I haven't found any other good building related forum that I can ask for advice or give advice on. Seem some that just get spammed with ads. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 9Jan 24, 2014 1:32 am Different surfaces also have different % run offs but the calculations are based on a 1:100 ARI. A 1:20 ARI pertains to eaves gutter stormwater drainage design compliance. Just interesting that they refer to a 1:20 ARI which isn't related. I was surprised to learn yesterday that a class 1 building could have a 25 mm slope over the first metre if it is in a low intensity area. Had never heard of it before, I thought that they all had to have a 1 in 20 (50 mm) slope. Always good to pick something up. It doesn't surprise me that the definition (as far as I know) is not in the plumbing standards, there are a few anomalies between the codes. You will get some interesting issues to discuss on this forum. It's good to have industry advertisers as the forums that don't effectively stop the experts from giving the best applicable advice. There is the occasional spam but you just report it. If they aren't prepared to financially support the forum, they shouldn't expect a free ride. Most spammers just post and run, never to be seen again. You will see quite a few in the older threads. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 10Jan 24, 2014 7:09 am It's great to have building inspector on the forum, welcome wood bang. Great responses too. As far as stage inspections are concerned I disagree because from experience we always recommend pre plaster inspection "Last chance inspection" because once plaster covers up defects it's too late. http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog/p ... -worth-it/ http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog/p ... our-build/ and for fire safety risk http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog/f ... ol-system/ Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 11Jan 24, 2014 7:36 pm I am currently building in the Hunter and have a few questions on what is considered normal, prior to my pci inspection. I have a painted brick (PGH Sorbetto) is there any guidelines on limits to have many with brown ends can be used? Also my mortar significantly changed colour after the brick cleaning, a couple of months on and it is still noticeably yellow. Is this level acceptable? I planned on having a building inspector but after reading my contract it had an amendment that prevents me from having an agent represent me. Images attached. Comparison to off-white mortar of display home (yellow is ours) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Brown end bricks over the house Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Yellow mortar and sloppy cleaning Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 12Jan 24, 2014 7:45 pm jarradb I am currently building in the Hunter I planned on having a building inspector but after reading my contract it had an amendment that prevents me from having an agent represent me. Read this. http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Consu ... terms.html EDIT: I just found this on Ashworth's excellent blog... http://www.anewhouse.com.au/page/2/ 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 14Jan 24, 2014 9:07 pm jarradb I am currently building in the Hunter and have a few questions on what is considered normal, prior to my pci inspection. I have a painted brick (PGH Sorbetto) is there any guidelines on limits to have many with brown ends can be used? Also my mortar significantly changed colour after the brick cleaning, a couple of months on and it is still noticeably yellow. Is this level acceptable? I planned on having a building inspector but after reading my contract it had an amendment that prevents me from having an agent represent me. Images attached. Comparison to off-white mortar of display home (yellow is ours) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Brown end bricks over the house Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Yellow mortar and sloppy cleaning Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The sag in that window sill is quite sloppy too. Build thread: here Land Nov 12, Contract 6/07/13, Consent 15/08/13, Start 20/09/13, Slab 25/09/13, Frame 4/10/13, Brick 21/10/13, Roof 2/11/13, Lock-up 17/12/13, Handover 3/3/14 Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 15Jan 25, 2014 1:30 am jarradb thanks for posting up those photos, to be fair to the builder the defects you have pointed out are aesthetics defects, the building code does not specify how many 'brown' ends can be used. The sand used for the mortar joint wasn't a white sand or that it had impurities within the sand, again this is an aesthetics issue, you need to refer back to your contract and see if it specifically said white mortar. There also isn't much you can do about the mortar now, unless you demolish the whole thing. The best solution is to sit down with your builder and have a discussion regarding the issues, maybe the builder could not charge your for some extras that they were going to charge you for. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 16Jan 25, 2014 1:32 am building-expert, agree that pre-plaster inspection should be done fire isn't too critical within a domestic residential construction, unless you start building duplex or townhouses. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 17Jan 25, 2014 9:36 pm Thanks Wood Bang for your amazing advice. What are the three most common mistakes that you would suggest looking out for during the construction of a new home? Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 18Jan 25, 2014 10:13 pm wood bang building-expert, agree that pre-plaster inspection should be done fire isn't too critical within a domestic residential construction, unless you start building duplex or townhouses. Doesn't that just mean more money for you? (in good fun) The frame inspection pretty much is a pre plaster inspection. Most frame inspections aren't done till the roof is on, windows are in etc so what's the diff? If you are wanting to make sure they install any required insulation or whatever just wait an extra week till you do the frame inspection. Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 19Jan 25, 2014 10:14 pm Hi Wood Bang, we just had out site cut (very tiny btw) and slab in week or so. Wondering if its any point having a preslab inspection done or whether after slab pour a better time to have a look. For that is it better to go a surveyor or a company like new homes inspection? Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks Second Build, this time with Carlisle 2016, can't wait! Beckham: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=67280 Canterbury: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=81175 Re: Building Inspector - Ask Anything 20Jan 26, 2014 8:00 am tlblhayward Thanks Wood Bang for your amazing advice. What are the three most common mistakes that you would suggest looking out for during the construction of a new home? The three most common elements that will effect a building are damp, weather (rain and wind) and pest. Damp - we make sure the damp proof course are installed, weep holes are allowed for, cavities are cleaned, and plastic sheets put down. Weather - make sure that the windows and doors are sealed, angels are installed on outside of windows, roof are not leaking, and sufficient down pipes installed. Pest - the correct timber pest protection are used and the correct treatment have been applied to structural timber works depending on where you are. I would send it to the certifier who is technically your representative and working on your behalf not the builder's 1 2264 I had an old shower unit that broke on me and when I took it off, there were only 2 water pipes, instead of the normal 2 water pipes and a shower head pipe. S o I… 0 36936 I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15265 |