Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 15, 2008 6:16 am When you have a builder build your house you can see what you bought - mostly. But with a 5 star energy rating, this is made up of many "improvements" which on completion are not visible and even for those that are visible - like windows - you need a trained person to discern that the 5 star energy rating specification and what you got are the same thing.
The energy rating specifies the materials that are required to achieve the 5 star rating - but how do you know that it is accurate or that you got what was required in the energy rating...???? An unethical builder (they do exist) can save $10,000, $20,000 ++++ by varying the materials from those which should have been specified or should have been used to meet the specification. 1. How do you know that the energy rating was performed accurately? These are either done by the builder or by a subcontractor to the builder and only a small percentage are audited by someone who won't see you home. 2. How do you know that the specified materials have been incorporated? You are paying for the energy rating and you are paying for the materials used (or the materials that should have been used) but forever more you are paying for the energy to maintain your comfort in your home. and that could be $500 per year!!! If ( a very big "if" ) I ever build again I would have an independent energy rater assess my builder's energy rating to ensure that it met 5 star and then to check that the materials used all meet those specified. If it was the kitchen benches that were missing - I would want to know (I might even notice!!! ), and the dollars we are talking here exceed the cost of a kitchen many times over. "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Getting what you paid for... how do you know? 2Nov 15, 2008 3:43 pm EcoClassic - you need a trained person to discern that the 5 star energy rating specification and what you got are the same thing. Most of construction is like that. Did they engineer the footings correctly, put in enough mesh, poured the concrete correctly, use approved timber, frame according to standards, used compatible fixings? A builder can skimp on so many things and most people woundn't even notice. Re: Getting what you paid for... how do you know? 3Nov 28, 2008 9:19 am And it's not easy to even access the relevant building standards that are mandated by Councils. I would have thought that all Australian standards should be made available to everyone for free online, instead of the exorbitant prices charged by resellers like SIA to find out what you have to know.
I've just been told by Standards Australia that the standards are just desired outcomes, not lawful requirements, maybe that's why you've got no chance of ever getting a builder to uphold them or sue them successfully for doing a * job. Use a product like Equisol's Vitalise to clean the deck then coat with a penetrating timber oil. It will look 10 years younger and add value to your home. Visit for… 1 15813 How much are you ahead in payments compared to where the build is at? Have you fully drawn down the loan? 5 11934 Mofflepop, Are you building around Qld Manly? Building & Legal is a partnership between a construction guy and a construction Lawyer. Construction: we have… 9 25596 |