Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 03, 2008 8:40 am Had a prehandover inspection yesterday and found around 40 defects which the builder has agreed to fix... However, there were 3 other defects which they say were within their tolerance...these were:
Brick wall overhanging slab by about 20mm in one corner - was told that it's within their tolerance and they can't do much about it anyways. Quite a few bricks (around 25) were chipped/cracked around the house including front facade - was told that yes can fix but run the risk of the mortar looking different to the existing mortar. Timber seal (not sure of correct term) around a few windows - nails weren't butted in properly and they were sort of popping out - was told that it's within their tolerance, unless cracking started to come thru. Anyone know if this is correct?? I think the thing that's irritating me more is the chipped bricks... either way they can't guarantee a good finish... they're not even willing to compensate me... Any advice? Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 2Apr 03, 2008 8:52 am How can you possibly know what the building tolerances are? You can't. Unless you're a builder.
This is where an independant building inspection is invaluable. They will give you a report listing all of the defects which are outside the specifications as per the BCA (Building Code of Australia). With this information in hand the builder HAS to fix those defects Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 3Apr 03, 2008 9:02 am Cookiemonster How can you possibly know what the building tolerances are? You can't. Unless you're a builder. This is where an independant building inspection is invaluable. They will give you a report listing all of the defects which are outside the specifications as per the BCA (Building Code of Australia). With this information in hand the builder HAS to fix those defects. Hello Mark Have you found a independent Inspector yet ? How long will Clarendon take after receipt of DA to actual begin of Construction, or taking over your site. Also have you cleared your site, I mean cleared it and got it Scraped? Lobo Buildling a Clarendon Crestmead in Sydney DA Approved on 20/03/2008 Slab Poured on 02/09/2008 Frame Completed 15/10/2008 Brickwork Complete 2/02/2009 Roofwork Complete 05/03/2009 Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 4Apr 03, 2008 11:00 am Quote: How long will Clarendon take after receipt of DA to actual begin of Construction, or taking over your site. Also have you cleared your site, I mean cleared it and got it Scraped? At lease two months if you need to demolition. You need to give them all documents include 5% deposit. Then they order the peg out for you site which may take 2-3 week, then another 2-3 week before they set up the fence. But you contract should start when the peg out being ordered. Here is our scheldue 4/02/2008 DA approved 27/02/2008 demolition done 30/02/2008 5% deposit paid 3/03/2008 final construction plan sent out 4/03/2008 peg out ordered--contract period start 19/03/2008 peg out completed 27/03/2008 Electrical plan done. 31/03/2008 singed off final construction plan and sent back 01/04/2008 New CSO assigned? 3/04/2008 finger cross Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 5Apr 03, 2008 12:17 pm joaninhac Brick wall overhanging slab by about 20mm in one corner - was told that it's within their tolerance and they can't do much about it anyways. The building code specifies 15mm as a maximum overhang. They will have to extend the slab using an approved reinforcing system. (I saw this rectification in a sample report from newhomeinspections) joaninhac Quite a few bricks (around 25) were chipped/cracked around the house including front facade - was told that yes can fix but run the risk of the mortar looking different to the existing mortar. The tolerance is only 1 cracked or crazed brick per square metre allowed. There are specific tolerances about the size of the cracks and I think any bricks with cracks over 2mm in width must be replaced. Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 6Apr 03, 2008 12:24 pm jamiet....
thanks for that info, i knew about the overhanging of the slab but i didn't know about the bricks and couldn't find any information on it. Where did you find the info about the cracked bricks? Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 7Apr 03, 2008 4:39 pm http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/building/homeowners/guidetostandardsandtolerances.html
The document applies to Victoria as well. Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 8Apr 03, 2008 10:10 pm hi Joaninhac my builder had to pull a few bricks out of my house and i noticed the mortar that they used was lighter , i commented on this to my site super and he said once it drys it will look the same as the rest of the mortar i hope it does..
going to check it again when next i go there. Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 9Apr 04, 2008 8:28 am jamiet http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/building/homeowners/guidetostandardsandtolerances.html The document applies to Victoria as well. jamiet... i have that document.. what page? Sorry i'm a little blind and can't find that section. Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 11Apr 07, 2008 11:33 am thanks jamiet.
does anyone know if the following is a defect? the timber / side revels around the inside of windows had nails thru it to secure it... usually you but the nails in and fill in the little nail hole with patty and sand and paint and its flush with the rest of the timber... however at our place the nails weren't butted in properly so they have put patty over them and sanded and painted over them but there's a lump where the nails were nailed thru and these are quite visible.... are these defects? the builder said it's only a defect if the patty starts to crack pls help Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 12Apr 07, 2008 11:38 am Cookiemonster And no, I haven't chosen an independant inspector yet. I know Alan (ahuang) is getting an inspection done so Im waiting for some feedback from him on who he used. Sorry Mark, as I mentioned in my blog (see http://building-our-first-house.blogspot.com/2008/04/progress109-accidental-hand-over.html), we decided not to use an inspector in the end. Technically you can say that our builder sort of tricked us, as we didn't get "proper" notice that it will be a hand-over inspection. But in the end since we have the flooring board fixed (by ourselves) and the bathroom floor tiling "sort of" fixed (will post more details later), the rest are just very minor and we decided to just accept it. I guess after 6 reports, plus so many checks we are actually a bit sick of it in the end as it has dragged on for so long... Again, sorry for not keeping my promise about getting an inspector. But I still strongly recommend everyone to get one!!! Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 13Apr 07, 2008 11:48 am does anyone know if the following is a defect?
the timber / side revels around the inside of windows had nails thru it to secure it... usually you but the nails in and fill in the little nail hole with patty and sand and paint and its flush with the rest of the timber... however at our place the nails weren't butted in properly so they have put patty over them and sanded and painted over them but there's a lump where the nails were nailed thru and these are quite visible.... are these defects? the builder said it's only a defect if the patty starts to crack pls help Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 14Apr 07, 2008 11:51 am can you please post a photo so that it's easier to understand? Thanks. Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 15Apr 07, 2008 12:05 pm see photo below... where the red stickers are that's the part of the window i'm talking about... the timber frame around the window...
these have had nails thru it to secure it... usually you but the nails in and fill in the little nail hole with patty and sand and paint and its flush with the rest of the timber... however at our place the nails weren't butted in properly so they have put patty over them and sanded and painted over them but there's a lump where the nails were nailed thru and these are quite visible.... are these defects? the builder said it's only a defect if the patty starts to crack in which this window on the photo it has but you can't see it on the photo... do i make sense? what's your advice? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ [/url] Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 16Apr 07, 2008 12:18 pm I think there would be a standard / tolerance to this finished surface.
The easiest course of action would be to go to the display home and compare the windows there with the finish on your window. If the finish at the display is better than yours ...then you have every right to complain. I cant see any nailheads in my windows so I think you shouldn't either. Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 18Apr 07, 2008 12:22 pm yep!
At least as good if not better... Re: PRE-HANDOVE COMPLETED - FEW DEFECTS BUILDER NOT FIXING 20Apr 07, 2008 12:52 pm if this happens to your window, wonder if that happens to your floor board if your house is 2 storey?
This is important as if the floor board is not level, whatever you install on top (timber floor, tiles, ..etc) will be impacted. There are a lot of private inspectors should have stayed working as tradies!! Firstly, you paid for a professional opinion of the works, if he has picked up on an item he… 1 2054 Any advice on a builder in NSW who is demanding an extra 22000k after the house is completed and contract paid in full .Standard HIA contract. Never received a variation.… 0 20524 Hi All, I engaged a tradie to install concrete retaining wall 600-800mm high over 32 meters in Victoria. Sleepers are 200*75*2000 mm installed over 17 steel posts. I… 0 6917 |