Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 43Mar 22, 2015 6:25 pm Building Services Engineer Renovating our 1960's modernist home in Brisbane https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=82091 Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 48Mar 23, 2015 7:13 am 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: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 51Mar 24, 2015 9:29 am Yes there is a lot of BS in there, that's because Building Surveyors administer Building Act and Regulations in Vic and it is the single most important key to compliance. 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: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 52Mar 24, 2015 10:13 am BS check the NCC or BCA which incidentially anyone can do as they are now free. They also check compliance to basic AS etc..but they are not licenced to design or certify structural components which are non-compiant ..look around most complants are about non compliance.Non Compliance doesnt necessarily mean failure, a component can be over designed, and a BS can only advise you it's NON- COMPLIANT. Finally it is up to an engineer to determine "Fit for Purpose" and that is the way it is at the Council,Commission and Courts. LOL,BS serve a purpose but they are not as important as some make them out to be, nor is importance determined by how much they charge...as engineers charge less Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 53Mar 24, 2015 11:56 am StructuralBIMGuy Yes, that is very true, I find clients prefer the work done effectively and efficiently rather than have some report written with 2 pages of disclaimers, and then they still have to find an engineer because they are not certified to deal with those issues... If you were a layperson complaining about disclaimers I would ignore your comments on the grounds of ignorance but you claim to be an engineer. As registered engineer you are required to have professional indemnity insurance and abide by your insurer's terms that also include disclaimers and limitations. Indeed if I were to engage your services i would be shown terms of agreement that would include disclaimers. How can you complain about property inspector and building consultants disclaimers when you have them yourself? Is that not a double standard? 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: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 54Mar 24, 2015 12:11 pm 33amc If only a builder could put at the bottom of their build specs if they miss something or do something wrong they aren't liable ha ha ha I find it intriguing that you are lamenting that builders don't have protection of disclaimers in the same way that property inspectors do. It's to do with the fact that builders get paid a lot of money (WRITE THEIR OWN TICKET) for the promise to build. Would you have it so that builder takes all the money and then say oops! sorry about what I promised, here is something less, be happy? Building business is well paid but tough business, you promise a lot and you have to deliver a lot, too tough for you? Find something else. 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: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 55Mar 24, 2015 3:17 pm 33amc Liliana And that leaves the homeowner where? Outside of QLD or NSW then by the sounds of it..... Sorry, I've got a silly sense of humour. Also sorry to hear about your nightmare. I've done jobs before where there are issues obtaining ORG heights. My plumber dug down past the last point and put in what they call a reflux valve which got everything compliant (this example was on a renovation) There are always ways to fix issues, the too hard basket attitude you got is very disappointing Yes, we did discuss installing a reflux valve with a plumber last Christmas. It would have meant excavating 1.6mts deep and I couldn't really see how this was going to be accomplished without compromising our slab. There was actually no issue in obtaining the ORG height. It could easily have been located outside the laundry where the ground level would have been low enough to accommodate it. As far as I can see, it was placed on the high point of our land because the designer had stipulated in the plans that the builder was to ensure the house was "greywater ready, providing single junction between grey and blackwater water, junction to be easily accessible from backyard on the western side of the house". Even then the ORG would have been compliant if the house slab had been higher. According to the designer she instructed the builder to lower the house slab to resolve a problem with ????? (who knows). The builder refuses to say whether he lowered the house slab or not and the designer's datum was not a fixed point anyway. StructuralBIMGuy ,BS serve a purpose but they are not as important as some make them out to be, It is very difficult to discuss issues of building control when each state seems to operate differently. In Victoria you have no choice about whether to employ a building surveyor or not. They are the ones who give you a building permit and they are the ones who sign off on the house. Engineers have little involvement. An engineer designed our footings and slab but, as I have already mentioned, seemed happy to do this without a contour survey - which to me now seems odd. I have also tried to ask our engineer for advice - in particular I have asked him questions about our slab height and whether it could be lowered at will by the designer and builder. His advice was to ask the building surveyor!! The point Building Expert makes about Building inspectors is important too. Our building surveyor employed an inspector to do his legwork. Not once did he set foot on our site although he does write me letters in which he tells me he "does not believe there are any problems with the dwelling" and anyone who did Philosophy 101 is aware of the difference between beliefs and knowledge. My advice to anyone building in Victoria is to be very careful because the system of building control here is not what it should be and you would be wise to pay somebody to be on your side. Just make sure you find somebody competent. Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 56Mar 24, 2015 3:51 pm building-expert StructuralBIMGuy Yes, that is very true, I find clients prefer the work done effectively and efficiently rather than have some report written with 2 pages of disclaimers, and then they still have to find an engineer because they are not certified to deal with those issues... How can you complain about property inspector and building consultants disclaimers when you have them yourself? Is that not a double standard? You assume to know everthing? Ive never needed to hide behind disclaimers as a contractor nor as an engineer. I also give freely advice on this board LOL, without disclaimers. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 57Mar 24, 2015 4:27 pm Liliana My advice to anyone building in Victoria is to be very careful because the system of building control here is not what it should be and you would be wise to pay somebody to be on your side. Just make sure you find somebody competent. Also add to the checklist Certificates, registration, qualifications, finances, references,claims,etc,etc and avoid disclaimers. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 58Mar 24, 2015 4:55 pm StructuralBIMGuy building-expert StructuralBIMGuy Yes, that is very true, I find clients prefer the work done effectively and efficiently rather than have some report written with 2 pages of disclaimers, and then they still have to find an engineer because they are not certified to deal with those issues... How can you complain about property inspector and building consultants disclaimers when you have them yourself? Is that not a double standard? You assume to know everthing? Ive never needed to hide behind disclaimers as a contractor nor as an engineer. I also give freely advice on this board LOL, without disclaimers. Disclaimers arent for hiding behind. You again have missed the point. Are we to assume that you are a) not an engineer b) are an engineer but operate without indemnity insurance or c) a troll? Creator of superduperonium, expert at expert things, nobel laureate, can hold my breath for 10 minutes. Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 59Mar 24, 2015 5:46 pm Creator of superduperonium, expert at expert things, nobel laureate, can hold my breath for 10 minutes. Well that says it all? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Are building inspections during a build worth it? 60Mar 24, 2015 5:51 pm I don't know any engineers that charge less than a building inspector/surveyor. We all generally charge about the same (around $200-250/hr for an RPEQ/CPEng). Whilst our disclaimers on our reports are very brief or non-existent, our fee agreements have about 3 pages of conditions and limitations of liability as per Consult Australia standard form. All practising professional engineers do this as far as I aware. No one would be crazy or stupid enough not to do this. In any case, your PI insurer would probably kick you to the kerb if you didn't. You have mandatory building inspections and privately engaged building inspections. The difference between the two comes down to inspecting the building so it's safe and… 3 18162 i would suggest nothing is unreasonable for PCI. we did all sorts, including checking the hot water, checking all the GPO's had power, testing that the showers were… 9 98734 Just to makea point about this, an approach that some people have found sucessful in negotiating these rises down, Is to provide some workings to the builder, specifying… 4 81789 |