Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 3Mar 09, 2020 7:33 am You could also buy an endoscopic camera for your phone (as cheap as $20 on eBay) and take more detailed photos and videos as you have done. Document everything carefully and if you find more "forgotten" insulation then go to town on your builder with the authorities. I suspect this kind of *** is rife in the industry and those caught need to be made an example of. Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 4Mar 09, 2020 8:49 am @onlyanne I did a check on my place with a Stanley digital thermometer from Bunnings. It wa about $30 from memory. These may be sold out now due to covid19 demand, however. Run the airconditioning extra cold on a hot day then point the thermometer at the walls to identify warmer spots where the insulation may be missing. It may all be missing though! This wil give an indication but a more precise device may be necessary before deciding to make some small holes for your phone or a tiny endoscopic camera or remove some wall panels etc. Some builders are very keen to get the Gyprock on ASAP (and the fixing stage invoice sent) because it can hide a lot of defects. Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 5Mar 09, 2020 6:19 pm Thank you everyone for the different ways to identify absence of insulation. If it happens that most walls are not insulated, it will be interesting to know how this will eventually get resolved. Well, at least I have noticed this during the warranty period. Does anyone know if this is considered a structural or a non-structural defect ? Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 6Mar 09, 2020 6:55 pm Today is not particularly hot with only a 5 degrees temperature difference between outside (20) and inside (25). Temperature of the wall I know was insulated is 24.3 From the walls that I suppose not insulated, temperature are between 22.2 and 22.8. I'll try again when there is a bigger temperature difference and will see if I can get access to an endoscopic camera. Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 7Mar 10, 2020 9:34 am onlyann Does anyone know if this is considered a structural or a non-structural defect ? It would be a non-structural defect because insulation is not structural. But it is also a non-structural defect because it is a breach of contract. Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 9Mar 15, 2020 3:07 pm Jason_ You can also pop out any power points to have a look inside the cavity behind them. This is indeed what I was doing. I checked yet another outlet and unsurprisingly, no insulation in sight. I should receive an endoscopic camera soon to take more proofs and will have this listed in a non structural defect list as part of the one year warranty. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 10Mar 15, 2020 3:25 pm You can hire thermal imaging cameras. 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: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 12Mar 15, 2020 4:52 pm what does energy report say should be in the walls? 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: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 14Mar 15, 2020 5:21 pm If bulk insulation R1.5 was specified and if the walls you have opened up are external walls on the house then builder has missed it. Ask for insulation completion certificate from the builder of from building surveyor 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: Has builder 15Mar 15, 2020 5:27 pm building-expert If bulk insulation R1.5 was specified and if the walls you have opened up are external walls on the house then builder has missed it. Ask for insulation completion certificate from the builder of from building surveyor Where can I find information about insulation completion certificate for QLD? Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 16Mar 15, 2020 6:23 pm Looking at all the certificates, I found the insulation certificate that specifies: Energy Efficiency in Compliance with Part 3.12 of the BCA Insulation installed to Wall, ceiling and Floor spaces as applicable: External Cladded Walls Insulation: R1.5 to external walls & to areas where lower level roof intersects with upper level walls —— I am not sure I understand the part « where lower level roof intersects with upper level walls ». Basically, the certificate is in contradiction with what I witness in regard to all the external walls on the second story. Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 17Mar 25, 2020 2:17 am If you are building a 2 storey house and have an alfresco with its own roof, the slope on the alfresco roof means that what would normally be a weatherproof external wall on the upper floor now has a roof void against it. So they are saying they install R1.5 in that wall section that the roof void covers as if it was external, which is good. In spite of that, it looks like they have failed to install insulation as per contract, and you should check your ceilings and all places that should have insulation (sound proofing etc) Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 18Mar 28, 2020 2:53 pm The endoscopic camera I ordered on eBay arrived. Very simple to use, I just had to connect the iPhone to the camera's wifi, use an app and voila. Here is a video I took with it Out of 4 wall sections ( 3 distinct external walls) I checked, 3 of them showed no sign of insulation. One of them has insulation but I wonder if this can be considered an acceptable job given the observed gap (I haven't measured the dept of the cavity but doesn't look like more than 70mm). Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Has builder "forgotten" to insulate some walls ? 19Mar 28, 2020 3:47 pm onlyann Out of 4 wall sections ( 3 distinct external walls) I checked, 3 of them showed no sign of insulation. Now to confront the builder and if he doesn’t provide a suitable and hasty remedy, take him to town with the authorities. Alternatively, take him to town with the authorities anyway so he can be used as an example to the rest of the industry and prevent him doing it to the next customer. I wonder how many houses he has built and the owners are blissfully aware they have been ripped off? Re: Has builder 20Mar 28, 2020 7:46 pm arcadelt I wonder how many houses he has built and the owners are blissfully aware they have been ripped off? Every time I read posts like this, I think that all houses the builder has built over a certain time frame should also be inspected but alas, effective regulatory governance is a mere pipedream. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Our 6m high Cathedral ceiling has 0 insulation, just plaster, wrap and tiles as far as I can tell. Wife likes the exposed beams, I hate the $600 per month heating bill,… 0 11760 Hi VK, I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes. First of all a building… 10 22562 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 15023 |