1. Did you get a pre-purchase inspection done?
2. And did that person have a qualification?
Remember leaky buildings? Well, there are a builders and surveyors out there who reckon we're sitting on another leaky building saga.
There was a very good piece in the Herald at the weekend about this.
New builds, builds less than 10 years old, failing. Looks spick and span on the outside, underneath, the timber's damp. There's mould.
Water is getting inside the walls of houses that are pretty new.
I don't know about you, but when somebody builds a house, or apartment, it should keep the water out.
I've spoken to some builders and tradies about this. They're worried too.
They tell me there are two problems. One is builders and developers who cut corners, using materials sourced from overseas that look the similar to products we use here, but aren't.
The other red flag they talk about is price. There are builders and developers undercutting them on jobs with prices that seem absurd.
How on earth can you build something for 75% of the cost of the rest of your competitors?
Now I know what you're thinking. Chill out, bro. I got a pre-purchase inspection.
And the Council signed it off.
Bad news. Anyone can call themselves a building surveyor or inspector.
I could. I could start a business tomorrow. Inspect your house. Write a report. Charge like a wounded bull. Take some photos on an iPhone. Email you a report. And bob's your uncle.
You don't need a licence. You don't a formal qualification. You don't even need insurance, according to the Herald piece.
The thing about these types of stories is that it's mostly anecdotal.
How widespread is this problem? Is it 1% of new builds? Is it 20?
You don't know what you don't know.
And by the time you find out, your walls are wet and filled with mould.
Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
Its because we place the impermeable membrane on the cold side of the insulation.
Exactly opposite of the rest of the world.
Ryan . Stay in your lane and leave construction to others .
Most home dampness issues are caused by lack of ventilation . People do not throw open a window and let fresh air in .
All the crap about eliminating draughts and ensuring everything is all sealed makes mould easier to grow .
The police etc ramble on about closing all windows to stop burglary even when you are at home , and then people whinge about dampness.
Even hay / dried grass stays perfect with a roof over it and open sides with the wind blowing through , wrap the grass tight in plastic and you have compost . GO Figure .
What rubbish , 25% less than a competitor is just foolish.
Some countries choose contractors by discarding the higher and lowest tenders , averaging the rest and evaluating the credentials of them Generally NO long term problems .
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