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New Construction Inspections Perth
Research has indicated that there are problems in around 22 per cent of all building projects. Industry wide, these problems result in millions of dollars worth of costs when dealing with the contractural and construction issues, in rectifying defective work and/ or resolving disputes.
Problems generally arise from concerns surrounding issues relating to the quality of building work, concerns about the contract, or scope of building work.
We provide detailed building inspection reports that include photos of any defects.
The reports categorise the defects into 4 main groups:
Any major issues are referenced back to the National Construction Code ( B.C.A ), Guide To Standards & Tolerances 2015 or the relevant Australian Standard.
The 4 main building inspection stages in your new construction build to consider are:
MASTER BUILDING INSPECTORS ARE QUALIFIED, REGISTERED BUILDERS
Regulated Building Standards - New Construction Inspections
The regulated standards for building a new home in Western Australia are for the most part covered within the National Construction Code (Building Code of Australia), which all builders are required to comply with.
There is a hierarchy for building standards, which starts with the Act of Parliament, regulations under the Act, the National Construction Code, then the Australian Standards and additional documentation referenced by the B.C.A.
During new construction inspections, the Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2018 is commonly referenced for workmanship issues that fall outside of the Australian Standards requirements.
It is important to note though, that this is only a guide and not a regulated standard. Most builders however, recognise this advisory document and rectify the defective workmanship itemised in each report to a suitable standard.
Where there is any disagreement over defective work, the BCA or building contract takes precedence.
Our new construction building inspection reports differ from that of our competitors, in that each itemised defect is referred back to the applicable Building code or Australian Standard requirement. The specific clause number (e.g: AS 1684 clause 7.2.4) is listed along with its specification provision.
Each building element is assessed to note any apparent deviations and defected if found to exceed the allowable minimum or maximum tolerances.
Building Inspections Perth. Given the Western Australian new build housing industry is largely self-regulated, the builders will generally rectify these issues without question, once they receive the new construction inspection report.
Defects categorised as Sub-standard workmanship in each report, includes all works undertaken by contractors or sub-contractors employed by the builder.
Blemishes & Variations in New Homes
Defective finishes such as paintwork and render are another common complaint. When viewing blemishes and variations, they must be viewed and/or visible from a normal viewing position during new construction inspections.
A normal viewing position is defined as a distance of 1.5 m or greater and 600 mm for fixtures and appliances.
The surface inspected must have diffused light that is not parallel or glancing. This is classified as non-critical light.
It is highly advised that after final handover of the build, the owner performs regular maintenance to ensure the structure continues to perform as intended. By adopting simple landscaping techniques, owners can also reduce the risk of damage and cracking to the buildings structure.
Typically, maintenance plans include the following items to be considered: blocked gutters, faulty sprinkler systems, overflows from air-conditioners, proximity of trees to house, resealing of shower recesses, downpipes unconnected to stormwater and paving sloping towards building.
A video regarding New Construction Building Inspections can be found via the Master Building Inspectors Youtube channel.
Benefits of Staged Inspections
The staged inspections are designed to coincide with a client's milestone payments. This gives the client confidence that each stage has been built correctly and to the appropriate building standards. We can conduct new construction inspections at any stage of the build, however we typically recommend they are conducted at:
- Slab
- Plate height (brickwork)
- Roof frame
- Practical completion (PCI)
The main benefit with these new construction inspections, is that problems that may arise are easily rectified prior to the next construction stage commencing. Once the build reaches completion, it can be very difficult to rectify structural items. Many clients have property leases that are expiring and require to move into their new house ASAP. It can be a very stressful time!
Master Building Inspectors provides clients with support, guidance & independent advice during the home building process. Inspections are conducted at the main milestone stages, to provide peace of mind with having an experienced inspector assess the build.
Clients are instilled with confidence that the build is meeting National Construction Code, Australian Standards and Guide to Standards & Tolerances requirements. Build times do vary depending upon the complexity and can take anywhere from 7 months to several years to complete.
Perth’s Building Boom
The new construction housing industry in Perth is currently facing a building boom. Residential building activity has increased significantly in the past 9-12 months primarily due to low interest rates and federal & State Government grants.
Earthworks must occur within 6 months of contract signing for the WA grant and 12 months for the federal grant.
Consumers should expect significant delays due to material & labour shortages.
Skilled labour, particularly trades such as concreter’s & bricklayers are also in short supply.
Given it has been numerous years since the last housing boom, and coming from a sustained downturn in the market to a boom seemingly overnight, this has created challenges for all builders.
Unfortunately, due to this massive flood of demand, many untested tradesmen are now re-entering the market, with their skill set questionable.
About your Master Building Inspector
Unfortunately, the building inspection industry in Perth is unregulated. Therefore, it is paramount that the building inspector assessing your build is suitably experienced and qualified.
Many companies in Perth, state that their inspectors are registered. Sadly, this is a false statement, as there is currently no such qualification.
We recommend checking your inspectors credentials, as many so call “registered building inspectors” have no building experience or qualifications and come from accounting & management backgrounds.
Our Inspectors:
- All inspectors are qualified, registered builders, holding registration with the WA Building Commission.
- Fully insured. Every building inspectors holds Public liability & Professional Indemnity insurances underwritten by Lloyds of London.
- All inspectors come from trade backgrounds. They have been involved with the construction of residential & commercial builds for years!
- Every one of our inspectors has undertaken extensive training in the inspection and reporting process.
REQUIRE NEW CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS IN PERTH?
PH: 1300 852 496
Common problems identified in new builds are:
Several of the Australian Standards referenced during these inspections are:
New Home Inspections Perth. It is highly recommended that staged building inspections are conducted on your build by an independent inspection company. Master Building Inspectors offer one-off inspections or a discounted rate when all 4 milestone inspections are booked collectively.
For double storey builds, we recommend an additional inspection occurs at first floor plate height, bringing the total number of inspections to 5.
Please get in touch via email: [email protected] or call: 1300 852 496 to discuss your requirements further.
NEW HOME INSPECTIONS PERTH
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MASTER BUILDING INSPECTORS : BUILDING INSPECTIONS PERTH
Contact us for affordable building and pest inspections, building inspections Perth, building inspection, building inspectors Perth, property inspections, building inspector Perth, home warranty inspections, owner builder inspections, PCI inspections, new home inspections, structural inspections, house inspections, building inspector, renovation advice and any pre-purchase inspections in Perth and the Perth metro area.