What is a building defect and how are they rectified?
A defect is defined as a minor flaw in the workmanship, design, and/or the materials used in the project, and/or any unfinished works. Common defects may have varying levels of impact and consequences on a property, depending on the type of defect. If not identified, they may become costly over the long term and cause plenty of headaches to the investor and/or owner. The location of the defect can also easily compromise other building components and turn into multiple flaws, which may result in expensive repairs down the track. The Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC) defines defective building work as generally falling into 2 categories:
Structural – e.g. leaking roof, leaking shower, health and safety issues
Non-structural – e.g. sticking drawer, minor cracking of plasterboard
An example of a common defect is the use of indoor-only gold-passivated screws on the outdoor fixtures and fittings of a property. These screws are not galvanised and will rust over time, making them unsuitable for external use and therefore potentially compromising to other elements of the build. For example, a wall bracket fixing a gas regulator to a wall is mistakenly installed using gold-passivated screws. Consequently, the screws rust, the bracket is compromised, the regulator detaches from the wall, the tenant or owner doesn’t notice, and now there is an expensive repair job and an added health and safety issue all because of a few little screws.
No doubt you are asking ‘If it’s such a potential hazard, why would a gold-passivated screw be there in the first place?’ Sometimes it’s simply because the trade isn’t aware of the long-term consequences, and the builder may not notice one tiny screw. This brings us back to the point that a small number of defects are going to occur with so many variables on a building site. Engaging a professional handover inspector with an eye for detail can give you peace of mind that those defects are found and rectified by your builder before they get worse.
Our top tips on the best way to get those defects rectified:
Let your builder know that you would like to engage an independent handover inspector at the PC stage of your build – keep the communication open with your builder: let’s face it, it’s all about you getting the best results.
Choose a handover inspector who is experienced in residential building. Mutual respect is key and things are more likely to get done; we all like to be proud of the work we complete with industry peers.
Ask about how the report will be presented; it is important that it clearly communicates to both you and your builder what the defects are and the trades responsible for their rectification. This reduces any opportunity for confusion or misinterpretation from any party.
Asking questions is OK, choose an inspector whose expertise you are not only confident in, but also who you are able to talk to about anything in the report you don’t understand – after all it’s your investment, and that’s why you have engaged them to do the job.
Attend the PC inspection - this is the time to ask the builder anything you are not sure about.