Building Defects Report
What is a Building Defect?
A building defect is a problem or issue with an aspect of construction of a building. Building defects can arise from deterioration due to age, lack of maintenance, the type of construction or substandard building practices. On new construction, a defect is the result of inadequate design, faulty workmanship or failure to comply with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia or relevant Australian Standard.
Examples of typical defects are structural cracking, leaking showers, water ingress, rising dampness, salt deterioration, condensation mould, sagging in the roof framework, deterioration of mortar to brickwork, ventilation to sub-floor areas, efflorescence or poor internal finishes.
In July 2021 a new Design and Building Practitioners Act was introduced, where anyone designing or certifying building work is to be registered and that the work that they were involved in is compliant with the Building Code of Australia and relevant Standards. This applies to Class 2 buildings (units and townhouses), but not single residential houses for the time being.
How are Defects determined?
When determining defects, it is critical that a suitably qualified and experienced Consultant, who is an expert in building, be engaged to undertake an adequate inspection and provide relevant information on the defect causes and requirements under the relevant Australian Standard or the Building Code of Australia. The Australian Standards and Building Code are a minimum requirement.
An experienced Building Consultant can evaluate any defects or issues within new or older buildings and provide suitable information for remedial works. It is important to note that not all defects are covered by the Australian Standard such as condensation mould, or in potential Heritage buildings (1849-1900) or older buildings (1900-1930) as the method of construction is completely different to the buildings of today.
What’s in a building defect report?
A DHBA building defect inspection report is easy-to-read and includes photographs of any defects and relevant information on major defects, minor items of concern and general maintenance.
This information can be used for budgetary purposes and or to determine which trades are required to remediate. This allows you to make an informed decision on the property with the knowledge of the required repairs or maintenance over the next 3-5 years.
