New Home Structural Warranty about to Expire - Who Should I Get in to Inspect for Structural Warranty Defects?

jorog90 on 06/12/2020 - 10:33

Hoping to get advise from a builder or someone on the building scene.

My investment property is about to reach the end of its 6 year statutory structural warranty period.
I would like to know who I should be getting in to perform a structural inspection so if there is any issues then I can claim on the builders warranty.
There are cracks forming around most of the cornices, some of the wall and ceiling plasterboard sheets, round the trims of doors, and also in the concrete driveway slab - there could be other things, this is just what the realestate agent has made me aware of.

Appreciate any advice and feedback on this.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • avoidfullprice on 06/12/2020 - 10:44

    What is stopping you from organising a building inspection through your REA, given your concerns?

  • jorog90 on 06/12/2020 - 10:48

    Nothing, other than the lack of confidence in the REA… Sometimes agents dont know what they are talking about and will just give an answer, when there may be a better answer available.

    Do I just need a normal building inspector, structural engineer, civil engineer etc? Are there actually people who specialise in structural warranty inspections?

  • DannyC on 06/12/2020 - 10:51
    +1

    Depending on where you are located. I've used Darbecca to do my Building inspections here in Victoria (Eastern suburbs) for a knockdown rebuild project and happy with their service. Just be mindful that there isn't really "qualifications" required for a building inspector so go with a company with a decent reputation.

    For just a structural inspection you'd be looking at around $500 ish. Darbecca's reports are pretty good with plenty of detail and photo evidence. And re-inspection is about $400.

    • jorog90 on 06/12/2020 - 11:25

      Thanks for the recommendation, unfortunately my property is in Sydney.

  • oscargamer on 06/12/2020 - 11:23

    Is the builder of the house still in operation?

    • jorog90 on 06/12/2020 - 11:25

      yes

  • Blue Cat on 06/12/2020 - 13:02

    Any chance you want to tell which building this is and what builder?

    • jorog90 on 06/12/2020 - 14:09

      Murphy Homes / Murphy Builders

  • [Deactivated] on 06/12/2020 - 15:33

    whats wrong with it

    • jorog90 on 06/12/2020 - 16:08

      other than what I mentioned before… I don't know… That is what I want to find out :) lol

      • [Deactivated] on 06/12/2020 - 16:27
        -1

        then why need a inspection lol, paranoid much, home warranty insurance is useless anyway

        • jorog90 on 07/12/2020 - 08:19

          because i would rather know that there is something wrong while I still have a chance to make a claim on the builders warranty, than down the track when I have no basis of claim.

  • TheBilly on 06/12/2020 - 17:04
    +1

    I would like to know who I should be getting in to perform a structural inspection

    A structural engineer. But most likely you are wasting $500 to $1500 because of the below.

    So if there is any issues then I can claim on the builders warranty

    Good luck with this. You dont have any structural issues and even if you did you have, there is almost no chance of getting paid by the builder to fix this.

    Structural defects do not leave a crack in the plasterboard or driveway. These are normal movement cracks and common and your builder probably has 5 engineers and 7 lawyers that can write him a report countering anything you claim.

    The reason your driveway has a line cut into it is because the driveway will crack and that lines purpose is to keep the crack as straight as possible. Similarly if the house has structural issues your plasterboard cracking is the least of your concern, your brickwork would crack from the outside and even then engineers are willing to accept a level of tolerance.

    Spend the $1500 for an engineer to inspect it but its unlikely to lead anywhere. I recommend just talking to your builder first and airing your concerns.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/12/2020 - 09:23
    -2

    OP is a newby lol

    • jorog90 on 07/12/2020 - 09:47

      and what is wrong with that? I am asking for advise… I thought that was one of the purposes of discussion forums.

  • donkcat on 07/12/2020 - 10:48
    +1

    Whilst what you describe sounds like more than what I expect to see on a house only 6 years old this is most likely not a structural issue and more so would be very difficult to prove was caused by a structural issue. Minor cracking like you describe is really only covered in the first 2 years, you can see from the standard and tolerances here in Vic that the things you are talking about really aren't covered https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/11149…
    There is a reason Metricon offer a lifetime structural warranty, it's because if the house has gone 12-24 months without a structural issue then there really won't be any that pop up later on that can be put down to defective workmanship and thus their responsibility.

    So it's very unlikely you are getting the issues you described fixed by other parties. I'd recommend walking around the outside of the building and see if anything obvious like large cracking in brickwork or cladding separating, fasica opening up and just anything significant that catchers the eye (not micro cracks or timber slightly separating). If so maybe there is a structural problem with the foundations that does need a professional to check everything is ok, if not then I think you are wasting your money getting an inspection.

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