NELSON BUILDING REPORTS

Houses with sub-standard sub-floor framing may be shaken from their piles. On a sloping site this may endanger lives.

It wasn’t until April 1978 that insulation became a required building element in all new built New Zealand homes.

When those pipes leak they can be like a tap, full blast, except inside your walls.

Smoke alarms? Are they still an issue?

If potentially leaky buildings do leak and structural damage occurs all costs of repairs are now totally the responsibility of the current owner.

Glazing is now recognised as a significant safety hazard.

Yikes!! That shower is suddenly all cold water!!

The good news is that asbestos is actually relatively stable, and can remain inert for many years, particularly if covered in paint.

Many of the issues itemised in a report are simple to fix.

When buying a house the buyer should do their research.

Readings on a piece of technology should not override experience and expertise.

Some may think that finding 30 or more items with a standard house pre-purchase inspection is excessive.

Real estate agents are salespeople who work for the seller of the house.

The test is: “If a friend was wanting to buy this house, would they want this knowledge?”

A structural report is exactly that.

A full written report appraising structural elements that are accessible and visible.

Lead based paint is generally not a major issue if covered by newer paint. When sealed it can remain dormant indefinitely. It becomes a health hazard issue when the underlying paint is disturbed.

Verbal communication is not an efficient method to transfer a large quantity of complex information.

The best method to inhibit borer infestation in the sub-floor area of the house is to limit the humidity by having adequate sub-floor ventilation, and installing a polythene ground covering sheet if the ground beneath the house is often damp.

Yup, you could be buying a bundle of trouble.

There are a few issues with electrical safety in a house. Old electrical wiring. Overloaded electrical circuits. Fuseboxes.

Moisture. The enemy of materials used in the construction of buildings.

Recommendation: still test the house if it has been tenanted for extended periods of time, but don’t be concerned unless the methamphetamine levels are slightly over the new 15 µg limit.

These height differences are intended to prevent water from flowing inside the house in flood conditions.

It is presumed the exterior stucco will in fact leak, and that water needs a way to exit rather than getting into the building structure.

Despite being more expensive it is worth installing polyester batts rather than fibreglass as polyester is self-supporting.

Treated timber was made compulsory once again in all building work from April 2004.