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The people that buy property as an investment or even as a roof over
there head most of them in my experience it is the blind leading the
blind. NZ building codes at the moment are going from bad to straight out
stupid. We will have a great shake up only after thousands of more
innocent people find out there house is only good enough for a match. How
to rectify it is simple. All materials and regulations
get back dated to 1983 any new systems from that date or new
materials to be proven tested before allowing its use.
The problem is the people setting the rules don't under stand the basic
principals of construction. EX a plaster type wall over a
timber frame is a complete disaster regardless of who the builder
is. The basic reason is it is supposed to be water tight that means
air tight. The air pressure outside the wall is greater than the
pressure inside, and that wall will even suck water uphill. Add to
the fact the down pipes are screwed with clips through this shell and
there is the first leak. Timber must breathe was the first
thing I was taught as an apprentice. They choke the
wall up with insulation like it was the artic circle when in actual fact
most of the heat is lost through the windows double glazing is more
sensible. The real disaster comes with the sealant
breakdown Its only good for ten years max, and all it
takes is a pin hole for water to be sucked in to rot untreated
timber. Dry and wet rot plus other fungus health
hazards take over after that.
What to do about it is simple if you own
what I have described, sell it before it happens because it will before to
long. Simple rules to follow brick veneer is best followed by
weatherboards after that it is dangerous territory
There is going to
be lots of finger pointing, so share holders beware it will hit the fan in
a big way.
I predicted this in 1990 and refused to build eggshell
buildings much to the disgust of would be clients who thought and even
told me to get real and move with the times. Building inspectors
were the worst almost demanding that I change and use untreated
wood. Who is most to blame. I would point the first
finger at the master builders who are dumb enough to allow it to happen in
the first place, lets face it If they didnt know better than that, and try
to stop it like myself and a few other builders I know then what good are
they and why have
them.
CHEERS MACDUNK |
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