A construction inspector’s scary discovery on the roof of a new home

A building inspector has lifted the lid on the shocking findings of a brand new Aussie home – urging homeowners to seek an inspection while the trades are still on.

The bomb discovery raises serious questions about what really goes on in construction sites when no one is watching – after bats of insulation were found still in their packaging and never installed on the roof during the last inspection.

Managing director of Darbecca Building Inspections, Rod Leetham, told the Courier-Mail that the issue was revealed during the final phase of the inspection where it was completed – an important check before it is resolved.

“The most common contributing factor is that the roof areas are not being reached during the normal maintenance of the area,” he said.

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A quick inspection of the roof space revealed that the insulation was still in its original packaging in the hollow cores. Source: Darbecca

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“Roof holes are tight and usually require some equipment to access, which means that mistakes in these areas will not be visible,” he said.

The mistake of a lack of insulation could have saddled homeowners with years of eye-watering bills and overheating in the summer.

Mr Leetham said that while electrical installation faults like these represented only a handful of homes his company inspected, extensive insulation and performance problems were more common – and hit Aussie families in the hip pocket.

“Electricity-related faults can have ongoing cost implications for homeowners if left unattended,” he warned.

According to the Queensland Building & Construction Commission’s annual industry snapshot, insulation did not make the top 10 most commonly reported errors nationally, but under state law, insulation is not classified as a construction activity – preventing the QBCC from regulating its installation even if it is a concern.

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Do they just “blow it in there” and forget about it? Source: Darbecca

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Master Builders Queensland chief executive Michael Hopkins said proper inspections should prevent such problems reaching the handover stage.

He said that insulation contractors provide certificates to builders that ensure proper installation, but builders remain responsible for ensuring that the insulation is not displaced by other trade materials or natural materials such as wind.

Mr Hopkins said simple measures such as Inspection and Test Plans – checklists used throughout the construction process – could prevent disasters.

“Using these procedures ultimately helps protect the contractor and builder from missing important work or steps during construction,” he said.

This is as the industry is facing a skills shortage problem, which makes the construction projects under the pump.

“The shortage of skilled workers is the number one challenge facing the building and construction industry right now, putting pressure on planning,” said Mr Hopkins.

“This makes it even more important that builders use quality practices.”

The discovery struck a chord with homeowners across the country, with many sharing similar concerns.

A Sydney buyer discovered a similar problem in the late 1990s – bags of pink bats sitting unused on their roof after their building inspector failed to inspect the roof area.

Another homeowner did not receive any insulation from his newly purchased property, despite the documents stating that it was installed. The builder finally sent someone to fix the problem.

It’s enough to make a homeowner want to check everything twice. Source: Darbecca

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Some offer theories about what went wrong, others suggest that a breakdown in communication between workers and management may be to blame or that the order to “pick up at the top” may have been taken too literally.

The problem goes beyond the roof holes, some homeowners suspect that their walls do not contain insulation materials outside of the outer house wrap – and more heat enters on hot days.

Both the inspector and the industry body agreed that homeowners could not do nothing and needed to be actively involved in the final inspection.

Mr Hopkins said home buyers should check with their builder, and if the property is financed, lenders may want to check before making the final payment.

“If a homeowner wants to meet with a building consultant or surveyor to do a final inspection, they should tell their builder that they will be there,” said Mr Hopkins.

Master Builders Queensland encourages buyers to report defective building work to the QBCC, and has a free Find a Master Builder search service to find the right licensed builders and inspectors.

Mr Leetham said it was important to work with independent inspectors at many stages of construction – not just at completion.

“Privates are trained to inspect areas and things that will be hidden later as construction continues,” he said.

“Although roof spaces can remain accessible after completion, many important structural and engineering elements are covered by sealing, linings, or finishes, making early detection important,” he said.

In the case of composite bats for installation, the inspector notes the defects for correction before handover.

ACTION PLAN FOR NEW HOME BUYERS:

Master Builders Queensland recommends:

• Do a final check with your builder before moving in

• Report faulty construction work to QBCC

Darbecca Building Inspections recommends:

• Involve independent inspectors at many stages of construction, not just at completion

• Review sample inspection reports before hiring a property inspector

• Ensure reports clearly document and refer to all defects with photographic evidence

• Address energy saving problems before solving them to avoid ongoing costs