Leaky Homes & Monolithic Cladding – 20 Years to Go??

The leaky home statistics keep on coming… the key being not to buy one, or own one if possible!

So what’s in store for these leaking homes (leaky buildings) over the next 20 yrs or so?

There was an interesting article in the NZ Herald over the weekend that talks about the leaky home crisis, and how long it’s predicted to last before the mess is all tidied up. Greg O’Sullivan predicted these building issues where bound to happen back in 1994 after noticing “things weren’t built decently, or certain cladding types were not performing”. Put simply, if your home was built in the 90’s or early 2000’s, you could be living in a leaky home.

 On the same page of the Herald which features the above story, there’s also an article titled “Warranty hope for owners of mono-clad houses”. So why would a company specifically single out monolithic cladding homes to offer warranties on? Are monolithic clad homes of higher risk for moisture ingress and leaks, or is it the negative stigma involved with the looks of these homes? It appears their warranty is more to do with the stigma involved with these homes, which further confirms what I had mentioned in an NZ Herald article recently.

Not all homes with this type of cladding will leak… it can depend on the workmanship, if there’s a cavity system and how well he plaster finish is holding together.

A moisture inspection on your home is a very good precautionary measure if you haven’t had one in the past, and if anything, a peace of mind.

What Does a Leaky Home/Building Look Like?

If you don’t know what a leaky home or leaky building looks like, then you’re not the only one.

What is the perception created from a ‘look-a-like’ leaky home?

Recently I was contacted by newspaper reporter Michelle Coursey at the NZ Herald regarding the first thoughts some home buyers have when they come across a property for sale that ‘looks like’ a leaky home… or when they find out the home was built in the 1990’s. (A link to the published article is at the bottom of this page for you to read). 

You can read about my own personal ‘first thoughts’ when I drive up a driveway to do a thermal imaging leak inspection, and see a home with no eves or window flashings infront of me (contributing factors to a leaky home) in the Herald newspaper article. You can also read how the different real estate agents responded to the same question. One agent said one of her clients ‘freaked out’ when taken to view a home with monolithic cladding, while another agent said people won’t even get past seeing a picture on the internet of a home for sale that ‘looks like’ a leaky building.

Not all homes that use ‘that type of cladding’ leak… but unfortunately the stigma surrounding them could have a real impact should the home owner decide to sell. I’ve spoken to people who have a leaky home, and they tell me they certainly will be changing the type of exterior finish when they come around to doing the re-clad, to help prevent being labelled having a leaky home before it’s even been tested for moisture.

Take a read of the NZ Herald article here….

‘Leaky Look Deters Buyers’

Is Consent Needed to Repair Leaky Building or Home?

Here is some very interesting information for those of you who have purchased a leaky home or leaky building and are considering repairs, but aren’t sure if you need building consent first.

Building a home in NZ is subject to the Building Act 2004. If you go ahead and start renovating your home, or begin ‘building work’ without consent, you are actually carrying out an offence.

There are certain rules that can keep you inside the law when making alterations or repairs to a home. There’s an excellent article in the NZ Herald that explains exactly what circumstances require building consent when renovating or repairing a leaky home, so it’s certainly worth a read for those who aren’t sure on the consent rules. Here’s the direct link to the article…

Consent requirements for leaky building or home

Contact us for a moisture ingress check on your home!

 

Mold and Leaky Homes can Cause Depression, Asthma and Anxiety

Have you ever wondered why you start sneezing all of a sudden, or why your asthma suddenly comes on for no apparent reason? How about when you wake up in the morning and your tounge feels alittle rough, or excess mucus has ‘appeared out of no where?’

Here’s the immediate problem we all face in our homes, especially in NZ with our wet climate. Once your room temperature drops below a certain point, you automatically foster an atmosphere that has got ‘mold growth’ written all over it. The fact is that damp air produces mold, which then produces mold spores which you and I breath in. Unless you have strict air temperature control levels in your home, it’s likely you’ve got allergy catalysts hanging around in your home… and most of the time you can’t even see them.

Here’s a story the NZ Herald wrote about the toll excess moisture is taking on NZ, and what it’s costing us…

Depression and Respiratory Illness in $500 Mill Health Bill

Is your home, your coffin?

Contact NZ Leak & Heat Loss Detection Ltd today, we can see what the human eye can’t!

Leaky Home Bill Ends Up With Forced Sale

The leaky home saga only gets more interesting as time passes. It’s not so interesting for the lady in the story below, who was part of a body corporate that won a 5 million dollar out of court settlement… yet was still forced to sell her home!

 How do you avoid such problems? The easy answer here would be “don’t buy a leaky home”… but a more realistic answer would be to get it checked for leaks and moisture on a regular basis during the course of your ownership. Getting caught with a leaky home (or any home that leaks for that matter) can be a nightmare to sell, so that’s why you need to stay on top of your homes ‘health’ at all times… no different to going to a dentist for a regular check up. If you detect minor problems behind the wall early enough, you simply fix it or sell it before it’s all too late.

Here’s what you don’t want to happen to your ‘investment’ property 

Leak Bill Brings Forced Sale

We detect small leaks behind walls before they become a big problem!

Contact us today for a detailed leak detection diagnostic on your property

Could a Leaky Home Really Drive Someone to Depression and Suicide Attempts?

Is your current home your future coffin?

That sounds like a very strong opening statement I know, but not getting a home checked for leaks prior to purchasing a property could potentially lead you down a scary path… fast! Getting your current or future home inspected for excess moisture behind the walls on a regular basis is absolutely critical these days… here’s why:

Recently in Auckland a lady had her worst nightmare come true, and it all began with good intentions to buy a ‘solid’ investment, just like you or I would. Not so. Here’s what the NZ Herald had to say about this story…

“Leaks Drove Me to Suicide Bids”

Is there a moisture or health risk hiding behind your walls?

Contact us today… we can see what the human eye can’t!