Archicentre Australia carries out Property Assessments and Architect’s Advice Reports – either for pre-purchase purposes or as advice to building owners.
The range of defects have become typical.
Tips – for those consumers considering “Volume Built” and “Off The Plan” housing, here are some tips that can improve your chances of trouble free home ownership:
- Slab to Ground/Paving level – Maintain adequate setdown between internal slab level and exterior paving/landscaping – all weepholes to be kept clear of ground or paving levels. This is to prevent moisture remaining within the wall system where it can penetrate internally.
- Sloping Sites – If the land parcel has a slope, provide a split level concrete slab design – thereby enabling easier interface between floor levels and the surrounding ground/paving – also reduced need for retaining walls.
- Site Drainage – Make sure that all surrounding paved and ground levels fall away from the building edges. This can mitigate uneven moisture conditions to the slab system – and associated building movement.
- Concrete Slab Footing Systems – In lieu of “waffle pod slab” systems and in order to reduce ongoing building movement, provide engineered slab systems set into the site and possibly adopting spaced bored piers.
- Ceiling Linings – As a means of reducing the opportunities for ceilings to collapse, include ceiling battens to the undersides of roof trusses rather than securing plasterboard linings directly to bottom cords of trusses.
- Waterproofing Balconies – Make sure there is a deliberate setdown built in to the inherent construction between internal floor structure and the balcony structure. Then install a waterproofing system meticulously detailed at building edges, around floor outlets, balustrade supports in strict accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and including a Waterproofing Certificate for performance over the next 10 years.
- Waterproofing Internal Wet Areas – Floors – Make sure finished tile levels of bathrooms, laundries and kitchens are not higher than surrounding/adjoining floor surfaces – a simple precaution to prevent flooding. As well, provide floor wastes to each wet area floor – say under a dishwasher or washing machine. Installation of materials in wet areas should accord with Australian Standard AS 3740 “Waterproofing of Wet Areas in Residential Buildings”.
- Waterproofing Internal Wet Areas – Walls – Set shower screens back to the cement sheet substrate – set in mastic. Wall tiles to finish each side into the shower screen channel. Installation of materials in wet areas should accord with Australian Standard AS 3740 “Waterproofing of Wet Areas in Residential Buildings”.
…………….and there’s more.
Please consider engaging an Archicentre Australia architect to advise on design options and opportunities.
For more information go to www.archicentreaustralia.com.au
This media release has been written and distributed by:
Archicentre Australia
Peter Georgiev, Director
Level 1, 9 Strathalbyn Street,
Kew East, VICTORIA, 3102
Phone: 1300 13 45 13 | 03 9859 9950
Please contact Archicentre Australia for further information about this release or to arrange an interview.
