A building inspector has revealed how many corners dodgy builders are cutting and putting homebuyers at financial and even physical risk.
Independent inspector Russell McCarthy, who assesses the physical condition of properties put on the market, was hired to take a look at a new house being built in Perth last week.
Although the builders had already laid the brick walls and prepared to install the roof, McCarthy found a crucial defect that could have ended in disaster.
The inspector noticed that the main support beam for the roof was not only off-center, but also not secured, but had simply been placed on top of a brick.
McCarthy warned the homeowner that the failure could cause the roof to completely collapse and cause “untold damage to the home and anyone inside.”
Western Australia is the only state in the country where builders employ compliance experts rather than an independent third party.
Anyone who wants an independent inspection must pay out of their own pocket.
McCarthy says that system is leading a number of builders to “take shortcuts” and deliver defective construction that insurance companies won’t cover.
Washington-based building inspector Russell McCarthy (pictured) has exposed a horrifying trend of builders in the state carrying out “shoddy” construction without supervision.
Fortunately, the owner of the Perth house had Mr McCarthy spot the fault and ordered them to demolish the house and rebuild it at no additional cost.
McCarthy said it was just one of several buildings he had been hired to inspect over the past five years that had problems.
He said none of the properties inspected were “defect-free”.
He says the lack of enforcement standards in Washington has incentivized “poor quality of work.”
“In the event that it is identified, the insurance will be withdrawn every time because they do not cover work that does not meet the standards,” he said. yahoo.
“Customers don’t trust builders and that’s fair enough.”
McCarthy has since begun posting videos on social media to raise awareness about shady businesses in the state.
It found the main support beam of a house in Perth was not only off-centre but also not connected to the house (pictured), which could have caused a devastating collapse.
He urged anyone hiring builders to also pay an independent inspector to keep them in check.
“In cases like this, where the problems are not immediately visible to the untrained eye, having video evidence can make a difference,” McCarthy wrote in a post on his website.
“If there are serious issues, such as in the case of new construction, we work with both the owner and builder to ensure the issue is resolved, whether through repairs or, in this case, a complete demolition.”
He added that skipping an inspection is a “gamble” and there is always a chance for “major structural issues,” even in new homes.
McCarthy and his company, WA Building Inspectors, have also had success forcing unreliable builders to build to code.
‘In cases where we have helped, the Building Commission has gone to a builder and said, “I’m sorry, but this client has gone to great lengths to better demonstrate non-compliance and you have flatly ignored it.”‘ said.
