Closer Working Relationship in the Bay of Plenty between BDC Ltd and Prendos

For the last 5 years BDC Ltd has been producing reports on Leaking Buildings in Coromandel, Wellington, Auckland, New Plymouth and Tauranga.  At the beginning of this year I decided to move my office from Wellington to Tauranga in order to be able to provide better service to future Bay of Plenty clients.

I have been involved in the building industry since commencing my building apprenticeship in 1971.  I am a member of the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and served on the executive for two years.  I have seen huge changes in the industry over the 37 year period I have been involved, from the introduction of insulation to the use of untreated framing timber.  It has become very difficult to almost impossible for individual practitioners to keep up with the raft of change affecting the building industry in recent years.

Since establishing the Tauranga office, I have established a close working relationship with Prendos Ltd who are, in my view, New Zealand leaders in the remedial design and repair of leaky buildings.  This closer working relationship will not only benefit clients in the repair of their home but also in the recovery of money from parties responsible for build failures.  Prendos Ltd brings with them a vast amount of knowledge and expertise in the recovery of compensation from those responsible for building failures.

BDC Limited provides expert advice and assessments to building owners, their legal representatives and government bodies on weathertightness failures and related issues which have plagued the building industry over the last few years.

When a building, whether residential or commercial, has a weathertightness issue or building failure it can be traumatic for the owners, especially if it is the family home.  The general public are often unaware; it is not only the standard of construction, but also inappropriate use of building materials and certain designs that can contribute to building weathertightness failure.

From my work in the Bay of Plenty and surrounding regions, I have made the following observations:

Observation 1:    The “Leaky Building” syndrome does not appear to have received the same
                         amount of media attention in the Bay as other areas of New Zealand such as 
                         Auckland.

Observation 2:    There seems to be a misconception that weathertightness failures in the Bay are
                         not a large problem, possibly due to mild weather conditions.

Observation 3:    A lack of public knowledge can mean people are unaware of their legal
                         obligations, as well as possible health and safety issues, where there is a
                         weathertightness problem.

Observation 4:    Too often people have thrown their money away, carrying out piecemeal repairs. 
                         The old adage, do it once and do it right, could never be more appropriate.

Observation 5:    Filling cracks with sealant and painting cladding does not work as this often does
                         not cure the root cause of water entry or repair damaged areas.

Most owners who suspect they have a problem can be unsure of:

•    Where to find professional expert advice (building and legal advice).
•    How to determine if in fact there is weathertightness building failure.
•    Their options regarding carrying out repairs and recovery of costs.
•    The importance of evidence collection.
•    What is involved in remediation design and repairs.
•    Their legal rights and what their own legal obligations are to other parties.
•    Who may be potentially responsible (legally that is) for the failure of the building 
     weathertightness.

•    Health and safety issues to occupiers of leaking buildings.

It is crucial that building owners get expert advice as soon as they suspect there is a problem with their building.

•    Ignoring the problem can expose a building owner to the risk of being accused of failure to
     “mitigate damage”.
•    Attempting a piecemeal repair can expose owners to further financial risks.

It is more cost effective, financially and emotionally, to engage a reliable expert with a proven track record from the start.  I am aware of the stressful situation building owners find themselves in when confronted with building failure.  My approach is to provide realistic information.  Unfortunately, generally there are no easy answers or fixes to their problems.

BDC Ltd is pleased to be associated with a company of Prendos Ltd’s proven track record and who has a similar philosophy.  I can assist building owners in the Bay of Plenty who are unsure of how to approach their problem.  I can be contacted through the Prendos office and with the association to Prendos am now able to offer clients access to the leading New Zealand company in this area.

BDC Limited’s Bay of Plenty office is located at Prince Avenue, Downtown, Mount Maunganui.