Zach Burdon, of Gold Coast deck builder Zekas Woodz, slugged $12K by tribunal for faulty deck

A tradie who botched the installation of a deck at Upper Coomera, then vanished like a wisp of smoke despite repeated assurances he would be back to fix the problems, has been ordered to cough up.

Gold Coast deck builder Zach Burdon. Picture: Instagram

A Gold Coast tradie who botched the installation of a deck, then vanished like a wisp of smoke despite repeated assurances he would be back to fix the problems, has been ordered to cough up more than $12,000 by a tribunal.

According to a recently published decision of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), Zach Burdon, who traded as Zekas Woodz, contracted to erect a deck at the Upper Coomera residence of Kristy Chatfield on September 12, 2021.

The work was completed between October 4–21 at an agreed price of $15,774, which Ms Chatfield paid in full.

However, issues soon emerged, with Ms Chatfield reporting the cement footing had not been mounded, incorrect screws were used, a section was too close to the ground, the stairs were not properly secured, and other non-compliant work.

Ms Chatfield said she spent $12,384 to rectify the problems.

According to QCAT member Louise Pearce, Mr Burdon attended the site alongside an inspector after Ms Chatfield complained, but then “ignored emails and text messages and failed to return”.

The Upper Coomera property where deck builder Zach Burdon undertook defective works in October 2021. Picture: Google Street View

“The applicant [Ms Chatfield] has provided information that confirms ample opportunity was provided to the respondent to return to and rectify the workmanship,” Ms Pearce said.

“In fact, from text messages supplied by the applicant it appears the respondent [Mr Burdon] misled the applicant for quite some time that he was willing to return to fix and complete the works and he was simply awaiting the delivery of materials.”

In mid-2023, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission issued two findings against Mr Burdon, fining him on both counts.

Ms Pearce said the tribunal was satisfied Mr Burdon’s work was “defective and incomplete”.

Mr Burdon did not file any materials in his defence as part of the tribunal process.

He was given 28 days to pay the judgment amount – $12,384 – to Ms Chatfield.

The travails of Ms Chatfield left a sour taste in the mouth of her partner, who became a vocal presence on Mr Burdon’s Zekas Woodz page on Instagram in the months after the botched work was done, railing against the builder for his disappearing act.

On one post, Ms Chatfield labelled Mr Burdon a “scumbag”.

It’s not immediately clear whether Mr Burdon remains active in the building industry: his last Zekas Woodz post on Instagram was in April 2022, and the business’ ABN was cancelled from December 9, 2022, according to the Australian Business Register.

Mr Burdon was contacted for comment via his Instagram page.

Originally published as Zach Burdon, of Gold Coast deck builder Zekas Woodz, slugged $12K by tribunal for faulty deck