NSW Building Commission issues defects to be fixed across Thurgoona properties

Several defects in multiple developments have been exposed by the state’s construction watchdog during inspections in a southeastern NSW town. Find out which ones have been impacted.

Inadequate masonry work was completed across several Thurgoona properties.

The state’s construction watchdog has been flat out in Thurgoona where a raft of defects were identified across multiple properties.

The NSW Building Commission issued four of the five rectification orders to Peter & Jayne Bowen and Peter Bowen Homes Pty Ltd, which must now fix mainly waterproofing problems.

At 340 Brooklyn Drive Thurgoona, three defects must be rectified including a failure to extend the waterproof material (flashings) to the outside wall, so it can prevent dampness entering the house.

The Fair Trading NSW report showed there were also gaps in the articulation joints in bricks that did not extend to door openings and the masonry joints were not provided at the required location.

At 8 Bradford Drive, the same company was also issued a rectification order for failing to damp-proof the property, which has not extended past the external wall.

Defects were published in a NSW Fair Trading report.

Control joints, designed to minimise cracking in brick walls, failed to extend through the window or door openings.

Peter & Jayne Bowen Pty Ltd and Peter Bowen Homes Pty Ltd has more repairs to complete on the same street.

Two defects were uncovered at unit 2 Lot 515 Bradford Drive Thurgoona after a building inspection was undertaken in April.

The first problem was detected on the perimeter of the building where damp-proof flashings – used to prevent moisture penetrating the building – did not extend to the outside face of the wall.

“Where joints in the sheet of damp-proof or flashing material cannot be avoided, the material shall be lapped or sealed against moisture penetration,’’ the NSW Fair Trading report read.

“Damp-proofing and flashing materials shall not be breached or punctured during construction, except that they may be pierced where steel starter bars are required to pass through.’’

The second defect to be rectified is at the rear wall where the brick joint adjacent to the window was too narrow at less than 10mm.

The order was issued on July 8 and requirements must be fixed within 30 days of that.

At lot 523 Canterbury Rd, Peter & Jayne Bowen Pty Ltd and Peter Bowen Homes failed to extend the waterproof materials to the building facade.

The company must also rectify the brick joints so they extend through to window or door openings.

A separate company, Hadar Investments, came under the spotlight at 13 Zeil Circuit, where another defect was uncovered.

It must waterproof the perimeter of the building so it meets Australian building codes.