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Needs Versus Wants

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The Cost of Building in NZ

Rules

Legal Requirements

Building Regulations
Protect Yourself

PIMs & LIMs

Resource Consents

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Leaky Homes & Weathertightness

Designing

Creating a Brief

Home Design Hints and Tips

Contemporary House Types

Sustainable Building

Home Design Process

Choosing a Designer

Sketch Design

Developed Design

Before Construction

Selecting Products

Architectural House Design: Online Resources

Interior Design: Online Resources

The Build

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Building Consent

Building Consent Application

Choosing a Builder

Building Site Management

Construction Checklist

Site Safety & Materials Storage

Noise on a Building Site

Plan Changes and Payments

Inspections & Sign off

Wrapping Up & Maintenance

Design/Build Blog
Product X Architecture’s Escea Fireplace Wall Feature

How Green are your Building Materials?

Christchurch Earthquake Repairs Fiasco

Blinds or Curtains?

Managing your food waste in an Eco-friendly way

Non-toxic, reliable waterproofing

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Construction checklists

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To help you maintain control over your house construction – and be another set of eyes for mistakes
– we’ve put together a comprehensive construction checklist. Some of this you can do, some of this
your designer can do.

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Share this article...

To help you maintain control over your house construction – and be another set of eyes for mistakes
– we’ve put together a comprehensive construction checklist. Some of this you can do, some of this
your designer can do.

If this is the first page you’ve come to on the Building Guide, have a look around if you’re building or
renovating. We have a load of advice around key things you need to know, some hints and tips and
advice around insurances or guaranteeing your builder and their work, financing your project, costs
of building and product options that will help your project run smoother, give you what you want
and reduce the likelihood of things going wrong…

1. General Building Checks

Item

Materials and products match what was specified.

Timber is at specified moisture levels on installation.

Timber has the correct preservative treatment for its location.

The house is set out correctly on the site.

Plans and specifications are followed.

Materials are installed to manufacturers’ instructions so you get the warranty.

Finished construction is protected from the weather.

2. Early Stages Construction

Item

Earthmoving and excavation

Is the hole for excavation staked out correctly?

Are the walls vertical and even?

Has it gone to the correct depth?

Are all cut earth faces supported and “cut in”?

Where can this affect neighbouring properties?

Retaining walls

Retaining walls must be included in the building consent and signed off.

Is the ground supported during construction?

Ensure the wall is drained behind and waterproofed/tanked if necessary.

Footings and foundations

Footings need to be straight and correctly positioned, though the finish doesn’t have to be
smooth.

Drainage and underground plumbing

Are the pipes in the correct position, i.e. not where you may want to put paths or gardens?
 Item

Are the drain holes or pipe vents in locations that will interfere with future use of the grounds,
e.g. where you may want to put paths or entertaining areas?

Are the vents in the right position?

Will the drains carry sufficient water?

Does your drainage system meet the Building Code?

Concrete slabs

The concrete is laid on top of several things put in beforehand. There is a layer of compacted
base course, a polythene vapour barrier, plumbing pipes and pipes taking electrical and other
cable, in-floor heating and polystyrene insulation if required.

There are additives that can be applied to the concrete to reduce cracking during or following
curing; the concrete can be coloured, polished and/or ground.

Ensure the floor is fully laid in one pour and there is no lag between deliveries.

Ensure the concrete is cured properly under advice from your builder.

Scaffolding

Is your builder using scaffolding or approved safety measures for working from heights. If not,
they can be fined up to $500,000 and imprisoned for two years.

Is the scaffolding secure?

Are there safety barriers?

Industry Associations: Cement & Concrete Association of NZ and NZ Ready Mixed Concrete
Association.
3. Flooring and Framing

Item

Wooden flooring

Are the floor joists even and solid?

Has the flooring timber been evenly laid?

Has the timber been sufficiently seasoned?

Are the plywood/chipboard panels secured properly and are they even – is there any
movement or squeaks?

Underfloor foil insulation is the minimum level of insulation you require under the Building
Act but never shy away from increasing your level of insulation.

Framing

Are the nogs (the cross-bars in the framing) level with each other?

Are the studs (the upright timber) as spaced correctly at 600mm?

If using timber framing, is the timber sufficiently dry and of the correct preservative
treatment?

Are the doors and windows correctly positioned and of correct sizes? Are the bracing
elements in place?

Brick and block laying

Have they been laid even and straight?

s there a satisfactory level of quality finish with no evidence of mortar splashes?

Are the ventilation gaps free of excess mortar?

Further reading: Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association of NZ.

Item

Will you have adequate water pressure? Discuss with your plumber, designer and
bathroomware supplier together if you can – water pressure can be a major source of confusion
on installation.

Have you worked with your plumber to ensure the pipes will be quiet?

Is the bathroom plumbing correctly positioned?

Do you have sufficient outdoor taps for hoses wherever you may need them?

Are the gas pipes all installed in the correct position?

Check the correct filters are in place for pipe size and water pressure.

Is the hot-water source close enough to the kitchen/bathroom taps to minimise time lag?

Are the nogs (the cross-bars in the framing) level with each other?

Are the studs (the upright timber) as spaced correctly at 600mm?

If using timber framing, is the timber sufficiently dry and of the correct preservative treatment?

Are the doors and windows correctly positioned and of correct sizes? Are the bracing elements
in place?

Further reading: NZ Metal Roofing & Cladding Manufacturers.

5. Roofing

Item

Roofing

All roofing must be laid straight and true and fixed correctly.

Fixings (screws) must be evenly and neatly set out.

All flashings, barge boards and ridge cappings must be in place.

Do you have a guarantee with the roof?

Have you supplied the roof shout?

Framing

Are the nogs (the cross-bars in the framing) level with each other?
 Item

Are the studs (the upright timber) as spaced correctly at 600mm?

If using timber framing, is the timber sufficiently dry and of the correct preservative
treatment?

Are the doors and windows correctly positioned and of correct sizes? Are the bracing
elements in place?

Further reading: Master Plumbers.

6. Exterior Envelope

Item

Exterior cladding

Is your cladding installer an LBP or being supervised by one?

Is the cladding handled and installed as per manufacturer’s instructions with no damaged panels
used? (Important - if not, warranties may be void)

Are the flashings done correctly and properly waterproofed?

Are the joins in panels even and level and regular?

If using flat panels, is there sufficient weatherproofing?

Are battens used to aid in drainage for water that gets behind the cladding?

Is the cladding finished properly so the job looks neat?

Weather-tightness

Avoid decks enclosed by solid walls with a lack of drainage and perhaps a handrail attached to
the top of the top of the wall – water cannot drain and the weather proofing skin may have
been pierced by the handrails.

Avoid wall cladding materials finished hard down onto a deck surface or paving or paths: the
cladding will absorb water from the surface it is finished onto.

Avoid wall cladding that extends below ground level or landscaping materials, including mulch,
built up against the wall – materials that are continuously damp will quickly deteriorate.

Avoid decks that are constructed to the same height as the internal floor, with no fall for
drainage, compounded by an outlet that can get blocked.

Ensure suspended timber floors have space below the floor for ventilation to remove moisture
evaporating from the ground.
 Item

Avoid using silicon sealant rather than properly designed flashings. Ensure head and sill flashings
are installed over windows and joinery.

Ensure parapet walls have cap flashings.

Kick-outs or diverters to apron flashings where roofs abut a wall surface ensure that water flows
into the gutter and not down inside walls.

Ensure monolithic claddings and tiled finishes have movement- control joints that allow building
movement to occur without cracking the materials.

Ensure adequate detailing on junctions between materials.

Check the difference in levels between the surface outside and floor inside and/or that there is
good drainage – without these the building may well fail to meet the performance requirements
of the Building Code.

Information supplied courtesy of BRANZ

Window joinery

Are the windows and sliders the correct size and design on delivery?

Have they been fitted with sufficient waterproofing?

Check correct and effective flashing has been installed.

Gutters and downpipes

Do the gutters have the correct fall to ensure no pooling of water?

Are the gutters installed correctly with overflow relief in case of blockage so heavy rain does not
flow into wall cavities?

Have you chosen a colour that complements the roof and external colour of the house, and has
that colour actually been installed?

Are the correct downpipes installed – colour, materials, profile (shape)?

Are the downpipes in the correct location so they don’t interfere with external gates or the lines
of your home?

For more information and cladding options:

Further reading: Claddings Institute of NZ.

Further reading: Weathertight and more information here on Leaky Homes.

For information on windows and options:

7. Behind the Wall

Item

Insulation

Have you got the correct R (heat retention) levels or better?

Has it been correctly installed as per manufacturers’ specifications?

Ensure there are no gaps - including corners in the joinery – these can reduce efficiency by
as much as 40%.

Discuss reducing thermal bridging in window framing with designer and builder.

Wiring and lighting

Do you have enough power points and in the right positions?

Are the power points and light switches installed evenly on the wall?

Are the transformers correct for the types of lights you have installed?

Are the lights selected correct for the specific job you want them for?
 Item

Are the light fittings in the correct position for the tasks you wish to undertake or the
ambience you want?

Has the electrician created holes for the lights in the correct position?

During installation, has the electrician installed the correct lights in the right places in the
right way?

Phone and broadband wiring

For new homes or major renovations are you installing structured cabling in a ‘star’
configuration, with each outlet wired back to a home distributor box?

Do you have phone / broadband outlets in all areas? A double RJ45 outlet is recommended
for bedrooms and other normally occupied rooms, with multiple outlets in the lounge,
rumpus room and study.

Are you using Cat5e cable or better?

Is the computer cabling run separately to the electrical wiring?

Ultrafast Broadband is rolling out around the country - have you taken advantage of supply
in your area, and do you have the right technical set up at home?

Further reading: Eco Design Advisor Service, Smarter Homes and Homestar.

Further reading: Electrical Contractors Association of NZ.

Further reading: Wiring for broadband.

8. Interiors

Item

Interior Lining

Have you checked with alternative wallboard suppliers to ensure you have the best product and
best price for your project? (You don't necessarily need to use the default product specified)

Is the wallboard handled and installed as per manufacturer’s instructions with no damaged
panels used?

Ensure framing is dry and straight. The use of thicker 13mm plasterboard with metal ceiling
battens helps provide a straighter ceiling.

Wall sheets should be fixed horizontally, as horizontal joints are less visible.

To reduce the visibility of any imperfections use light colours and flat paints or textured
wallpaper and avoid lighting that strikes a wall at a shallow angle.
 Item

Use light shades or recessed downlights and position windows away from the edges of walls and
ceilings or use shades.

Plastering of the joins is critical, especially in ceilings in open- plan living areas – a single large
ceiling is almost impossible to get completely flat but a poor job will be obvious and bug you for
years.

Do you have the correct panels for specific rooms; e.g. waterproof in the bathroom, fire-rated in
the kitchen, sound- proof in the bedrooms?

Are they even and undamaged?

Ask what level of finish is being done? (see our Product Selection section here for more
information)

Interior and exterior painting

Ensure correct paints are used in areas like kitchens and bathrooms, doors and window frames.

Look for sloppy work and make sure it is cleaned up. Ensure angles are cut in to keep lines
sharp.

Is the preparatory work of a sufficient standard – filling holes, touching up plaster sanding, use
of correct undercoats?

Are the paints being used the brands you specified or cheaper alternatives?

Have the painters got the correct colours as specified?

Further reading: Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry NZ

Further reading: Master Painters NZ

Item

Is the benchtop the correct size? If not, negotiate with your kitchen manufacturer to replace or
discount.

Are cupboards installed above the bench fitted properly to the ceiling and/or walls?

Are powerpoints installed at correct locations and with fittings that minimise intrusion onto
benchspace or tight spaces?

Ensure workmanship on joinery is an acceptable standard, with well-fitted joins and hardware.

10. Bathroom

Item

Don’t forget ventilation and heating, especially underfloor heating. The room must be able to be
fully dry within 30 minutes.

Check that sufficient waterproofing is done.

Ensure all glass is of correct NZ standard.

Check tiles for chipping after laying and after other major items installed so damaged tiles can
be replaced.
Further reading: National Kitchen & Bathroom Association.

11. Heating and Air-Conditioning

Item

Do you have sufficient heating units for your new home?

Have they been correctly installed as per manufacturers’ specifications?

Is the gas flued to reduce moisture build-up inside?

Have you considered the trade-off between purchase price and running cost?

For information on heating go here:

And for information on ventilation and air-conditioning click here:

Further reading: Institute of Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning Engineers.

12. Outdoor

Item

Fencing

Have you discussed the fence with your neighbour?

Has the correct grade of timber been used?

Are the vertical posts installed solidly and evenly?

Is the fence the correct height or do you need to get building consent?

Decks

If solid deck attached at the wall, is the drainage sufficient?

Check where decks attach to walls to ensure the proper procedures are followed and
weathertightness is achieved.

Have attachments to walls been done properly?

Is the deck rated to hold sufficient people?

There will be rubbish left behind by the tradespeople and sub-contractors. Specialist companies can
dispose of this in an environmentally sound manner.

Also see our Maintenance Checklist here…

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