With domestic building disputes on the rise and an increasing number of complaints noting poor quality workmanship, it is no surprise property owners, builders and renovators are looking for ways to ensure their own build is fool-proof, so they avoid the building blues.
Online building design, inspection and advice service, Ask an Architect, believes the key in avoiding costly legal battles is discovering the building defects prior to the end of the project. “We are often called in to provide advice on building defects and believe the safest financial path for home buyers and renovators is to have independent quality assurance checks on the project,” explains Ask An Architect general manager Cameron Frazer. “These are best linked to the milestone payment schedule in a building contract so that they are discovered before you pay your builder.”
Once a building has its ‘clothes on’, such as plasterboard or exterior cladding it is near to impossible to detect many major faults. And while people have a misconception that a building surveyor’s inspection approval can be relied on for both structural integrity and quality assurance, this is simply not the case. A building surveyor will check for compliance with regulations, but not necessarily for quality and finish.
Ask an Architect therefore offers affordable construction quality assurance inspection packages that are designed to offer an expert opinion on the quality and finish of your building project. “They’re a simple, low-cost way of getting the best advice at an early stage,” says Cameron. “And they may just save you considerable money and hassle in the long run.”
Please note this article is only applicable to Victoria. We are currently working on the same information for each state and territory.
It’s a question that plenty of DIY home renovators have asked themselves, and for good reason. You’ve already invested so much time to learn everything else, so surely there’s a way around building permits, right?
Photo Credit: Nicholson Wright
As you’ve probably guessed, they’re an absolute necessity for many projects. But I’m not going to tell you to engage a building surveyor no matter what; that would hardly be informative. Instead, I’m going to explain the exact thresholds where you legally require a building permit. You might even realise you can build more than you expect without the expense of a surveyor!
Knowing the lines between a backyard project and a formal construction could save you a substantial fine from your council, as well as the pain and expense of having to rebuild or completely tear down your project. What a nightmare that would be! As a certified building surveyor at Melbourne’s Nicholson Wright, I see this happen regularly. So don’t rush into your build and regret it; take a few minutes to assess the plans and then grab your tools with as much confidence as any professional.
Garages, sheds and carports
If your structure meets one or more of these criteria, a building permit is something you must apply for:
2.4m high or more
10sqm in area or larger
1m or closer to the boundary of your property
Connected to another structure, for example a shed with a roof that adjoins the house.
Fences
Photo credit: I Heart Budgets
Take note of these essential criteria if you’re constructing a fence. Permits are required if it’s:
2m or higher
3m from the street boundary or closer
A border to a pool (even if it’s only a partial border).
Decks
Many DIY renovators believe that permits aren’t needed for decks, however they all require one. If your deck is more than 800mm above ground level it will also need to be checked for privacy provisions. We all want to keep our neighbours happy!
Verandahs
As verandahs are roofed structures that are attached to a house, they’re classed as a building extension. This means you’ll need a building permit regardless of size or height.
Pergolas
Photo credit: DIY Network
Not to be confused with verandahs or decks, pergolas are unroofed structures that are not directly connected to your house or another building. In this instance ‘unroofed’ means it can still have a shade cloth, louvres or an open frame over people’s heads.
If your pergola meets all of the following criteria, you can avoid having to apply for a permit. Of course, as a complex structure, we recommend you still do, but it’s your choice:
Less than 3.6m high
Smaller than 20sqm
Not further than 2.5m forward of the front walls of your house.
Retaining walls
A permit is a legal requirement if your retaining wall is:
1m or higher
Connected to other building structures, such as a shed or home extension
Supporting the soil and underlying structure of your neighbour’s property.
— Patrick Richardson is a building surveyor at Melbourne’s Nicholson Wright. With more than 17 years experience, Nicholson Wright issue building permits and conduct mandatory inspections of projects from small residential renovations to large, high-rise offices.
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