Leaky Building - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly!!

[JJ Irani]

Hi guys,

Thought I'd share this with you. For the past 5 years, I've been unfortunately caught up in the "Leaky Building Syndrome" prevailing in many parts of this world.

The only good news is that we did manage to finally settle out of court last December, but as owners, we still have to fork out considerable amounts to get our homes up to specs!!

Work on our complex began on 1st of May this year and the work is going great guns.

My turn to move out of my home for about 3 months will come some time in the first week of Jan......but, by the end of it all, we will have brand new homes!!

Some pics for you guys to have an idea of the new ones, the old ones and the during repairs ones.

The Good...after repairs and complete renovations!!





The Bad....before repairs; pic of my home (unit 60)



The Ugly....during actual repairs - average of 3 months per block!!





Wish me luck, guys!!

Cheers - JJ

[Gaijin]

It will all work out. View it as an adventure!

[Tools]

Well, it will all be behind you in short order..

[mailman]

Ugly & JJ in the same thread? Anyone else see the correlation?

[daunwaun]

Originally Posted by mailman

Ugly & JJ in the same thread? Anyone else see the correlation?

lol yeah sorta!!

Hang in there JJ it will all be over soon

[SSD]

Ya could stay here, but Atlanta to Auckland is kind of a long commute! Might be late for work...

[jasonbellevue]

Hang in there, my friend. All the best to you!

[Letsgodiving]

Good luck and great license plate!

[bayhillrolex]

JJ,

Without getting too technical .. what caused the leak.
I'm unaware of "Leaky Building Syndrome".
I have interest because I'm in the construction business.

[Downing]

January. That's the middle of summer in NZ, right? Maybe you can camp on the beach!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by bayhillrolex

JJ,

Without getting too technical .. what caused the leak.
I'm unaware of "Leaky Building Syndrome".
I have interest because I'm in the construction business.

Good question. Some time back, the NZ government allowed homes to be constructed with "untreated" timber. Then to make things really bad, the colour of that dark brown paint (see the pic of my unit) was no good for UV rays, etc.

One of the companies we sued was Wattyl, the paint manufacturers. The new colours are a light grey, very UV compatible and tested for different aspects of waterproofing, etc.

This has been one horrible experience.....and each unit member is still looking at forking over NZ$20,000 by June latest next year to compensate for the excess cost involved.

In the USA, not only would we have got full reparation and compensation....as well as some extra for the tremendous stress and inconvenience of having to move out of our homes for 3 months.

Good to be in the USA at times like these!!

Thanks all for your good wishes!!

Cheers - JJ

[Paulie]

I hope you're not staying with the cat, as in that pic. :)

Best wishes for speedy and accurate work!!!

[Paulie]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

In the USA, not only would we have got full reparation and compensation....as well as some extra for the tremendous stress and inconvenience of having to move our of our homes for 3 months.

Good to be in the USA at times like these!!

But it would have taken like 5+ years to get to court before the settlement. I was recently called to jury service, and we were 5 people into the jury interviews (I was next) when the parties settled. Four years to get to this point. Case was for shoddy work on back deck.

It's being fixed, that's a good thing.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Paulie

But it would have taken like 5+ years to get to court before the settlement. I was recently called to jury service, and we were 5 people into the jury interviews (I was next) when the parties settled. Four years to get to this point. Case was for shoddy work on back deck.

It's being fixed, that's a good thing.

Yes, agreed, Paulie. Court would have taken at least two more years with much more expense involved.

We actually settled OUT of court by way of a MEDIATION. This was done last December and work started in full swing on 1st of May. As you can see, almost 40% of the work is done and, hopefully, the entire complex should be ready by next August or so.

JJ

[Jocke]

Are you sure it´s the building that is the leaking part?

At your age JJ it could be the owner that is the problem.



Jocke

BTW. Good luck my friend.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Are you sure it´s the building that is the leaking part?

At your age JJ it could be the owner that is the problem.



Jocke

BTW. Good luck my friend.

[redshirt1957]

At first I thought they covered the houses with one of your new super absorbent Depends! Always knew you guys were very resourceful on the other side of the world. Is that Annika in one of the pictures? Jokes aside, man I feel your pain.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

At first I thought they covered the houses with one of your new super absorbent Depends! Always knew you guys were very resourceful on the other side of the world. Is that Annika in one of the pictures? Jokes aside, man I feel your pain.

Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, that is little Annika in the second pic!!

[mailman]

Things have a way of working themselves out pal. Keep a good outlook and before you know it, your place will be as good as new.

So, three months in a different place. Does that mean there won't be any internet access where you're going?

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by mailman

Things have a way of working themselves out pal. Keep a good outlook and before you know it, your place will be as good as new.

So, three months in a different place. Does that mean there won't be any internet access where you're going?

...I don't think we are THAT lucky

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by mailman

Things have a way of working themselves out pal. Keep a good outlook and before you know it, your place will be as good as new.

So, three months in a different place. Does that mean there won't be any internet access where you're going?

You are as always, a bloody tosser!

Originally Posted by GerardoG

...I don't think we are THAT lucky

No such luck....I can transfer my internet connection to my temporary 3-month accommodation!!

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

No such luck....I can transfer my internet connection to my temporary 3-month accommodation!!

Kidding, hang in there, you will be back @ home in no time.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

Kidding, hang in there, you will be back @ home in no time.

Thanks Gerardo.

We move out in first week of Jan......and hopefully should be back by early April.

JJ

[bayhillrolex]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Good question. Some time back, the NZ government allowed homes to be constructed with "untreated" timber. Then to make things really bad, the colour of that dark brown paint (see the pic of my unit) was no good for UV rays, etc.

One of the companies we sued was Wattyl, the paint manufacturers. The new colours are a light grey, very UV compatible and tested for different aspects of waterproofing, etc.

JJ it would seem to me the exterior sheathing material of the roof and/or the siding (siding = ie. stucco, painted plywood, etc and Roof = Built-up roof, shingles, tin, etc) would have to be leaking.

By your comment that the timber was "untreated" I assume the exterior wall were some type of plywood siding which was untreated and just painted. The photos of your home (pinkish color) looks like some type of stucco material to me. Here in the USA several yaers ago we had a synthetic type of stucco ( Dry-vit was one common product name) that allowed moisture to be absorbed into the stroyfoam base material. This caused moisture to be trapped against the interior wood frame ("untreated" which is the most common wood framing materials) and thus rot, termites, etc.

Good luck !!!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by bayhillrolex

JJ it would seem to me the exterior sheathing material of the roof and/or the siding (siding = ie. stucco, painted plywood, etc and Roof = Built-up roof, shingles, tin, etc) would have to be leaking.

By your comment that the timber was "untreated" I assume the exterior wall were some type of plywood siding which was untreated and just painted. The photos of your home (pinkish color) looks like some type of stucco material to me. Here in the USA several yaers ago we had a synthetic type of stucco ( Dry-vit was one common product name) that allowed moisture to be absorbed into the stroyfoam base material. This caused moisture to be trapped against the interior wood frame ("untreated" which is the most common wood framing materials) and thus rot, termites, etc.

Good luck !!!

I think you got most of that pretty spot-on, my friend!!

The dark colour on my unit is very bad and faulty. Not UV compatible at all. Check out the new lighter shade of grey on the newly done up units. That's the appropriate colour under the strong UV rays prevailing in this part of the world.

The outer jib board has let in a lot of water and buggered up the timber framing on the inside as well as all the heat insulation.

Quite a big mess we have here....but it will be sorted out soon enough!!

[Ashley]

The situation sucks because of the inconvenience and cost, but like you said, it will be like a brand new home! Yay!
And your license plates are awesome, JJ :D

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Tags_girl_

The situation sucks because of the inconvenience and cost, but like you said, it will be like a brand new home! Yay!
And your license plates are awesome, JJ :D

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement, Ashley.....always nice to hear from you!!!

Say hi to Aadil from me.

Cheers - JJ