E99. The top 5 renovation disasters

In this educational episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, hosts Amelia and Frank explore the top five renovation disasters homeowners should avoid. Aimed at first-time renovators and those unfamiliar with the building process, the episode highlights real-world scenarios that underscore the importance of proper planning, permits, and professional guidance. Frank shares his decades of experience, exposing the risks of trusting builders who “take care of it” without evidence, and the costly consequences of DIY trades, cash jobs, and unpermitted work.

Listeners learn why even seemingly minor changes—like enclosing a roofed outdoor space or adding a shed—can lead to non compliance, insurance complications, or even health risks due to mould and poor construction practices. The conversation covers essential topics such as box gutter design, waterproofing failures, and the legal implications of building over easements.

Through engaging stories and expert advice, the episode drives home the value of second opinions, working with licensed builders, and consulting qualified designers or building surveyors. It encourages homeowners to ask questions, get everything in writing, and prioritise long-term safety and compliance over short-term savings. This is a must-listen for anyone planning a renovation or extension who wants to avoid expensive mistakes and create a healthy, compliant home.

About us
Prime Design is a building design company locally owned and operated in Tasmania since 2004.  Our goal is to share as much valuable information as possible about the process of building design, extensions, and more. We will talk about a different topic each week. To suggest a topic you would like us to talk about contact us at info@primedesigntas.com.au

Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, individual circumstances, or remedy. We strongly suggest you consult a qualified professional before taking any action based on the information provided in this podcast. The views, opinions, and information provided in this podcast are those of the hosts do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organisation, employer, or company. All content provided on this podcast is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. We make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, or damages arising from its use. We reserve the right to change content or delete any information provided on this podcast at any time without prior notice.

Transcript

E99. Top 5 renovation disasters 

[INTRO] (0:08 - 0:24)

Hello and welcome to the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, focused on providing valuable information for anyone looking to undertake a new build or extension project. We'll share our tips, tricks and stories from a building designer's perspective.

[Amelia] (0:26 - 0:42)

Hello and welcome to the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast. I'm your host Amelia and once again we're joined by Frank Geskus.

[Frank] (0:42 - 0:47)

Hey Amelia, how are we? 

 [Amelia]

Oh, pretty good for a Friday. 

[Frank]

No wonder, you've had a mouthful of wine.

[Amelia] (0:47 - 0:50)

I have. Don't tell anyone. Don't tell the boss.

[Frank] (0:50 - 0:53)

No, don't tell the boss. The boss gave you the wine.

[Amelia] (0:54 - 0:54)

That's right, he poured it.

[Frank] (0:56 - 1:01)

All right, so today we're going to talk about the top five renovation disasters I've seen.

[Amelia] (1:01 - 1:04)

And I mean, you've seen a lot more than five, haven't you?

[Frank] (1:05 - 1:17)

Oh, hundreds. And some of them make me really upset. I've seen some photos of some and it- Yeah, there's a lot of dumb shit factors involved in some of them.

It's pure negligence. And it's really sad.

[Amelia] (1:17 - 1:18)

It is, it's awful.

[Frank] (1:19 - 1:42)

So we'll dive in. So if you're a homeowner considering reno's, we spoke about a couple of podcasts. We've been talking about reno's, extensions, go up, sideways, backwards, front, whatever, whatever suits.

And we had a good chat about that. This is really for first time renovators or people who've never done it before. You really need to be on your toes to be aware of this stuff.

Because guess what? People lie.

[Amelia] (1:43 - 1:45)

Yeah, and they do a crappy job.

[Frank] (1:46 - 2:17)

Crappy job, lie, and then they lie more. You can't find them. So I want you to have a listen to this, see if this may help you.

So renovating should be fun, should be exciting. It's expensive. It's really expensive now.

It's unbelievable. And it can turn disaster and wasted materials. The worst than wasting materials or having to do things twice on the job to get it right is knowing that you think it's right and it's actually wrong.

And it actually can make you sick or ruin your house.

[Amelia] (2:18 - 2:20)

Yeah, and some people don't realise that.

[Frank] (2:20 - 2:32)

You know, I've been in the game for over 30 years and I've seen some horrible stuff and foolish things. And yeah, we'll just go through a few of those. So disaster number one.

[Amelia] (2:32 - 2:34)

What's number one on the list?

[Frank] (2:35 - 3:13)

And I'm sorry to a lot of licensed builders here because a lot of you guys rock and you're awesome at what you do. There's a bunch out there that I tell the clients, hey, I'll take care of the approvals. I know someone, I do heaps of work with them and I'll take care of it.

Or even after planning approval, you know, they've got all that sorted and they've got all the construction drawings and they jump into it. I'll take care of it. No worries.

They don't. They didn't get the paperwork done. They didn't apply for permits.

They didn't talk about building permits, plumbing permits. How do you know they met the planning requirements?

[Amelia] (3:14 - 3:22)

I think we even need to take a step back further than that because sometimes there's a bit of a fine line with these renovations. You don't always know whether you need a permit.

[Frank] (3:22 - 3:27)

Well, we're going to get into that. Yeah. A bit more.

We've touched on this heaps of times.

[Amelia] (3:27 - 3:27)

We have.

[Frank] (3:27 - 4:20)

I can't believe this shit still happens. Sorry. It just drives me mental.

Most builders that we deal with, all builders we deal with, I would be happy for them to do my work for me. They do the right thing. They double check, triple check and make sure everything's right.

But there's a group out there that got some really weird ideas and I just don't think they're educated properly. And they think, I'll take care of it. I know someone, I'll get this sorted.

I'll get the building surveyor, organise the plumbing. Plumber will take care of it. And the consequences are, it could be halfway through, someone from the council drives past and hang on, not aware of that project.

Now look, there's no permit for it. No building or plumbing permit. Hello.

Get smacked around the head. Got to get sorted. Delays, costs, all the rest of it.

If you're in that position and the builder says he takes care of it, ask for the evidence. You need to say, I want the permits in my hand. I need to have a record.

As a homeowner, you need to have the record of the building and plumbing permits.

[Amelia] (4:20 - 4:25)

And we do that when we do the building drawings and stuff. We provide them at the end.

[Frank] (4:25 - 4:30)

Yeah. We provide it to the clients. We arrange it for them so they don't have to.

Why would you want to do it? It's a horrible bunch of paperwork.

[Amelia] (4:30 - 4:31)

Oh, there's a lot of paperwork.

[Frank] (4:31 - 4:38)

Huge. Stupid. And forms that you probably, like to most people, they won't make sense. Forms, twos, threes, oh, thirty-fives, ridiculous.

[Amelia] (4:38 - 4:40)

Fifty-fives, all of them.

[Frank] (4:40 - 5:01)

Yep. So we take care of that. For that specific reasons and the builder gets a clean run, this is what we have to do.

Doesn't avoid any problems on site, but at least you've got those and it has to be completed. So you need to make sure the designer who does it for you either arranges it, or you arrange it yourself, or come and find someone or go see a building surveyor.

[Amelia] (5:01 - 5:02)

Yes.

[Frank] (5:03 - 5:16)

They'll all be able to help you. The consequences are you have a building that's incomplete. And if you ever go to sell it, or you get an insurance claim, and I've just seen one recently, we did insurance, where it was actually a legal works, they refused it.

[Amelia] (5:16 - 5:20)

And I guess they're well within their right to do that. 

[Frank] (5:21 - 5:23)

My word they’re well within their right? Why would they insure something that doesn't have a permit?

[Amelia] (5:23 - 5:26)

It doesn't, it might not meet the minimum standard either.

[Frank] (5:26 - 5:30)

Well, they don't care. 

[Amelia]

You don't know. 

[Frank]

They actually don't care. No. You don't have a permit. You should have a permit.

[Amelia] (5:30 - 5:31)

Yes.

[Frank] (5:31 - 5:52)

So be careful. All right. Here's another disaster waiting to happen, because this is a myth.

You don't need a permit inside your roofline. So if you have your roof and you got, an alfresco, I want to turn it into a room. No worries.

[Amelia]

You can just add the walls on there. 

[Frank]

Add the walls in, pull out a wall, whatever.

[Amelia] (5:52 - 5:53)

Yeah, fine. No.

[Frank] (5:53 - 6:31)

Rubbish. Not going to happen. Anyone who tells you that is, and I'm sorry, some real estate agents I've seen had that, and I've had to pull them into line.

You need a permit. You need a permit to build a new room. 

[Amelia]

Yes.

[Frank]

For one thing, foundations, are they right? Is the thermal performance right? Is the air gaps in the walls, roof, whatever, are they right?

You don't know this, and you could actually be building yourself a sick building, you know, a ditch to your house, and you get mould and all that, potentially. One of the classic things is if you've got a concrete slab hanging out the back, you've got, an alfresco, and I'm using this as an example because it's got a roof space, right?

[Amelia] (6:31 - 6:31)

Yes.

[Frank] (6:31 - 6:37)

That the slab that's in there may not have plastic under it, what we call forticon. That means it's not waterproof.

[Amelia] (6:38 - 6:39)

Oh, okay.

[Frank] (6:39 - 6:46)

So you put the walls on, do it all over, and then all of a sudden, why have I got this white and yellow mould under my carpet? Because the moisture goes through the concrete.

[Amelia] (6:46 - 6:47)

It does, yeah.

[Frank] (6:47 - 7:07)

Concrete ain't waterproof, unless you make it waterproof. There's a special way of doing it. So there's plenty of internal works that need permits, but especially structural walls, and they'll say, well, it's not structural because it's got a beam in there.

That's fine, but you've made a wall, and you've made a new enclosed space. Again, you need to consult your building surveyor. Not council, building surveyor.

[Amelia] (7:07 - 7:07)

Yes.

[Frank] (7:08 - 7:32)

Or your designer, building designer, or architect. They should know these rules inside out. So if you're converting this open space into habitable space, let's call it that, you need a permit.

Very simple. Even if... I've seen people do it with a treated pine pergola.

It's, oh, I can just fill this in and make a rubbish room. A real estate agent said that while I was on site looking at a property for my brother. 

[Amelia]

Oh, that's a bit dodgy.

[Frank]

Yeah, I had to give him a little bit of an edumacation.

[Amelia] (7:32 - 7:33)

Yeah.

[Frank] (7:33 - 7:38)

So, yeah. The problem was he started arguing with me.

[Amelia] (7:38 - 7:39)

Did he really?

[Frank] (7:39 - 7:39)

Yep.

[Amelia] (7:40 - 7:41)

Oh my goodness.

[Frank] (7:42 - 7:44)

Pulled my credentials out and I said, dude.

[Amelia] (7:44 - 7:47)

I know what I'm talking about. You don't.

[Frank] (7:49 - 7:53)

So next one, box gutters and hidden leaks.

[Amelia] (7:53 - 7:54)

Oh, your favourite topic.

[Frank] (7:55 - 8:19)

Oh, I saw it again today. I looked at a property today, and where the gutters and flashings have failed, and whacko mouldy shit through the ceiling and walls. It's okay to specify this stuff.

I know I bang on, don't do box gutters. But sometimes you're stuck. You have to do it.

But they have to be designed to the code. Or in my case, I believe in, if it has to be this size, go 50% more.

[Amelia] (8:19 - 8:26)

I was going to say, everyone I've seen that we've designed recently has been the size of a runway at an airport.

[Frank] (8:26 - 8:28)

Well, not quite. That's a bit of an exaggeration. They're huge.

[Amelia] (8:28 - 8:29)

They're big box gutters.

[Frank] (8:29 - 8:31)

You never complain when they work properly.

[Amelia] (8:31 - 8:33)

Well, that's exactly right.

[Frank] (8:33 - 8:49)

Because no one gets up there to clean them, but you're supposed to. So they can leak if they're poorly designed. You can't change directions.

You've got to get the sumps right, the rain heads right, overflows right. Minimise the amount of joints in there and build out a quality materials. Silicon ain't the quality material.

[Amelia] (8:50 - 9:02)

No, and if you have a look at our good mate, the TikTok inspector. Oh, I love his work. He picks up one.

I've found most of the common things that he picks up is usually in the box gutters and the drainage.

[Frank] (9:02 - 9:11)

It's the roof plumber. And the guys doing that can't be roof plumbers. I've seen home amateurs do better jobs than that.

They've got silicon and stuff smeared everywhere.

[Amelia] (9:11 - 9:13)

Oh, it looks terrible, some of it.

[Frank] (9:13 - 9:15)

Sorry, that just doesn't work.

[Amelia] (9:15 - 9:17)

No, not functional.

[Frank] (9:18 - 9:26)

And you're going to make someone ill. It leaks, it gets into the timber, the plaster everywhere, and what do you get? Mould, mildew.

[Amelia] (9:26 - 9:27)

Yes.

[Frank] (9:27 - 9:37)

It's got potential to make someone very sick. So you don't always see the problem later. You may not ever, ever see the problem.

It's leaked behind the walls and all the mould and mildew are behind the walls.

[Amelia] (9:37 - 9:37)

Yes.

[Frank] (9:38 - 9:46)

And rotting out bottom plates and whatnot. 

[Amelia]

Yeah. 

[Frank]

Once it rots your timber, because we use a lot of pine, it's like a sponge and it rots super fast.

[Amelia] (9:46 - 9:47)

It does.

[Frank] (9:47 - 10:16)

Massive repair bills. So make sure the design is correct and the experienced and qualified trades, good quality trades that you know you can go chase them up if there's something wrong. Yes.

I think that's a big part of it. We'll come to a bit later. Also, if you're going to have box gutter, be prepared to clean it.

More so than a normal leaves gutter. So next one, DIY trades. This is a classic and this happens more than I know.

I know a guy.

[Amelia] (10:16 - 10:17)

Oh, yes.

[Frank] (10:17 - 10:18)

Talk to your builder.

[Amelia] (10:18 - 10:18)

Yes.

[Frank] (10:19 - 10:53)

Build it. It builds a new house. And this is an actual story.

Brand new house. And in the time, it was like a $400,000 house. It's quite about 10, 12 years ago.

Nowadays, it'd be close to about $900 to a million house. Says, I know a guy. I'll take care of the tiling and the waterproofing.

The builder goes, yeah, sure. I'll take it out of the contract. Nothing to do with me.

Four years later. Wasn't just the bathroom it destroyed. All the robes around it and the laundry joinery, because it went in under the tiles, through the walls and whatnot.

What ended up being, he might have saved, you know, five, 10,000. I don't know.

[Amelia] (10:53 - 10:55)

So this was because of poor waterproofing?

[Frank] (10:55 - 10:56)

It failed.

[Amelia] (10:56 - 10:57)

Yeah, okay.

[Frank] (10:57 - 11:06)

Sorry, I didn't say that. So the tiler did the waterproofing. It failed.

And after about four years, and the tiler took his call and said, yeah, whatever. Sue me.

[Amelia] (11:06 - 11:07)

Couldn't give two hoots.

[Frank] (11:07 - 11:11)

Couldn't give two hoots. And back then, four years later, I think pretty sure it was about $38,000 fix.

[Amelia] (11:12 - 11:13)

That's disappointing, isn't it?

[Frank] (11:13 - 11:23)

And then from an insurance point of view, it says, well, you took it out of the contract and you organized it yourself. Well, I think it's on you because they were going to go after the builder.

[Amelia] (11:23 - 11:23)

Yes.

[Frank] (11:23 - 11:26)

Builder had to clear in his contract, not part of it anymore.

[Amelia] (11:26 - 11:27)

Yeah, right.

[Frank] (11:27 - 11:29)

So don't get your mate to do it.

[Amelia] (11:30 - 11:30)

No.

[Frank] (11:32 - 12:00)

Builders have got an interesting role and it's one of very few roles that you'll find that they take on every other trade and they are responsible. Everything from the excavator driver, the plumber, for the under slab, the concreter, the chippy. He might be a chippy.

Who installs the windows? Who supplies the windows? Who puts the kitchen?

Who put floor covers and plaster, the electrical, the insulation, the roof sheeting? You name it, fitting the whole thing off. And that one person, the builder with the license takes full responsibility.

[Amelia] (12:01 - 12:02)

That's a lot to take on, isn't it?

[Frank] (12:02 - 12:31)

It is. And they should be respected for that. And they have to be well organised.

And if they're not, it really shows. Classic example, never, ever take it out because if something goes wrong, who are you going to go to? Your mate?

Do your cheap job on the plumbing. Yeah, awesome. So you've got to avoid that.

Builders manage all their subcontractors. They use quality guys. If it's a quality builder, they'll use quality subcontractors and they will stand by their guys and they will generally fix it.

[Amelia] (12:31 - 12:31)

Yes.

[Frank] (12:31 - 12:38)

It's part of their warranty. Here's another pearler. Cash jobs.

You've had experience with this, haven't you?

[Amelia] (12:40 - 12:49)

No, not necessarily. I have done the odd cash job. So we've got two bathrooms in our house.

The downstairs one we did first.

[Frank] (12:49 - 12:50)

Yourself?

[Amelia] (12:50 - 12:59)

Yeah, we managed all the trades and everything ourself. Disaster. The upstairs bathroom, we engaged a builder.

So much better. So much better.

[Frank] (13:00 - 13:01)

So you learnt a tough lesson.

[Amelia] (13:01 - 13:03)

I learnt a really tough lesson, yeah.

[Frank] (13:03 - 13:09)

Because you're probably not as fierce as a licensed builder if one of their trades stuff up.

[Amelia] (13:09 - 13:27)

Well, one of the biggest problems is two of the different trades had differing opinions and that made it really, really challenging because one of them said, no, this is done like this. And the other trades guy said, no, this is done like this. And I thought, well, this is just...

I'm not surprised. It's frustrating. Yeah.

[Frank] (13:27 - 13:29)

Yeah, would you do it? So which way would you choose?

[Amelia] (13:30 - 13:33)

For a bathroom, definitely I would just engage a builder.

[Frank] (13:33 - 13:35)

Who does the whole lot for you.

[Amelia] (13:35 - 13:35)

Yep.

[Frank] (13:35 - 13:36)

100%.

[Amelia] (13:36 - 13:44)

And even when we did our kitchen, I think they organised the plumber and everything for us too. 

[Frank] (13:44 - 13:50)

Sparky again. Yeah, yeah. So it was fine. Because they are accountable to the builder and they will not get any more work. You do one job for you, you won't get any work from them again. Who cares?

[Amelia] (13:51 - 13:51)

Yeah.

[Frank] (13:52 - 13:55)

So unfortunately, it's as black and white as that, isn't it?

[Amelia] (13:55 - 14:00)

Yeah. One of the trades we didn't, we actually refused to pay. Like that's how bad the work was.

[Frank] (14:01 - 14:02)

That's your right.

[Amelia] (14:02 - 14:07)

Yeah. So yeah, you do have to vet these people and qualify them and...

[Frank] (14:07 - 14:14)

Yep. But pay good money, work's half done, you know, if you didn't get a permit. There's all this type of stuff, isn't it?

[Amelia] (14:15 - 14:15)

Yeah.

[Frank] (14:15 - 14:20)

Yeah, it's just gobsmacking. I know we said five and we've given five, but I'm going to give one extra.

[Amelia] (14:21 - 14:22)

You got a bonus one.

[Frank] (14:22 - 14:49)

I got a bonus one. And this is no joke. This happens more and I'm scared for the future because of the rules they changed here in Tasmania.

So in Tasmania, you can put a shed up on your property. If it's 36 square meters or less and I think it was 2.4 meters to the eaves, you know, pretty standard stuff, just perfect for a garage. You do not have to apply for a building permit.

[Amelia] (14:49 - 14:54)

Yeah, but... Oh, there's the but. There's a but there, isn't there?

[Frank] (14:54 - 14:57)

Everyone loves a but. Okay, leave that one alone.

[Amelia] (14:57 - 14:59)

Yeah, you need to stop there.

[Frank] (14:59 - 15:15)

Yeah, fair. You bought a proprietary shed, got someone to build it and no one did any checks because there are about four basic checks you need to do and you unknowingly had your builder, installer, some guy put up your shed and you built it up over an easement.

[Amelia] (15:15 - 15:15)

Yes.

[Frank] (15:15 - 15:23)

I have seen this more than what I care to. It is gobsmacked. Built over sewer, stormwater mains.

[Amelia] (15:23 - 15:26)

Haven't you had one recently? 

[Frank] (15:26 - 15:34)

Yeah, just recently. But that was on top of all the other... They had a deck with a... The deck was fine, that was compliant.

Then they put a roof over it, then it wasn't compliant.

[Amelia] (15:34 - 15:35)

Oh no.

[Frank] (15:36 - 16:00)

So, proprietary sheds usually got a concrete slab and if they've done it, normally you can get away with there's no pressure on the pipe. If there's a pipe, you got to put board piers, drill holes down, fill it full of concrete, there's no pressure on the pipe. But a lot of the time it's built and there's pressure.

Easement gives whoever the regulatory authority or sewer, stormwater power authority, they've got the right to go through and rip down anything in the way.

[Amelia] (16:00 - 16:03)

Yeah, which is why you're not supposed to build over those areas.

[Frank] (16:03 - 16:47)

Yep. Hello, dopey. Yes.

Now, because of the way the Tasmanian... Now, I don't know what it's like on the mainland, I don't think they have the same rules, which I think is smarter, but they need to go through the full check process. You've got the issue of forced removal, legal costs, fines, all of the above.

So if you get the four checks done and prepared by a designer or an architect, that's if they do that type of work, and get a proper check and you don't need a permit, happy days. We've done plenty of that for people, just do a basic drawing. Yep, it's clear of easements, keep it 1.5 off here, do that, you're going to be okay. Same with decks, pergolas, all that type of stuff, it's the same thing. And it's pretty embarrassing when you find out because guess who's responsible in the end? Not the guy that took the cashie to go put it up, I tell you.

[Amelia] (16:47 - 16:49)

No, that's right, the owner, it's up to you as the owner.

[Frank] (16:49 - 16:55)

You as the owner, you're stuck with it, you're the bunny. 

[Amelia]

Yes. 

[Frank]

It's all negative, all this, isn't it?

[Amelia] (16:55 - 16:55)

It is a little bit.

[Frank] (16:56 - 16:57)

But this is real.

[Amelia] (16:58 - 17:00)

This happens in real life, this is what you've seen.

[Frank] (17:01 - 17:19)

Oh, but I see it all the time, it just does my head in. All because people talk, convince them, I don't need this bullshit, you know, I'm just going to put it up, I can do this, I can do that. It's just mad.

So you spend tens of thousands of dollars on this stuff, and you don't get it checked.

[Amelia] (17:19 - 17:27)

And I mean, when you think about it, to get those checks done is such a small expense, usually to the cost of whatever the project is.

[Frank] (17:27 - 17:32)

Well, sometimes it's not, unfortunately, sometimes it is a fair bit of money, but it's a good investment.

[Amelia] (17:32 - 17:36)

Well, in the long run, when you look at what potentially could go wrong.

[Frank] (17:36 - 17:37)

Oh, you pull it down, you lose the lot.

[Amelia] (17:37 - 17:41)

You would save heaps of money for that small expense at the beginning.

[Frank] (17:41 - 17:45)

Yeah, you're right. So get a professional that doesn't cut corners.

[Amelia] (17:45 - 17:47)

That's easier said than done.

[Frank] (17:47 - 17:47)

Why?

[Amelia] (17:47 - 17:54)

I think it can be really challenging trying to qualify people and make sure that they're going to do a good job.

[Frank] (17:54 - 18:09)

Always get a second opinion. So if the builder says something, go talk to a professional designer, building surveyor, they'll be able to assume, is this true? You know, a lot of this stuff is very avoidable.

If you have a mindset in your head, I think I need a permit for it, go find out.

[Amelia] (18:09 - 18:14)

Yes. Just go find out. Just check if you're not sure.

And I think that's the problem.

[Frank] (18:14 - 18:27)

But you've got to talk to the right people. There are literally only three people that can give you the advice. And I'm sorry, people at council, you look at it from one point of view.

A designer, an architect or a building surveyor looks at it from all the points of view.

[Amelia] (18:27 - 18:27)

Yes.

[Frank] (18:27 - 18:54)

Because that's our job. So don't talk to people at the council, which you don't know what department they're in. If you talk to a planner, you get planning advice.

Talk to building, they give you building advice. Talk to plumber, they give you plumbing advice. Talk to the lady at the front counter, she's lovely and all the rest of it.

Or he's lovely, whatever. But they don't know the technical side of this. So you need to get through everything in writing.

And I've had a client like that just recently. She bought something and found out it was a legal work. She was told it was all right.

We're able to sort it out. And she's pedantic now.

[Amelia] (18:55 - 18:56)

Yeah, but she had to learn.

[Frank] (18:56 - 19:00)

Oh, she's fantastic. She's studying it, pedantic, keeping us accountable. Love it.

[Amelia] (19:00 - 19:01)

That's good.

[Frank] (19:01 - 19:03)

It's great. So takeaways.

[Amelia] (19:04 - 19:05)

Do your research.

[Frank] (19:05 - 19:11)

Oh, not just that. Second opinion, isn't it? 

[Amelia]

Yeah, that's a good one.

[Frank]

Don't believe the bullshit people tell you.

[Amelia] (19:11 - 19:14)

Yeah. Don't take what everyone says for gospel.

[Frank] (19:15 - 19:22)

Yeah. Oh, he's a builder. Is he licensed for one thing?

And I'm sorry, some of the licensed builders actually don't know this stuff well. I'm very sad to say.

[Amelia] (19:22 - 19:26)

Yeah. I mean, they might have even said, oh, you don't need a permit for this.

[Frank] (19:26 - 19:41)

Yeah. And you trust them. And you trust them because you think that they know what they're talking about. People talk about medical now. Everyone's getting a second opinion. And that doesn't include Dr. Google. Um, go get a second opinion.

Yeah. Why not? Hiring your own trades.

Don't do it.

[Amelia] (19:41 - 19:44)

Yeah, well, I've just... Just don't. ...shared my experience on that.

[Frank] (19:44 - 20:16)

Just don't. If you've had an extension designed or whatever, and you've got box gutters, talk to the builder to make sure that it's 100% okay. You know, is it potentially going to cause me leaks?

Is this roof going to leak in the future? That's a fair question to ask. Because all you need is one flashing that's not done right.

And just, it's amazing how small the problem could be in your roof. And the hat on your house fails. It's so disastrous.

You can't even imagine. Just a slow drip. It will blow your mind, the damage.

[Amelia] (20:16 - 20:21)

Yeah, yep. Especially over a long period if you don't know about it. But that's it.

[Frank] (20:21 - 20:41)

It's a long period. Because you can't see it. You know, it's no different than a slow leaking stormwater pipe next to a house.

For whatever reason, it's moved, it shifted, it's cracked. And then your house forms a crack in the side of it because of the leaking stormwater. That's real.

It does happen. Paying cash for work and then the builder disappears. There's another one.

[Amelia] (20:41 - 20:41)

Yes.

[Frank] (20:41 - 20:53)

El Shonko builders. Don't do it. Don't pay cash.

Do it properly. Get the GST. And know where they live. So you can take them to the magistrates if you have to, or through to CBOS.

And the kit sheds.

[Amelia] (20:54 - 20:54)

Yes.

[Frank] (20:55 - 21:02)

We've already had it on the podcast. There's four clear steps you need to check.

So do you think we've educated everyone on this now?

[Amelia] (21:02 - 21:10)

I think it's a good start. I'd like to hear probably a few more renovation disasters on another podcast, because you would have so many.

[Frank] (21:10 - 21:16)

Oh, I've had one where they landed up in hospital due to the sickness of the mould. Sad.

[Amelia] (21:16 - 21:17)

It's pretty extreme, that one.

[Frank] (21:18 - 21:21)

It is extreme, but it was extreme. It did put her in hospital for weeks.

[Amelia] (21:21 - 21:22)

That's awful.

[Frank] (21:22 - 21:56)

Could have killed her. And this is why we talk to Zara, other people, we talk about healthy homes. Your house should be healthy.

[Amelia]

Oh, 100%. 

[Frank]

But how do you know? You can't see behind the walls, you can't see underneath your floor.

That's right. Pulling carpet up and seeing this white and yellow shit underneath your carpet, it's like, what the hell? Or black chipboard.

[Amelia]

Yes. 

[Frank]

And I don't mean to scare everyone, but this is reality. If it's not done right, it will devalue your building, it's going to cost heaps of money, but potentially make you very sick.

[Amelia] (21:56 - 21:58)

And if you're not sure, just ask.

[Frank] (21:58 - 21:59)

Ask the experts.

[Amelia] (21:59 - 22:06)

Ask the experts. That's a good place to wrap up, 

[Frank]

I think. I think so.

[Amelia]

Thanks for listening to the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast.

[Frank] (22:06 - 22:07)

Catch ya’s later.

[OUTRO] (22:16 - 22:20)

You're listening to the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast.