1. business and industrial
2. construction

Issue 31
get your June 2014 skills maintenance point!
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
going online!
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FOREWORD View from the CE
CONTENTS
Working to help you work smarter
PlaceMakers continues to evolve its offering to meet industry needs
PlaceMakers has always placed great importance on continually adding value
to the services we provide to our customers, to assist you in keeping up with the
ever-increasing demands and changing requirements of the job.
5
We developed Under Construction in 2011 in response to the launch of the
Skills Maintenance programme. We believe the next stage in its development is
to put the content online, which is where so many of us now manage our lives,
for work, leisure and general communication.
We’ve moved forward with this and the new Under Construction website
will go live in July. We see this becoming the centre for industry news,
gaining knowledge and general discussion. New articles will be posted each
week, which will give you the advantage of being able to spread your skills
maintenance reading throughout the month and, of course, to record your
learning online. Read more about this on Page 3.
The new Under Construction
website will go live in July.
We see this becoming the
centre for industry news,
gaining knowledge and
general discussion
The ability to reduce the amount of paperwork we have to deal with in our lives
is always a good thing – there is some useful advice on how to streamline your
business processes by moving to online accounting systems on Page 20.
17
It’s not all about the office side of things, of course. We’re constantly looking
at ways to add value to you, the builders on the ground, and to make it easier
for you to gain access to the information you require. On Page 14, you can
read about how we’ve developed our frame and truss offering to meet everchanging customer needs by ensuring we deliver customised solutions on
time and within budget.
Gary Woodhouse
General Manager Operations & Marketing
2
SKILLS MAINTENANCE
PlaceMakers’ sixth round of seminars provides
great insight into builder responsibilities
5
COMMUNITY NEWS
PlaceMakers Whangaparaoa relocates to expanded
new premises in Silverdale; PlaceMakers Kapiti
supports local Coastguard through second annual
fishing tournament
12 INDUSTRY NEWS
March building consents hit six-year high;
PlaceMakers customer receives Women in
Construction award; CCANZ offers concrete
placement supervison course
4
BUILDERS’ BUSINESS
Business practices of your fellow builders
6
BUILDING & HOUSING
GROUP
MBIE’s newly released Schedule 1 guidance clarifies
what building work is now exempt, who can carry it
out and what to do if you’re unsure
8
BRANZ
Top it off! How to prevent external moisture damage
by closing the top of ventilated cavities
10 MBIE - IMMIGRATION
Welcome advice – how to maximise your migrant
workforce
14 FEATURE
Discover how PlaceMakers Frame & Truss is
delivering customised solutions on a large scale
17 BUILTIN
Don’t sign something you don’t understand! Builtin
explains terms used in public liability insurance policies
18 BEACON PATHWAY
Damp-proof dilemmas? How to knock moisture
problems on the head and stop them from occurring
in the first place!
20 BUSINESS TIPS
Unsure about online accounting? Learn more about
what these systems can do for your business
22 BUSINESS TIPS
Money matters – simple tips to ensure you’re not
a bank as well as a builder for your customers
25 SPONSORSHIP
Hurricanes and PlaceMakers team up to
'Lend a Hand'
25 SKILLS MAINTENANCE
Record your LBP skills maintenance – you’ve
earned it!
18
PlaceMakers Evans Bay customer and Hurricanes fan Chris Ryan has been running his
own business, C J Ryan Ltd, for the past 17 years – but he says raising six kids keeps
the workload in perspective.
“Monday to Friday have always been busy working on the business, but the weekends
were always just as, if not more, busy with coaching and taking the kids to their sports,”
says Chris, who’s been building for 27 years since leaving school.
“I knew I didn’t want to work in an office, and I thought building would provide
a stimulating challenge,” says Chris. “While recent changes have made it seem like
I might need an office sometimes, I enjoy the building side of building – and seeing
the completed homes – as much as ever.”
2
Chris, who has been a PlaceMakers customer since he started his business in 1997,
has also enjoyed some national acclaim over the years, winning a number of House
of the Year awards for renovations and new builds.
22
Issue 31 > jUNE 2014
> PUBLISHER > DCL Corporate Publishing > enquiries > editor@pmunderconstruction.co.nz; (04) 384 5689
DCL Corporate Publishing reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial or advertising material. No part of Under Construction magazine may be published without the express
permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed or imagery in Under Construction magazine are not necessarily those of PlaceMakers or the publisher. No responsibility
is accepted for the suggestions of the contributors or conclusions that may be drawn from them. Although the publisher has made every effort to ensure accuracy, the reader remains
responsible for the correct use and selection of any tools, materials and systems followed, as well as the following of any laws or codes or standards that may apply.
1
TRAINING
TRAINING
skills maintenance
skills maintenance
Don’t ignore your instincts!
Under Construction website goes live next month!
PlaceMakers' sixth round of skills maintenance seminars encourages builder interaction
Keep your skills maintenance reading going throughout the month with PlaceMakers’ new
Under Construction website
P
laceMakers presenter John Tait
had everyone involved in the
discussion at PlaceMakers’ skills
maintenance seminar in Petone, where
he quizzed them on the building code,
the importance of ROW detail and
much more.
C
an’t remember when the next skills
maintenance seminar in your area
is? Trying to recall what MBIE’s
latest Schedule 1 exemptions included?
As of July, this information and so much
more will be at your fingertips whenever
you need it, with Under Construction
content available online!
“Don’t lift a hammer until you’ve read
all the documentation!” and “If it’s not
written down, it didn’t happen!” were
two key points John reiterated through
a number of personal examples from his
building inspector experience.
John says it’s particularly important to
have a good look at the plans before
getting stuck into the work.
“Sometimes there might be parts of the
design that lack detail, or just plain won’t
work,” says John. “It’s much more useful
to realise that up front than have to delay
your build when it gets to that part – by
then it might not be such an easy fix.”
Given the number of legislation changes
in the industry, and the disconnect that
sometimes occurs between designers,
homeowners, councils and builders, John
said the best advice builders can take
on board is to document everything, ask
questions and trust your instincts.
“If your gut tells you something doesn’t
seem right, don’t just ignore it and carry
on with the work – ask someone who can
alleviate your concerns,” says John.
A number of builders recounted situations
of that nature that they’d encountered,
and John shed light on why it might have
occurred and the best course of action
to take.
Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs)
Kent Slobbé and Andrew Rouse-Wyeth,
who work for Ezra Enterprises in
Wellington, said the seminar provided
great insight into their responsibilities.
“While we’re not business owners, we’re
LBPs and it’s important that we know what
we’re responsible for and what we’re not,”
said Kent. “A lot of these projects run on
pretty tight timelines, but this serves as
a good reminder that saving a few
minutes isn’t worth compromising
our licence or our reputation.”
2
More than 100 builders attended the PlaceMakers Skills Maintenance seminar in Petone
Skills Maintenance Series 2014 with John Tait
Venue:
Date:
Time:
Placemakers Pukekohe
Wednesday, 4 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers Mt Wellington
Wednesday, 4 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Pakuranga
Thursday, 5 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers New Lynn
Thursday, 5 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Te Rapa
Tuesday, 10 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers Clarence Street
Tuesday, 10 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Huntly
Wednesday, 11 June
7:00am - 9:00am
Placemakers Whitianga
Wednesday, 11 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Placemakers Thames
Thursday, 12 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers Morrinsville
Thursday, 12 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Cook Street
Tuesday, 17 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers Waiheke
Tuesday, 17 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Albany
Wednesday, 18 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Wairau Park
Thursday, 19 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers Nor - West/Westgate & Helensville
Thursday, 19 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Silverdale
Monday, 23 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers Mangawhai
Monday, 23 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Whangarei
Tuesday, 24 June
7:00am - 9:00am
PlaceMakers Kerikeri
Tuesday, 24 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
PlaceMakers Kaitaia
Wednesday, 25 June
7:00am - 9:00am
To cater for those of you who are on
board with the digitisation of most
things in life, and feel that receiving
industry updates once a month doesn’t
quite suffice, we’re launching an
Under Construction website to serve
as a hub for industry news, knowledge
and discussion.
Regular monthly content – such as
features, industry news, product news,
LBP information, community news and
Sport Report – will continue to be
featured, with two to three new articles
ready for you every week.
The new Under Construction website
will also enable you to fill out the ‘Test
your Knowledge’ questions as you read
through the articles, allowing you to read
the entire magazine’s content – and
answer the questions – in bite-size chunks
as and when you like.
Wider discussion will be encouraged,
both in a builder’s forum and through
the opportunity to post comments at the
bottom of each story. This should raise
some interesting points and strategies
from fellow builders across the country, as
well as allowing PlaceMakers to receive
feedback on what stories were most
helpful or interesting.
You will have your own login name and
password, so you can comment and
have the skills maintenance points you’ve
earned recorded against your name. If
you’re a Licensed Building Practitioner,
when it comes time to renew your licence,
you can just print your ‘Learning Record’
to prove the time you’ve spent reading
the publication.
We’ll be unveiling the website in next
month’s issue of Under Construction,
so you can create your profile and
have a look around – we trust you’ll
be impressed!
CO
S OM I N
ON G
ONLINE record of
learning
New articles
every week
Builder discussion
forum
More Trade Only
deals
Through Under Construction, PlaceMakers
undertakes to provide you with relevant industry
information. Reading its content – and providing
evidence of your understanding of it – is a skills
maintenance activity.
practitioner’s licence. Recording your answers to
the questions at the end of each feature provides
evidence of your learning. You can either:
Proof of learning from such an activity – rather
than simply ‘participating’ – is becoming a key
requirement for the renewal of your building
• Collate your answers at the back of the
magazine and file the coupon.
• Record your answers at the end of each
feature and keep the magazine.
Read it anywhere
searchable content
3
FEEDBACK
NEWS
Builders’ Business
community Focus
Write it down!
Bigger, brighter, better
New Silverdale branch offers customers a better-located
and better-stocked store
Builders’ Business is a column by builders for builders. Its objective is to provide a forum,
particularly for small business operators, in which to share knowledge, experience, tips and ideas
Q:
Are you using a written contract for every job? If so, why?
Firm: Little Pig Building
Principals: Nick Marer
Location: Port Nelson
Staff: 3 staff (including me)
Although we’re based in the Nelson area,
we work across most of the top of the South
Island – from Wakefield through to Nelson.
When it comes to written contracts, we’re
about 50/50. New customers ALWAYS have
written contracts, but when you get to
a stage where there’s mutual trust, it
becomes less important. However, it takes
a while to reach that stage – I only feel
comfortable not using a written contract
for trusted, regular clients with whom I have
an ongoing relationship and have done
hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth
of work for.
At that point, they trust that I’m not over
charging them and I trust that they’ll pay
me the amount I charge them.
However, this trust really only applies to
small to medium-size alterations or
renovations. No matter how well I know
a client, or how much I trust them, if I’m
building them a new $500,000 home,
we’ll be using a written contract. It’s just
common sense, and it’s professional, which
most home owners want to see.
Firm: Porter & Harper Builders
Principal: Clive Porter
Location: Hawera
Staff: 2 principals, 3 staff
Firm: Highmark Homes
Principal: Warren Whelan
Location: Alexandra
Staff: 23 employees (1 apprentice)
“After 17 years in Whangaparaoa,
we've shifted to a new 8,000m2 site
on the corner of East Coast Bays and
Tavern Roads in Silverdale, Auckland,”
says branch operator John Gair.
While a lot of builders in larger centres
may find it surprising, it’s pretty relaxed
here in Hawera and, so far, we haven’t
felt that we need contracts. We’re doing
a $600,000 job at the moment, but we
know the client has the money, so it’s not
a concern.
We use written contracts for all our work
and, if I was a consumer, I wouldn’t work with
anyone who couldn’t provide one.
The new purpose-built store has been
designed with substantially more
undercover storage area compared to
the previous site, with an “expansive”
and easy-access driveway, 65 car
parks and a larger showroom.
I‘ve been working here for about 30 years,
and my business partner grew up here, so
we’ve known most of the people we work
for and with for a long time.
The trust we have in most people, combined
with good intuition, is generally enough to
assess whether we decide to take on a job
or not.
However, there’s no doubt that things are
changing and documenting our work is
becoming more important, so we’ll
probably start using contracts some time
in the not-too-distant future. There are also
some cases where we’re already required
to use them, such as when we’re working
on educational builds.
For really small jobs, we use a single-page
contract that has all the necessities, but for
any work of significant value – alterations,
renovations or new builds – we use the
Registered Master Builders contract. By
doing that, we can also offer the Master
Build Guarentee.
We’ve used that contract since we became
a Registered Master Builders company
seven years ago, and before that we used
a contract written up by our lawyers.
Before I started my own company, I was
the general manager for a larger construction
firm and we’d always insist on using written
agreements.
In my view, it’s mandatory to protect
both your client and yourself, and it’s seen
as best business practice now, so clients
should expect it. Most home owners
welcome having a written contract, as
they see it both as a guarantee and
a safety net.
Now have your say...
With a number of online business management systems available, what system – manual
or online – are you using and why?
answer this question to enter our quarterly prize draw
E mail your answer with your full name, contact phone number, company name, number of full-time staff and the city or
town in which you’re based to editor@pmundersconstruction.co.nz. All responses must be submitted by 25 June.
The answers to this question will be published in Under Construction August.
4
P
laceMakers prides itself on
supplying quality products –
and according to PlaceMakers’
property development manager
Matt Grainger, that includes their
own facilities.
The new PlaceMakers Silverdale store has a 2700m2 yard
and an easy-access drivethrough
“We opened on April, right on schedule,
and the change has been great,” says
John. “The staff and customers have
been hugely supportive of the move,
find it a much more enjoyable
environment and are impressed with
our improved range.”
The store has 5,500 products, including
750 new additions and a core trade
range, which is pledged to never be out
of stock.
The construction also employed green
building initiatives, including daylightharvesting, energy-efficient lighting
and water-saving systems, a pattern
PlaceMakers says all of its new stores
will be following.
Fishing for fun and funds
PlaceMakers Kapiti’s second annual Classic Fishing competition
was a great success – giving rise to some friendly rivalry between
builders and staff and raising $2,500 for the local Coastguard
T
he competition, which began last year,
was instigated by PlaceMakers Kapiti
joint venture operator Greg Kusabs.
“Given we live in such a beautiful part
of the country, with amazing fishing that
a large majority of our customers enjoy
in their spare time – I figured a social
competition would be a great way to bring
everyone together,” says Greg. “At the
same time, we thought it would be good
to turn it into a fundraiser for the local
Coastguard, as they do such important
work in our community.”
Run over two days in March, the
tournament’s already grown in popularity;
15 boats were entered last year and
25 this time.
points and prizes for the biggest fish in
each species and we have overall team
prizes based on points accumulated for
size and variety.”
The competition finishes with prize
giving on the Sunday evening, where
everyone has a chance to socialise and
tell stories about the ones that got away.
This year, the PlaceMakers’ team invited
ex-All Black Joe Stanley to attend and
held a fish auction, which greatly
increased their final Coastguard
donation to $2,500 (up from $900
last year)!
“We’ve been extremely lucky with the
support we receive from our suppliers,
both on the water and off,” says Greg.
“It’s a real family affair with our customers, “The customers love it and word keeps
their kids and partners, suppliers and staff,” spreading, so next year we know it will
be bigger and better.”
says Greg. “Individual fishermen score
Builders, bricklayers, plumbers, roofers and PlaceMakers
staff all came together to catch ‘the big one’ at PlaceMakers
Kapiti’s second annual Classic Fishing competition
5
REGULATION
MBiE Building & Housing
Exempt from consent?
Updated and detailed Schedule 1 guidance for exempt building
work has been released, following the November 2013 Building
Act amendment – here’s the lowdown
A
• Chartered professional engineers.
s discussed in last month’s issue
of Under Construction, a number
• Registered building surveyors.
of changes were made when
Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004 (the • Building consultants.
Act) was amended in November 2013.
• Licensed building practitioners.
In March this year, The Ministry of
• Registered certifying plumbers
Business, Innovation and Employment
and/or drainlayers.
(MBIE) published new guidance to help
2. If, after seeking advice, you
keep you up to date with the changes.
decide the building work is
The guidance concentrates on the 43
outside exemptions 1, 3 to 43,
exemptions of Schedule 1 and is full of
what should you do?
practical examples and photos.
Talk to your council to see if it is
prepared to exercise its discretion as
It’s important that builders are aware
to whether or not it requires a building
of building work that is exempt from
consent
(i.e. exemption 2). If the council
a building consent, as your clients will
does
not
require a consent, you may
often rely on you to advise them.
still need to apply in writing for an
Carrying out building work that is not
exemption from the council.
exempt, without a building consent, is
3. If the council will not approve an
an offence and can incur a fine of up to
exemption 2, what should you do?
$200,000 and a further fine of up
to $10,000 per day if work continues.
Apply for a building consent.
To find out more, read the guidance
Building work that does not require
a building consent - Building Act 2004
at www.dbh.govt.nz/bc-no-consent
REMEMBER – building work may
require other consents
If you’re still unsure…
Remember – all building work must
comply with the Building Code,
regardless of whether it needs a building
consent. However, just because it doesn’t
require a building consent doesn’t mean
you have to go it alone.
1. Does the proposed building work
clearly fall within the scope of
one or more of the exemptions
(excluding exemption 2)?
If you're unsure whether the building
work is exempt, ask for advice from
someone with the appropriate building
knowledge and expertise such as:
•
Building consent authorities
(typically district and city councils).
•
Registered architects.
6
www.mbie.govt.nz
All building work, whether or not
exempt, must still comply with the
Building Code and all other relevant
legislation, such as the Resource
Management Act (RMA) 1991.
Always check with your local council for
its District Plan rules (eg maximum site
coverage, yard/setback requirements,
sunlight access planes or permitted
activities) set under the Resource
Management Act 1991, as there are
some discrepancies between Schedule
1 and local council requirements. If you
need resource consent for the proposed
building work, it’s important you get this
before starting work.
Find out more about the relationship
between resource and building
consents, how they may affect your
project, and what you need to do to
have your consents approved at:
www.dbh.govt.nz/rma-guide-index
Examples
In the new guidance, each exemption
is described in detail with examples,
photos and, in some cases, diagrams.
It also highlights any concerns to be
aware of and clarifies the type of
work that is exempt and who can
carry it out.
Below is an excerpt from the guidance
regarding one of the exemptions.
All exemptions are described in
similar detail, so make sure to take
a close look.
However, if you are replacing a window,
roof window or door that has been
installed within the last 15 years and it has
failed (eg it has rotted out), this work will
require a building consent. This recognises
that replacing a window or door that has
failed its durability requirements with
a similar window or door could result in
the replacement also failing.
Windows and exterior
doorways in
existing dwellings
and outbuildings
Building work in connection with a window
(including a roof window), or an exterior
doorway, in an existing dwelling that is not
more than two storeys, or in an existing
outbuilding that is not more than two
storeys, except:
(a) in the case of replacement, if the
window or doorway being replaced
has failed to satisfy the provisions of
the building code for durability – for
example, through a failure to comply
with the external moisture requirements
of the building code; or
ALERT!
All new building work must comply with
the Building Code, including the structural
performance requirements. Also note that,
on completion of the building work, the
altered building must comply with the
Building Code to at least the same extent
as it did before the building work was
undertaken.
If you are considering building work
that is close to or involves potentially
load-bearing walls, it is important to get
professional advice (eg from a chartered
professional engineer, registered architect,
building consultant or registered building
surveyor).
(b) if the building work modifies or affects
any specified system.
This exemption allows you to carry out any
building work in connection with a window
(including a roof window, whether it is
fixed or opening) or an exterior doorway
without needing a building consent where
it is an existing dwelling or outbuilding.
That is as long as the original doorway
or window has not failed prematurely
and replacing it will not modify or affect
any specified system (eg sprinklers or
fire alarms).
If you are replacing a window, roof
window or door, it is important to consider
whether it originally met the durability
requirements of the Building Code. In most
cases, doors and windows in an external
wall are required to last at least 15 years.
Most windows and doors should achieve
this requirement with regular maintenance.
If the door or window is older than
15 years and you are replacing it because
it has rotted out, then this work will not
require a building consent.
between the existing roof trusses
without altering any specified systems.
• A homeowner decides to replace
a damaged, non fire-rated window
that is 500 mm from the boundary.
As the replacement window is within
a metre of the boundary and as the
new building work must comply with
the Building Code, the window must
provide adequate protection to the
boundary (it could either be a firerated window or a non fire-rated
window which is suitably protected;
eg by a drencher system). The existing
windows (which are non fire-rated)
in the same wall can remain because
the house still complies to the same
extent as it did before the alteration
(refer to section 42A(2)(b)(ii) of the
Building Act).
Examples where this exemption
could apply
• Removing a dwelling’s lounge
window and covering the opening
with external cladding and internal
linings to form a wall with no opening.
Note that minimum Building Code
requirements will still need to be met
for ventilation, natural light and visual
awareness of the outside environment.
• Installing a roof window to an upper
level apartment of a two-storey
multi-unit dwelling (ie an apartment
building). The skylight will be installed
• Following earthquake damage,
a builder decides to install a bi-fold
door to replace a pair of French doors
leading from the ground floor dining
room of a two-storey dwelling. As the
wall opening for the new joinery is
wider than the existing opening, he
needs to install a new lintel to span
the opening.
• To gain more sunlight, a home owner
decides to install a window in an
external fire-rated bedroom wall
which contains no other openings.
As the window will be less than
1 metre from the boundary, the
owner instructs the builder to install
a fire-rated window to meet the
Building Code requirements.
Examples where building consent
is required
• A window installed in an existing
outbuilding only six years ago needs
to be replaced because of a rotten
timber window frame. Replacing this
window requires a building consent
because it has failed its 15-year
durability requirement.
• The owner of a commercial building
wants to install a roof window into
an existing roof and ceiling to a top
floor office. As this building is not
a dwelling or outbuilding and as the
roof window installation will affect
the existing sprinkler system,
a building consent is required.
Circle the correct answers below and record what you’ve learnt in the record of learning on the back page!
Evidence of actual learning rather than just ‘participation’ is a key requirement of the LBP renewal process.
1)
a b c
Who is NOT listed as having “appropriate
building knowledge and expertise”?
a)
b)
c)
Registered architects.
Building consultants.
Building managers.
2)
a b c
In terms of consent, if you are replacing a
window, roof window or door, it is important
to consider:
3)
a b c
When is consent required when doing building
work involving windows and exterior doorways?
a) If the door or window is older than 15 years
and has rotted out.
a) Whether it originally met the durability
requirements of the Building Code.
b) When installing a skylight without altering
any specified systems.
b) Whether it fits with the original features of
the build.
c) If the door or window is less than 15 years
old and has rotted out.
c) Whether it's on an internal or external wall.
NB: The questions and answers in this section have been produced by the publisher and do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the contributing organisation.
7
TECHNICAL
BRANZ
External moisture control - top it off!
Prevent external moisture from damaging a home by closing the top of ventilated cavities
C
lause E2 External Moisture aims
to keep external moisture from
damaging a home. E2.3.5 states
that: “concealed spaces and cavities in
buildings must be constructed in a way
that prevents external moisture [from]
being accumulated or transferred and
causing condensation, fungal growth or
the degradation of building elements”.
This can be overcome by:
• Ensuring insulation is installed for
the full framing depth.
• Adding an additional batten fixed
to the soffit bearer from inside.
• Fixing the flexible wall underlay
to the soffit bearer from inside to
hold the wall underlay tight to the
back of the soffit bearer.
be required behind the soffit runner
when the runner is below the top plate
(see Figure 3).
The best option for steel framing is to
use a thermal break sheet material
over the whole frame. Cavity battens,
where required, are then installed over
the thermal break and wall underlay,
and a closing C-section is installed
directly under or behind the soffit line,
alternatively, fix the sheet material
from the inside to the soffit runner.
This will then close off the cavity to
the roof space.
Moist air, if present in roof
spaces, may condense on cold
nights and drip on to insulation,
wetting it and compromising
the R-value, which can then
create rust or rot problems in
ceiling or roof members
Restricting moist airflow
Specific requirements for cavities in
E2/AS1 clause 9.1.8.2c include that
a drained cavity, where required, shall
restrict air movement between the
drained cavity and:
• Floor, wall and roof framing.
• Attic roof space.
• Subfloor space.
Figure 1: Cavity air may enter the roof space when the wall underlay bulges away from the soffit bearer
Correctly detailing the
soffit-to-wall framing junction
will help prevent moist air
from cavities getting into the
ceiling, where a flexible wall
underlay is used
www.branz.co.nz
Attention!
The same applies to steel framing that
has strips of thermal break applied to
the steel. Care is required where thermal
breaks are attached to the frames. To
close off the cavity to the roof space,
an additional full-depth C-section will
Are you a building contractor who pays levy fees through a consent authority?
If so, then you are entitled to a free subscription of BUILD magazine from BRANZ.
Simply email publicationsales@branz.co.nz to check that you meet the required
criteria and get your subscription.
Circle the correct answers below and record what you’ve learnt in the record of learning on the back page!
Evidence of actual learning rather than just ‘participation’ is a key requirement of the LBP renewal process.
4)
a b c
What could happen if moist air is present in
roof spaces?
Timber framing
8
Figure 3: Restricting air movement into the roof space for steel framing where strip thermal breaks are used
Steel framing
Moist air, if present in roof spaces, may
condense on cold nights and drip on to
insulation, wetting it and compromising
the R-value, which can then create rust or
rot problems in ceiling or roof members.
Correctly detailing the soffit-to-wall
framing junction will help prevent moist
air from cavities getting into the ceiling,
where a flexible wall underlay is used.
For timber frames, the flexible wall
underlay may billow or bulge away
from the soffit bearer, allowing cavity
air into the roof space (see Figure 1).
Where vertical weatherboards or sheet
claddings are used, there should be
a row of dwangs behind the top cavity
closing batten to fix the cladding to
(see Figure 2). The flexible wall
underlay must be sandwiched tight, so
nothing extra is required.
Figure 2: Restricting air movement into the roof space for vertical weatherboards or sheet cladding
5)
a b c
What is NOT recommended to prevent the
flexible wall underlay from bulging away
from the soffit bearer?
a) The risk of leaks is increased.
a) Add an additional batten fixed to the
b) It may condense on cold nights and drip
soffit bearer from inside.
on to insulation, compromising the R-value.
b) Ensure insulation is installed for the full
c) D-value insulation will need to be fitted.
framing depth.
c) Read up on strategies employed in the
Battle of the Bulge.
6)
a b c
What is the best option for steel framing?
a) Use a thermal break sheet material over the
whole frame.
b) Use strips of thermal break applied to steel.
c) You shouldn’t ever steal framing!
[Dad joke alert! Ed]
NB: The questions and answers in this section have been produced by the publisher and do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the contributing organisation.
9
Employment
MBIE Immigration
•
Maximising a migrant workforce
•
Let them know about any social
activities, religious groups or
clubs they can join.
Make sure they get to have
a chance to experience
New Zealand and its culture.
Employers can help by
preparing prospective
overseas employees for life
in New Zealand; in doing
so, you can help maximise
their productivity within
your business
Create a Welcome Kit
Some companies have developed
a Welcome Kit for new workers,
which they give to them before
leaving their home country.
6. What to do in an emergency.
•
Means fewer mistakes are made.
7. Local community health services.
•
Helps your new employee become
familiar with your workplace and
work practices.
8. Driving in New Zealand (road
rules and driver licensing).
9. Food and commodity prices.
10.The local area.
•
Workers’ roles and responsibilities.
11.Accommodation advice.
•
Your expectations about employees’
work.
•
13.Who to contact for advice and
support.
Workers’ employment rights and
obligations.
•
Health, safety and hazards.
Provide an orientation
•
Language and cultural differences.
12.Sending and receiving mail.
A tailored orientation for migrants
can be helpful because it:
•
It's important to set out your expectations up front, so migrants know what is expected of them
If you’re thinking about employing migrant workers, a little planning can go a long way.
Preparing foreigners for life and work in New Zealand will help them adapt quicker, which
can only mean good news for your business
M
Planning ahead
igrant workers can help fill
labour and skill shortages in
It’s a good idea to employ migrant
the construction sector – but
workers before your workload peaks.
how well they do that can depend
Once hired, prepare some information
on how quickly and successfully they
that will help them fit into the workplace
adapt to Kiwi culture, both inside and
and the culture more quickly.
outside the workplace. Employers can
help by preparing prospective overseas You could:
employees for life in New Zealand; in
• Meet your workers when they
doing so, you can help maximise their
arrive in town and give them
productivity within your business.
a tour of the area.
Immigration New Zealand provides
• Give them a welcome kit that
some simple tips that can make all the
includes local community
difference to settling and retaining
information and important contact
migrant workers in its helpful guide
details, including your own and
Are You Employing Migrant
that of the nearest Settlement
Construction Workers ?
Support office (there are 18
around the country).
Over the next few issues of Under
Construction, we’ll continue to feature
• Advise them where to buy food,
content from this guide; so that when
clothes and other basic needs,
you encounter issues, you’ll have
and the location of schools and
medical centres.
a better idea of how to deal with them.
10
www.mbie.govt.nz
•
•
•
Help them or give them some time
to make personal arrangements,
such as opening a bank account,
organising an IRD number and
getting a mobile phone.
Check they have a valid driver
licence for their own country and
help them get some transport.
Visitors with a valid overseas driver
licence can drive in this country
for a maximum of 12 months, after
which they will need to apply for
an NZ licence. The New Zealand
Transport Agency has more
information and a useful guide,
‘What is different about driving in
New Zealand’, available online.
Put on a social event to welcome
your new worker (and their
family) to the team and to the
neighbourhood.
Sets out your expectations.
NOTE : Remember, much of this
preparation will only need to be
done once and can be used for any
subsequent overseas employees.
Tips from experienced employers
about working with migrants
A Welcome Kit should contain
information on:
1. The travel and arrival process.
Most orientation programmes include
information about:
It makes a difference if you:
are patient and can appreciate other ways of doing things
have realistic expectations
3. An overview of New Zealand,
including arts, sports, and
Māoritanga.
give the migrant time to take in new information
assist them with basics, such as tax, phones and banking
4. Advice on the New Zealand
climate and clothing requirements.
are open-minded and interested in other cultures
consider whether your workers need to know more about other cultures
can put yourself in the migrant’s shoes
have a sense of humour
2. Expectations on the job, such as
timeliness, honesty and openness.
5. New Zealand language and
culture (including New Zealand
management and communication
culture, plus construction industry
jargon and slang).
Circle the correct answers below and record what you’ve learnt in the record of learning on the back page!
Evidence of actual learning rather than just ‘participation’ is a key requirement of the LBP renewal process.
7)
a b c
8)
a b c
9)
a b c
When is the recommended time to
employ a migrant worker?
What is recommended that you include
in a welcome pack?
Which of these is NOT a recommended trait
for someone employing a migrant worker?
a) Before your workload peaks.
b) When your workload peaks.
c) After your workload peaks.
a) Expectations on the job.
b) A welcome cash bonus.
c) A return ticket, in case things
go badly.
a) Having realistic expectations.
b) Being open-minded and interested in
other cultures.
c) A compulsion to imitate foreign accents
in a 'comedy' manner.
NB: The questions and answers in this section have been produced by the publisher and do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the contributing organisation.
11
NEWS
INDUSTRY focus
March building consents hit six-year high
Upward trend for new dwellings
consented continues
R
esidential building consents
continued to rise in March,
which was the best month for
house approvals in more than six years,
according to Statistics New Zealand’s
latest figures. The trend for new
dwellings, excluding apartments, has
been increasing for almost three years
and is 89% higher than the most recent
low-point in March 2011; however, it
is still 19% below the highest point in
September 2003.
Excluding apartments, the number of
new dwellings rose 1.3%, with 1,813
dwellings consented in March 2014,
Including apartments, there were 1,999
new dwellings consented. Of these,
186 were apartments, including 110
retirement village units.
TREND FOR NEW DWELLINGS almost
doubled since march 2011
Following falls in January and February,
the number of new dwellings, including
apartments, rose 8.3%.
Business indications manager Neil Kelly
said the trend for new dwellings has
almost doubled since March 2011,
but is still 28% below the peak in
January 2004.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, new
Number
New dwellings consented
Including apartments
March month by region
Source: Statistics New Zealand
Hays’ inaugural ‘Women in Construction Awards’ recognise
women who’ve achieved excellence in the construction industry
and individuals who support women in construction
L
“Given the sheer scope of the
construction work required to rebuild
Christchurch, and the ongoing skills
shortages within construction, it is
essential that we encourage women to
consider a career in the industry. There
Pollard, whose background includes
is no doubt that they are equally as
architectural drafting, quantity surveying,
capable as men currently working in
project management and construction
these roles.”
supervision, now runs the Canterbury
Landmark Homes franchise with her
Of the 45 Landmark Homes Canterbury
husband Stephen.
employees, six are women.
ong-time PlaceMakers customer
Coralie Pollard was delighted
to receive recognition at Hays
Recruitment’s inaugural ‘Women in
Construction Awards’ in Christchurch.
Region
1 Northland
2 Auckland
3 Waikato
4 Bay of Plenty
5 Gisborne
6 Hawke’s Bay
7 Taranaki
8 Manawatu-Wanganui
dwelling consents, including apartments,
rose 8.3% in March, bucking the trend
of the previous two months.
NEW DWELLINGS UP IN 12 REGIONS
Including apartments, 12 of the 16
regions consented more new dwellings
in March 2014 than in March 2013.
The areas with the greatest increases
were Canterbury (up 160 to 604),
Auckland (up 168 to 561, including
61 apartments) and Waikato (up 64
to 232, including 67 apartments).
Other regions that consented more
dwellings included Northland, Bay
9 Wellington
10 Tasman
11 Nelson
12 Marlborough
13 West Coast
14 Canterbury
15 Otago
16 Southland
of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki,
Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington,
Marlborough, Otago and Southland.
Those that didn’t were Gisborne, Nelson,
Tasman and the West Coast.
Canterbury had the highest number of
consents at 604, followed by Auckland
at 561, which included 61 apartments,
and Waikato at 232.
EARTHQUAKE-RELATED CONSENTS
ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 10% OF
CANTERBURY CONSENTS
“I was quite chuffed to receive
recognition for something that I
believe so strongly in,” said Pollard.
“The number of women working in
construction has grown significantly
over recent years, but it remains a maledominated industry and I do my best
to encourage women to come on
board – both through hiring and via
professional communication.
“It’s not a huge chunk but it’s growing,
and we always make it clear – both in
our job postings and our conversations
with candidates – that we will select the
best qualified person, male or female,”
said Pollard.
The awards, which are the first of
their kind in Christchurch, were such
a success that Hays will extend the
awards to Wellington and Auckland
in 2015.
“The objective of the Women in
Construction Awards is to support the
associations that bring attention to
the outstanding performance of
female construction professionals and
highlight to young women the benefits
of a career in construction,” said
Jason Walker, managing director of
Hays in New Zealand.
“Hays’ objective is for the awards
to become an annual celebration
of women in construction across
New Zealand.”
Two other awards – ‘Women in
Construction Excellence’ and
‘Outstanding Contribution to Women
in Construction – Company’ were
presented at the ceremony.
Teaching quality concrete construction
For comparison, the total value of
building consents in Canterbury from
September 2010 to March 2014
is $8.1bn and includes consents for
14,718 new dwellings.
oncrete is the most widely used
construction material in the
world and the foundation of
most New Zealand homes. While
producing a quality concrete slab on
ground is easy if done correctly, the
cost of rework is high if mistakes are
made the first time around.
VALUE OF BUILDING WORK
The upward trend for new dwellings continues, with buyers scooping up land in and around the main centres
She received the ‘Contribution for
Supporting Women in Construction’
award, which was presented by Dallas
Welch, acting CEO for the Ministry
of Women’s Affairs.
Company director and owner of Landmark Homes in
Canterbury, Coralie Pollard, believes more women should
consider a career in the construction industry
Since 4 September 2010, $1.7bn
worth of building consents have been
identified as earthquake-related.
This includes consents for 1,688
new dwellings.
However, Statistics New Zealand
stipulates that not all earthquake-related
consents can be identified. For example,
if a new house (to replace a damaged
house) is built at a different site, it might
not be identified as earthquake-related.
12
PlaceMakers customer awarded for supporting
women in construction
In March 2014, the total value of
building work consented was $1.2bn,
with $800m of residential work and
$422m of non-residential work.
CCANZ offers concrete receipt and out by the site foreman (or equivalent)
and the formwork carpenter,” says
placement supervision course
c
To help those responsible for supervising
the receipt and placement of fresh
concrete on-site, the Cement &
Concrete Association of New Zealand
(CCANZ) has developed a Concrete
Construction Course.
“This supervision work is typically carried
Alistair Russell, CCANZ’s structural
performance and engineering systems
manager.
“Knowing what properties to look for
when concrete arrives on site and how
to identify any issues during placement
is key to overseeing quality concrete
construction.”
Designed around NZS 3109 Concrete
Construction, the curriculum for the
two-day, classroom-based course will
meet both industry needs and the
relevant NZQA standards.
The course will include an introduction
to concrete, relevant standards and
concrete tests for fresh and hardened
concrete, reinforcement methods,
formwork reinforcement, materials,
systems and design and site practice
(including handling and placing,
compaction, finishing and curing, hot
and cold weather concreting and
surface finish and crack control.
The course will be rolled out in Auckland
in July, with Wellington and Christchurch
dates to be announced.
To register for the Auckland course, or to
express your interest in the Wellington
or Christchurch courses, contact
CCANZ at (04) 499 8820 or email
admin@ccanz.org.nz. Queries about
the course content can be directed to
Alistair Russell on (04) 915 0384 or
email alistair@ccanz.org.nz
13
feature
Placemakers frame & truss
Custom-made frame and truss solutions
manufacture. The latest in saw technology
ensures accuracy and precision, and
PlaceMakers provides sophisticated cuts
for roof and angle frames, as well as
‘courtesy cuts’ (undercuts) for doorways
on bottom plates.
To further increase efficiency and
precision, PlaceMakers has been
replacing open saws with Razer linear
saws, which have the latest printing
technology to ensure that every
component is accurately marked. The
fully enclosed, automated machines
reduce waste, are much safer to use than
manual saws and complete four times as
many cuts in the same amount of time.
The enhanced printing capability clearly
labels the face and edge of two pieces
of timber at the same time, making it
simpler to identify what should go
where, allowing quicker completion of
customer orders.
PlaceMakers' Frame & Truss employees load and monitor the Razer linear saws
PlaceMakers' bespoke frame and truss manufacturing service can save builders time and money
c
ustomisation and mass production
aren’t common bed fellows – but
PlaceMakers Frame & Truss
has nailed the process of efficiently
producing frames and trusses for
bespoke house designs.
As the largest frame and truss producer
in New Zealand, PlaceMakers
manufactures unique, high-quality frames
and trusses for about 100 different
designs per week.
STRATEGIC MOVES
Demand for PlaceMakers’ frame and
truss (PMFT) has seen operations grow
over the past two decades as builders
recognised the cost effectiveness of
pre-cut and pre-nailed framing.
In 2008, to meet demand, PlaceMakers
began improving its frame and truss
production, consolidating 23 small
and relatively inefficient plants to eight
state-of-the-art operations that are more
14
accurate, highly efficient and in better
locations around the country
“For PlaceMakers customers, this means
precisely cut and clearly marked
components for faster and easier
assembly on site,” says PlaceMakers
national estimating and manufacturing
manager Robert Grimmer. “The larger
plants have greater capacity, the
ability to respond quickly to market
demand and improved efficiency that
creates cost savings that can be passed
onto customers.
“For most builders, taking a set of plans,
ordering in the timber then setting out,
cutting and nailing framing takes so
much time and precision that it’s not
economical anymore,” says Robert.
“It’s become a specialist trade – and
PlaceMakers frame and truss plants have
the equipment and expertise to supply
that service at an affordable rate.”
HOW IT WORKS
Having fewer but larger manufacturing
plants has significantly increased
efficiency and capacity, offering builders
great value for money. PMFT staff work
with builders, architects, specifiers and
engineers to provide a tailored solution
for every type of job from small, simple
houses to large, complex commercial
projects.
The clearly marked frames are delivered
to site stacked in build sequence,
wherever possible (depending on
transport efficiency and stability, site
requirements and health and safety
considerations).
According to builders, the clearly
marked walls and wall intersections
make identification easier and erection
on site much faster. While frames are
usually nailed together in the factory and
delivered to site, there are some situations
where assembling wall frames on site is
required or preferred.
As the construction industry
prepares for the upcoming
building boom, our good
relationship with suppliers
allows us to provide certainty
for builders that we’ll have
timber for their projects –
PlaceMakers national
estimating and manufacturing
manager Robert Grimmer
“For those customers who choose to build
them themselves – such as in hard-toaccess worksites – the pre-cut, clearly
marked timber makes it much easier to
construct, saving time on the job and
reducing waste,” says Robert.
While PMFT aims to have Razer saws in
all eight plants, the transition is still taking
place and isn’t yet available everywhere.
PMFT plants use Lumberlok, Gang-nail
and Bowmac zinc, galvanised and
stainless steel fastenings designed
by Mitek, a company with 40 years’
experience within New Zealand.
MEETING OUR CUSTOMERS NEEDS
PMFT’s goal is to make its customers’
builds as simple and as smooth as
possible. The staff can incorporate
the balance of roof and loose timber
within customer quotes and integrate
engineered timber products for mid floors
or garage lintels where specified.
PlaceMakers also has a range of trucks
and experienced drivers to deliver
and place builders’ frames and trusses
where they’re wanted onsite and PMFT
staff liaise with builders to confirm an
estimated delivery time.
“Overall, our frame and truss plants aim
to deliver in full and on time to wherever
you need us,” says Robert.
SOLID CONNECTIONS
To ensure high quality and consistency in
the materials we use, PlaceMakers only
buys from major timber suppliers.
As the construction industry prepares
for the upcoming building boom,
PlaceMakers’ strong supplier relationships
allows it to provide certainty for builders
that it will have timber for their projects.
“As our customers take on more jobs, they
want certainty that we can deliver, and
we can give them that guarantee.”
“Frame and Truss is a key aspect of
PlaceMakers’ relationship with our
builders – we see ourselves as more of
a specialist sub-trade than a product
supplier,” says Robert. “Design and
truss layouts are integral to the building
consent, so PMFT’s contribution is as
critical to the build process as any other.
PlaceMakers understands that and it’s
reflected in the high quality of our work.”
A PMFT detailer turns the designer’s
plans into workshop drawings before
well-trained, experienced staff begin the
A Frame & Truss engineer sets up the Razer linear saw
PlaceMakers' Frame & Truss employees assemble different frame and truss components
15
insurance
builtIn
Deciphering public liability insurance
PLI is one of the most important
policies a tradesman can have –
but understanding all the terms
contained within them can be
tricky; that’s why the helpful
guys at Builtin have provided
a list of definitions to make
things a bit clearer
P
LI is intended to protect you from
the cost of accidentally damaging
other people’s property or causing
them injury.
This article is intended to clarify some
of the definitions contained within most
general/public liability policies available
from major insurers in New Zealand.
The specific wording from different
insurers will vary and you should seek
the advice of an insurance professional,
if necessary. Insurers will interpret
and apply their own policy wording,
depending on the specific circumstances
of each individual claim.
Damage/property damage: For
a claim to be made, there must first be
either accidental damage to property,
loss of property (that isn’t actually
damaged) or loss of use of property.
Don’t labe
l
your tools
,
GPS them
.
Event/occurrence: For a claim to
be made, the accidental damage must
result from a single event. This event must
be unforeseen and unintended from the
standpoint of the policy holder.
The All-New Transit Cargo
Losing your tools on the job is one thing, but with all the room in the
newly designed larger Transit Cargo, you might just need to GPS tag them.
Test drive today.
Key Features
• SYNC® with Bluetooth®
• Rear view camera
• Cruise control
• Safety features – DSC,
• Front and rear parking sensors Roll Over Mitigation
• Protective flooring
• Service intervals – 30,000 kms or every
• Perimeter Anti-theft Alarm
12 months (whichever comes first)
ford.co.nz
Faulty/defective workmanship:
Unfortunately, there is no accepted
For a event/occurrence claim to be made, the accidental damage must result from a single event.
This event must be unforeseen and unintended from the standpoint of the policy holder
insurance definition of faulty
workmanship, which is why it can be
such a contentious issue at claim time.
Was damage caused accidentally or as
a result of poor workmanship? Your view
might be quite different from that of your
insurance company. If your policy does
not include cover for faulty workmanship,
you could find your claim is declined.
building industry, otherwise your
liability for damage to a house you’ve
built could be excluded from cover.
This article is not comprehensive
nor is intended to be legal advice,
or a substitute for legal advice.
About Builtin New Zealand
Consequential loss/resultant
damage: The policy can also cover
the indirect costs of damage you cause:
eg, the cost of lost sales due to a power
failure, if you cut through a power cable,
or the subsequent water damage to walls
and carpets caused by a leaky pipe.
Builtin New Zealand is a specialist
in construction insurance, with
policies tailored to meet the
needs of builders & tradespeople,
including cover for faulty
workmanship and damage
to the building you’re working on.
For more information visit www.
builtin.co.nz/Insurance or
contact Ben Rickard at ben@
builtin.co.nz or 0800 BUILTIN .
Insured’s products: Your own
products are not covered by the policy.
This can include anything you have
constructed once it is no longer in your
possession or control. It’s important
you have a policy that is tailored to the
Circle the correct answers below and record what you’ve learnt in the record of learning on the back page!
Evidence of actual learning rather than just ‘participation’ is a key requirement of the LBP renewal process.
10) a
b c
What is the purpose of PLI?
a) To protect you from the cost of accidentally
damaging other people’s property or
causing them injury.
b) To protect you from stupid members of
the public.
c) To protect you from sudden or accidental
damage to works specified in the contract.
11) a
b c
12) a
b c
Why can faulty or defective workmanship
be such a contentious issue at claim time?
For an event/occurance claim to be made,
what must the accidental damage result from?
a) It’s difficult to determine where damage
was caused accidentally or as
a result of poor workmanship.
b) The definition of faulty workmanship is
so specific.
c) Homeowners always blame the builder.
a) An earthquake.
b) A single event.
c) A hand tool.
NB: The questions and answers in this section have been produced by the publisher and do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the contributing organisation.
17
training
beacon pathway
damp, lack of ventilation, insufficient
insulation and leaks. Renovations
represent a real opportunity to solve
these problems, so make sure your client
thinks not just about the cosmetic factor,
but also gets a house that is drier and
healthier to live in.
Stamp out the damp!
The table below outlines some common
problems contributing to moisture, as well
as solutions for your clients.
If it’s not obvious, it’s a good idea to get
an accredited Home Performance
Advisor (www.communityenergy.
org.nz/training) or, if your council
has one, an Eco Design Advisor (www.
ecodesignadvisor.org.nz) to come
and take a look at the house. They
can talk to you and your client about
potential solutions and the most effective
way to make the house dry and healthy.
About Beacon Pathway
Beacon Pathway is an Incorporated
Society committed to transforming
New Zealand's homes and
neighbourhoods through research and
demonstration projects that show how
to make homes more resource efficient,
healthier to live in, adaptable, resilient
and affordable.
Getting advice
For further information about
Beacon Pathway visit
Sometimes it’s hard to work out the
underlying cause of dampness in a house.
Problems
Allow a month for every 25mm of thickness for a concrete slab floor to dry out
Dampness and moisture problems are well-known features of many New Zealand houses. When
undertaking renovations, or building new, there are some key ways to knock moisture problems
on the head – or stop them from occurring in the first place
T
he biggest concern about damp
homes relates to their effect
on inhabitants’ health: internal
moisture makes it harder to keep houses
warm and encourages the growth of
mould and breeding of dust mites – all
of which can cause or worsen asthma,
bronchitis and other breathing disorders.
What to watch for when
building new
Although building design (orientation,
insulation, ventilation) can make a big
difference to whether houses will be
damp, the way you build the house also
has a huge impact. New houses usually
have high internal moisture levels for up
to two years after construction. Moisture
comes from concrete, masonry, timber,
plaster and paint – all of which take
time to dry out.
18
www.beaconpathway.co.nz
95 litres of water, which needs to
evaporate out even once it’s been
cured. There’s a lot of water in
a concrete slab. Wet concrete
should have the minimum amount
of water added to enable it to be
workable – check the slump of
concrete which arrives for your slab
pour and don’t accept concrete
which is too wet.
There are a number of things you can
do to reduce the amount of construction
moisture, and therefore the drying time:
•
•
Building during summer (particularly
those early critical stages before the
house is enclosed) can make a huge
difference – concrete slabs and
timber that has been rained on take
a lot longer to dry out, even once
enclosed.
Ensure materials are dry before
enclosing the house – materials
dry much faster in open air. Timber
framing with the 20% moisture
allowed by the Building Code will
still contribute around 200 litres
of water into the average house.
Regard the Building Code as
a minimum and let timber dry out
as much as possible.
• Take particular care with concrete
– 1m3 of concrete has around
•
Ensure there is a ground moisture
barrier under both concrete slabs
and suspended floors – about
45 litres of water per day comes
out of the ground under a 93m2
house and 90 litres per day under
a 186m2 house.
Solving moisture problems
in existing houses
Many existing homes have dampness
and moisture problems caused by
a combination of factors, such as rising
www.beaconpathway.co.nz
Solution
• Mould in the house
• Condensation on windows
Bathroom extract ventilation ducted to the outside (not the roof!).
Locate the unit close to or above the shower/bath and make
sure the fan size is big enough for the bathroom – 25 litres/second is
usually sufficient but larger fans may be needed for big bathrooms
• Dampness in the kitchen
• Cooking smells
• Oils and dirt covering surfaces in
the kitchen
Kitchen rangehood ducted to the outside – sized to cover the whole
hob and close enough to the hob to be effective
• Condensation on windows
• House being hard to heat
• Cold bedrooms
Replace single-glazed windows with double glazing. Specify
thermally broken aluminium or timber frames
• Mould or musty smells in living
and bedroom areas
Make sure the house is well insulated – in the ceiling, walls and, if
possible, under the floor. Aim to bring the whole house up to at least
Code insulation levels – ideally better than Code
• Rising damp – symptoms are often
seen on ceilings, the upper part of
walls and in the roof cavity
• General dampness in the house –
ground moisture can contribute more
than half the total moisture in a house
Retrofit a ground vapour barrier under suspended timber floors
(see photo on right)
• Mould and musty smells in the house
• Difficulty in heating
• Dirt and lint in the laundry area
Externally vent clothes dryer
• Mould or musty smells in living and
bedroom areas
• General dampness in the house
Install a well-located washing line – under cover if possible
• General dampness in the house
Fix leaks – roof, cladding, windows, doors and plumbing
Ground vapour barriers can stop moisture rising
out of the ground into the house
Circle the correct answers below and record what you’ve learnt in the record of learning on the back page!
Evidence of actual learning rather than just ‘participation’ is a key requirement of the LBP renewal process.
13) a
b c
14) a
b c
15) a
b c
What is the biggest concern about moisture
and damp in houses?
As a builder, what can you do to reduce the
amount of construction moisture?
According to Beacon, what opportunity do
renovations present?
a) Adverse health effects.
b) The effect on water supply levels.
c) How much building work it will give
rise to.
a) Ensure materials are dry before enclosing
the house.
b) Follow the Building Code to the letter.
c) Use the portaloos provided onsite.
a) A chance to quote low and then charge
high for ‘unforeseen issues’.
b) A chance to resolve dampness and moisture
problems.
c) None – they are unprofitable and a drain
on resources.
NB: The questions and answers in this section have been produced by the publisher and do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the contributing organisation.
19
TIPS
Crowe Horwath
Improve insight into your business
Debating whether an accounting system is the right choice? Crowe Horwath outlines how it can
improve your business processes and help with forecasting
W
e’ve seen it all before, right?
A company with high sales,
decent profits and lots of guys
doing the dirty work while the owner
oversees the operation; all of a sudden,
the employees are gone, the business
has fallen over and the owner is left to
work off numerous debts to creditors and
the IRD for the rest of his days. Where
did it all go wrong?
Time really is money
A common issue among business
owners is the time spent at the end of
the day reconciling their bank accounts,
preparing invoices and chasing up
debts. During busy periods, these
processes can often run into the small
hours of the morning; before you know
it, you’re back out on the tools and
doing it all over again.
While that question can’t be answered
simply, one thing is for certain: the better
a business’ accounting system, the less
likely it will fail.
There is now a range of systems
available to business owners. More
than ever, they can be moulded to suit
your business, rather than the other way
around. From Xero to MYOB and from
‘the cloud’ to the desktop, the options are
varied. There are no longer any excuses
for not knowing how your business is
tracking.
Modern accounting systems can provide
you with an up-to-the-minute, year-to-date
profit figure, GST position, cash balance
and more. Some can even provide
you with an immediate reconciliation
between the amount you’ve charged for
a job, and the amount you have left in
your budget. This is extremely powerful
information and can help to plan future
20
www.crowehorwath.co.nz
www.ccanz.org.nz
Modern accounting systems can
help put an end to, or greatly lessen,
the long nights spent in the office. If
you’re harnessing the right systems
for your business, you no longer have
to be a slave to bookwork. If you
aren’t already harnessing the power
of these accounting systems, you’re
only short-changing yourself and
your business.
More Information
If you have questions about
accounting systems, whether you
want to enhance your current
system or are looking to change/
add systems, please contact Peter
van der Heijden at peter.vdh@
crowehorwath.co.nz; or contact
your local Crowe Horwath advisor.
So, do yourself and your business
a favour and look into getting an
accounting system that works for
you – the insight and opportunities
are abundant.
For the contact details of your local
office, please visit:
www.crowehorwath.co.nz/
locations or phone 0800 494 569.
The better a business’
accounting system, the
less likely it will fail
Talkin’ bout a revolution
Want to reconcile your bank transactions
in the shortest time possible? No
problem! Need to prepare quotes and
email them directly to your customers?
Easy! GST returns at the push of a
button? Of course! How about a system
that allows you to prepare and email
invoices to your customers on your
smartphone without leaving the site?
You can do that, too. Put simply, these
accounting systems can revolutionise
your business.
The ability to understand your
business – the impact of late payers,
the opportunity to plan out your
expenditure during lean times and the
chances available during the busy times
– is absolutely priceless. The value of
real-time information means you and
your accountant can both look into the
cloud at any time, from any location
and adapt instantaneously.
Using a modern accounting system could reduce those late nights spent reconciling bank accounts,
preparing invoices and chasing up debts
tax payments, as well as organising
invoice payment and receipt dates – all
crucial for businesses at any stage of
their lifecycle.
Put simply, these accounting
systems can revolutionise
your business
performance on a monthly, quarterly
or bi-annual basis. The benefit of being
able to drill down into specific areas of
concern – without having to dig through
records in your office – is invaluable.
Conversely, if you don’t have a budget,
the systems can help you set one up.
Online accounting systems can help you
answer all sorts of questions:
•
Keeping track
If your business already employs
budgeting, most systems can incorporate
these and you can track your
Can I afford to pay all my creditors
this month?
• Am I being too lenient on my
debtors?
•
Is buying that new ute on hire
purchase a good idea?
The most precious commodity of any
business person is time. The old saying
‘time is money’ has never been more
accurate. The more time your spend
managing your own financials, the less
time you have to quote for new work,
find new clients, review processes and
profitability on current projects and,
of course, spend time with family
and friends.
Online accounting systems can help you determine whether buying a new ute on hire purchase is a wise decision
Circle the correct answers below and record what you’ve learnt in the record of learning on the back page!
Evidence of actual learning rather than just ‘participation’ is a key requirement of the LBP renewal process.
16) a
b c
What can modern-day accounting systems
NOT provide?
a) A sexy secretary to bring you coffee.
b) An up-to-the-minute, year-to-date profit
figure.
c) Your GST position and cash balance.
17) a
b c
Online modern-day accounting systems
can help you answer all sorts of questions,
such as:
a) Can I afford to pay all my creditors
this month?
b) Am I being too lenient on my debtors?
c) Does anything eat wasps?
18) a
b c
How can the right accounting system help
you avoid spending all night on bookwork?
a) It manages most of the finances for you.
b) Elves do the work while you sleep.
c) It can shut down at a set time.
NB: The questions and answers in this section have been produced by the publisher and do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the contributing organisation.
21
tips
THE SUCCESSFUL BUILDER
To avoid causing your customers
surprise and angst, check that
a proposed job fits within their budget
before incurring any cost in designing
or pricing. You may not be able to give
a fixed price, but in most situations you
can use your best judgement and give
a ball park figure (it helps to include
a best and worst scenario). Listening
carefully to their response can save
you both time and money.
Keep your cash flowing
Furthermore, it’s worth enquiring
whether or not a lender is involved,
since this is likely to affect how and
when you might be paid. Simply ask
if there are any other parties involved
financially. It pays to be sure about this
because there is nothing worse than
starting a job and not being paid the
final amount because your client runs out
of money, or a bank holds up payment.
3. Take a decent deposit
Homeowners often aren’t aware how much a renovation can cost – once the builders began working on this vintage Wellington home, unforeseen complications made the cost
of the renovation increase significantly. Make sure you explain this type of possibility to your clients to avoid unpleasant surprises
Don’t get stuck in a situation
where you haven’t been paid
for months but you can’t afford
to stop working – use the tips
below to ensure you have
sufficient cash flow
Y
paid on time, every time. Here are five
financial disciplines that, when adopted
properly, can help make non-paying
clients a thing of the past.
1. Ensure your building
contracts include your financial
terms and conditions
ou’ve heard the story: what
Check over your agreements to
started as a dream job – large,
ensure that your terms and conditions
challenging and profitable – has
set out your invoicing and payment
now become unbearable; your client
expectations, such as progress
has stopped paying bills on time,
payments. Make sure that you have
questions each and every line item and
quibbles over your meagre margins; and, the right to stop work (and remove
materials) if a progress payment is
all the while, your overdraft is growing.
not made on time.
Clients like this can make the life of
For example, if your normal process
a small builder exasperating in any
is weekly invoicing for payment of
environment. In fact, it seems that
all costs incurred in the preceding
every builder I’ve met has at least
week (labour, materials and
one such story to tell. But it doesn’t
subcontractors), make sure your
need to get to this point; it’s possible
agreements specify this process
and stipulate when the payment is
to organise your business so you’re
22
www.thesuccessfulbuilder.com
www.ccanz.org.nz
due. Also check that your terms
and conditions state that “should
payment be delayed, the costs of
debt recovery will be added to any
outstanding payments”.
While most building association
agreements are excellent, they may
need to be adjusted to suit your
particular situation. Having your lawyer
check over these is a worthwhile
investment, as it’s better to pay them
a small fee than incur substantial losses
down the track.
2. Discuss your client’s financial
position before incurring costs
Most people know how much
a replacement tyre is likely to cost, so
they’re not alarmed when the bill is
presented. But most homeowners have
no idea how much a renovation can
amount to, particularly if there are
hidden problems to fix.
It costs money to prepare free estimates
and quotes and while these costs may
be paid for by the profits from your
jobs, this profit is not usually realised
until after the client has made their final
payment. Also, once an agreement
is signed, it takes time and money
to gear up a job – you may have to
spend money recruiting new staff or
purchasing new equipment.
project estimation and preparation, in
builder disputes and builders losing
addition to a fair proportion of the
money. Again and again, I come across
building and labour costs that will be
builders who start on variations without
incurred before the first payment is
getting their client’s authorisation
received. Try not to be your client’s bank. “because it needs to be done”. While
they’re allowed to carry out variations
4. Keep short accounts
that need to be done, clients are
allowed
to refuse to pay for work they
It’s not unreasonable to expect payment
did
not
authorise.
on a weekly (or fortnightly) basis.
Your client may believe that, because
you have monthly terms with your
suppliers, he/she should have the same
arrangement with you. However, there
is no requirement for you to do so.
Your arrangement with your supplier
is a business-to-business relationship,
built on your reputation and your credit
history. You cannot afford not to pay
your suppliers on time, as failure to do
so will affect your ability to make future
purchases. It may even close you down.
Your client’s arrangement with you
is different. For them, it’s a ‘one off’
purchase and, if they don’t pay on
time, it doesn’t threaten their income
one bit – but it does threaten yours.
While it might seem cumbersome, it
is cheaper to take the time and effort
to communicate with your client and
get them on board (in writing!) before
starting any variation.
Maximise the good times
While it might be possible to survive
a bad paying client in good times,
an astute builder makes use of the
opportunity good times brings to
review, strengthen and update client
payment systems. It’s the disciplines
adhered to in good times that enable
a business to make the most of growth
and survive tough times.
About The Successful Builder
It’s completely acceptable – and should
be expected – that your client pays
you in a timely manner, so you can pay
your team, suppliers and subcontractors
in a timely manner as well. This should
ensure the smooth financial operation
of your business.
Carrying these early costs for the
duration of the whole job can affect
cash flow and limit your purchasing
power, so request a decent deposit.
5. Variations – describe them in
detail and gain a signature for
each one before beginning
To determine a fair deposit fee, make
a rough calculation of the costs of
In my experience, unpaid variations are
the single biggest reason for owner-
Graeme Owen, based in Auckland,
is a builders’ business coach. Since
2006, he has helped builders get
off the tools, make decent money,
and free up time for family, fishing,
and enjoying sports. Get his
free ebook: 3 Reasons Builders
Lose Money and How to Fix
Them for High Profits at http://
TheSuccessfulBuilder.com
Circle the correct answers below and record what you’ve learnt in the record of learning on the back page!
Evidence of actual learning rather than just ‘participation’ is a key requirement of the LBP renewal process.
19) a
b c
20) a
b c
21) a
b c
Why is it recommended you discuss how
much a renovation can cost before the job?
What is NOT recommended be covered
by a deposit?
Why should suppliers be on monthly terms
but not homeowners?
a) Because most homeowners have no idea
how much they can amount to.
b) To determine a fair deposit fee.
c) To ensure the proposed job fits within their
budget before incurring any costs of your
own.
a) Celebratory drinks for the boys.
b) Preparation and estimation costs.
c) Building and labour costs before the
first payment.
a) Because you and your supplier have
a business-to-business relationship and not
paying them could affect your business.
b) Homeowners usually get paid fortnightly.
c) Because transactions with suppliers are
usually for larger sums of money.
NB: The questions and answers in this section have been produced by the publisher and do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the contributing organisation.
23
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE COLD
WHEN LAYING YOUR NEXT FLOOR WITH A
*
FREE
THERMAL
PACK
WHEN YOU SPEND 1000
$
(+ GST)
ON ANY STRANDFLOOR® PRODUCT
Sponsorship
sport news
Hurricanes get a kick from lending a hand
Wellington’s Aotea College kids enjoy the perks of winning the Hurricanes ‘Lend a Helping Hand’
2013 initiative
W
hile the Canes’ on-field goal
for 2014 is the Investec Super
Rugby playoffs, its off-field
focus continues to be helping the
local community, with support from
PlaceMakers.
In May, Hurricanes players and
representatives from PlaceMakers
Porirua visited Wellington Aotea
College to check out its revamped
sports pavilion, which was funded by
the ‘Lend a Helping Hand’ initiative.
Initiated by the Hurricanes in 2012,
when they helped give Porirua’s
Rangikura Primary School goal posts
for its rugby field, last year the team
decided to partner with PlaceMakers.
“We assisted in choosing the winner
from several school group and charity
entries, and supplied the building
materials,” said PlaceMakers Porirua
owner operator Boyd Kenna. “It’s a great
initiative to be a part of and the school
is really happy with the outcome.”
The ‘Lend a Helping Hand’ partners
provided new Suntuf corrugated roofing,
Once they finished running drills with the students, the Hurricanes
spent time signing autographs
Strandfloor® is a high density, reconstituted
timber panel, specifically formulated for use as a
residential and commercial interior floor platform.
Strandfloor H3.1® features an improved resin
formula with the addition of insecticide and
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Panels are 20mm thick and can be used at 600mm
centres, ultimately cutting costs and saving time.
CONTACT LAMINEX NZ FOR MORE INFORMATION:
0800 303 606 OR VISIT WWW.LAMINEXNZ.CO.NZ
*Offer exclusive to trade account holders. Purchases must be invoiced on a current trade account
between 1st June and 31st July 2014 to qualify. Qualifying amount of $1000 + GST or more must
be on one invoice. Instant reward is the Thermal Pack (which includes PlaceMakers & Strandfloor
co-branded long sleeve thermal top, PlaceMakers & strandfloor co-branded gloves/work socks,
PlaceMakers & Strandfloor co-branded beanie), and is limited to 500 while stocks last. Prizes are
not redeemable for cash or any other product or service. Further terms and conditions apply see
www.placemakers.co.nz or in-store for details
as well as the building and painting
work. The Hurricanes were pleased to
see the completed pavilion and even got
to experience the renovated facility by
running the students through some skills
and drills during their visit!
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are putting
in plenty of hard work on the field to
meet the challenge of another tough
season. With an impressive number of
wins already under their belt, and the
team appearing to rediscover their form
and style, it could be the year for the
Capital’s team!
l-r PlaceMakers Porirua employee Tank Lapana, Hurricane Brendon Edmonds, Aotea College captain
of the 1st XV Sam Filipo, Aotea College principal Kate Gainsford, Hurricane John Schwalger and
PlaceMakers Porirua JV Boyd Kenna came together to celebrate the new pavillian
june 2014
1)
7)
13)
19)
2)
8)
14)
20)
3)
9)
15)
21)
4)
10)
16)
For ease of record keeping, use this coupon
to collate your answers from within this issue
of Under Construction and then sign and date
it as proof of your own learning.
5)
11)
17)
Signature
6)
12)
18)
Date
NB: If you have other LBPs on your team, ensure they’re registered with PlaceMakers to receive their own copy of Under Construction!
25
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OFFERS VALID AT YOUR LOCAL PLACEMAKERS STORE BETWEEN 1ST – 30TH JUNE 2014
NORTHLAND
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Products featured may not be available in all stores but
as part of our rain check policy can be ordered in at the
advertised price. Contact your local store for availability.
Consumer Guarantees Act excluded. PlaceMakers Terms
of Trade apply.
Products may not be stocked in all stores,
but can be easily ordered in for you.