Rain Stalls Home Building Works

As heavy rains have poured down on the state’s north for more than a fortnight, work on existing residential building projects has almost come to a standstill. As approximately 25000 tradespeople are affected, the projected finishing dates on many new home construction projects will have to be rescheduled according to North Queensland Housing Industry Association’s Executive Director, John Futer.

Mr. Futer has stated that although some of the indoor finishing trade work is still able to progress, much of the outdoor building work in connection with new home construction including excavation, framing, concreting and roofing will need to be put on hold. Outdoor exposure of electrical tools and equipment to wet conditions can create safety hazards for tradespeople performing the building work. Moreover, the problem does not just stem from the rain fall itself, as much of the work involved in the building and construction process depends upon the condition of ground surfaces and its ability to hold trucks, plant and machinery. Excavation work also depends upon dryer soil conditions to ensure trenches do not collapse or flood, creating unnecessary risks for the public.

With rain continuing and further forecasts of rain predicted, it is likely that some projects may be put on hold for some weeks. Mr Futer has indicted that it could take up to at least a week of fine conditions for the soil to dry for the purposes of excavation. Moreover, many sites will need road-base gravel delivered and spread over access points to allow heavy vehicles delivering building materials passage over damp ground.

Most residential building contracts make provision for extensions of time due to inclement weather conditions. Any members of the public that have questions concerning delays should refer to their building contract conditions or consult with their builder over projected delay times.

For further information contact: Name: John Futer Title: North Queensland Executive Director Phone: (07) 4755 6600 E-mail: j.futer@hia.com.au

Reprinted with permission. Housing Industry Association. http://hia.com.au