Weathertightness Reporting

There is so much stigma out there in the property market about “Plaster Homes” in relation to being leaky buildings. However just because a home is clad with plaster doesn’t necessarily mean that it is or will become a leaky home. Plaster homes can be just as weathertight as the typical brick or weatherboard homes as long as regular monitoring and maintenance is carried out.

When looking to purchase a plaster home, it is worthwhile getting a Weathertightness Report over a typical standard building report. This is because it will help the purchaser to understand the property well and the areas that are important to maintain for weather tightness. Plaster homes are generally considered to be constructed with materials or design that is risky for moisture ingress.

With Weathertightness Reporting we specifically look at the risk areas of the property in relation to the style and construction of the building and rate these in relation to the NZS 43062005 building standards. Areas of focus include roofing, eaves, windows, cladding, design style, decking and moisture readings.

This involves a detailed investigation and reports to assess where and if a building is leaking, or areas that are vulnerable to moisture ingress.

We will make every attempt to identify the area, explain to you the risk factors involved and also suggest an initial repair proposal, and estimated costs to remediate the weather tightness defects and damage or prevent future damage.

Expert Advice

A weather tightness Report should be completed by a competent assessor that has the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to carry out accurate investigation and reporting. These include a sound knowledge of the New Zealand Building Act and the New Zealand Building Code. An understanding of water management principles, including the ‘4Ds’ of weather tightness design (Deflection, Drainage, Drying and Durability), and experience with on-site diagnosis and writing clear technical reports and, ideally, experience on successful remediation projects. All the inspectors at Inspect house NZ are qualified Licensed builders that are trained in the NZ inspection standards.

Getting to know the elements of your property and the role they play in maintaining weather tightness is an important part of a property purchase. Through a Weathertightness report, you will understand the parts of the property construction and where you should focus for ongoing maintenance. A weather tightness property Inspection Report not only provides this information to prospective buyers but also covers all the typical areas of a standard building inspection as well.

Common signs of moisture ingress:

  1. 1. Ceiling lining sagging. ...
  2. 2. Screws and nails that are rusty. ...
  3. 3. Floor surfaces are warped. ...
  4. 4. Mould or fungi. ...
  5. 5. Musty smells. ...
  6. 6. Swollen materials. ...
  7. 7. Rotten or stained carpet. ...
  8. 8. Large cracks appearing.

Plaster homes can be a great investment but getting a Weathertightness Report should be a priority before signing on the dotted line. This will ensure you know all the required design and construction elements and help to prevent any unforeseen future headaches of your investment.