$7 Million Build Nightmare | Engineering Plan Error…
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Welcome back, inspection enthusiasts! Ever thought spending more means getting more? This episode will shatter that illusion as we revisit a luxury home nightmare that turned into a multi-million dollar disaster.
Despite a hefty investment, one homeowner discovered their dream home was plagued with faults-from bathrooms to roofing, and plumbing to electrical systems, every inspected area failed to meet compliance.
Experience the homeowner's shock and devastation firsthand. This episode serves as stark evidence that high expenses don't guarantee quality, highlighting the pervasive issues found throughout this high-end property.
This is more than just a tour of a flawed luxury home; it's a crucial lesson for anyone investing in premium real estate. Vigilance remains essential, regardless of the budget.
Note on Reupload: We're bringing this episode back by popular demand, and yes, for the enjoyment of the builder who hoped you wouldn't see it. Dive back into this astonishing reveal of what really goes on in some luxury home construction!
Let’s be clear about this. The game of catch-me-if-you-can between the developers, the councils, the certifiers and the governing authorities is allowed to go on for as long as the penalties for breeches are regarded as just the ‘cost of doing business’.
'Catch me if you can' only applies when there's an appetite to 'catch'. There is none and the system is designed so owners need to expend considerable resources to seek recourse.
@@BharatSuperPower3020 enforcement
i have seen that exact same stamp in the corner of engineering drawings and never quite considered how stupid it is that an engineer can basically ask the tradesman to double check all his calculations and assume responsability
It doesn’t have to be a bad thing, it can simply mean that the plans can cover multiple zoning areas. I was a commissioning engineer so we used to get lots of plans like that, and then we would apply local laws. That said, if a commissioning engineer had double checked it then it will have been signed by the engineer. So check for the approval signature
yea to be fair i have normally understood it as a way of saying they engineer isnt going to draw details for framing or bracing unless it deviates from the norm
@@ra4yu and me, but you very well could be right and it could be seen in a legal situation as the engineer has passed the buck to the contractor which is completely unfair.
In the late 60's during the school holidays I worked for an architectural firm in NZ as a tracer and even then all plans had a notation that, and I quote " all dimensions to be confirmed on site by the builder" arse covering has been going on since Noah subbed out the rudder build for his boat.
That's where the term "bum steer" originated...when Noah tried to guide the Ark after subcontracting out the rudder build!.
No wonder he ended up on a mountain top.....
structural engineer here, not in buildings though. However, its common to have the statement "all dimensions to be confirmed on site by contractor". As we do not always have the exact dimensions provided during the design phase etc and things can be changing throughout the project. Especially in a brown field site. Best is to usually call up a max or min dimension to allow the contractor to move on, and seek advice if it differs outside of those parameters.
Disagree with how the engineer on this drawing has tried to write off any ownership to their design though, but that sums up residential engineering i guess
That electrical work is shameful. I can't believe trades get away with that crap in this day and age.
Shouldn't all buildings go through this process.feel 4 owners😢
Its called progress. Prices going thru the roof, quality goes down the toilet. Both ends covered.
It blows my mind that the inspectors and relevant officials sign off on this pathetic work. It won’t be long before someone is serious hurt/killed and they’re going in the cell. Even if it’s 5 yrs after the build when investigators trace back.
Yeah man it's all dodgy. I suppose it's all well and good for the builders until it's their home they want built... Should all be held accountable, there needs to be a better regulatory body. Saving up for years only to get a fudged house that won't last the test of time is a really sad state of affairs.
There have been, and are Deaths! Of homebuyers, who have died from the stress and financial distress and burden, I know of at least 2 who died of heart attacks, a miscarriage, or family plans delayed for years, cancer diagnoses, serious and debiltating depression & anxiety, as to be classified as mental illness, loss of employment, (when need the most), marriage & relationship breakdowns, divorces, children losing their families. And to tradespeople, unacceptable rate of workplace deaths and accidents which also kept quiet. The horrific consequences of bad, defective building and FAILED Consumer Protection and expensive and Years long inadequate, compensation systems are horrific, AND all been reported to Matthew Guy when in Planning , and Every main party State and Federally, by voluntary consumer groups and we were shut down and ignored! 😭 Bad builders should be Jailed!
They are obviously paid off..
I think lots of these trades can sign off on their own work to say it’s up to code, right? Like electricians giving certificates for smoke alarms and RCDs.
I very much respect you and the service you provide.
I have zero building qualifications but seriously considering becoming a luxury home or highrise builder in Victoria. Lol
go for it, at least u can write & speak English!
Well at least you know that the VBA won't give a shit about the quality of your work.
I can sell you the cardboard and glue
this is Raygun said about break dancing and she broke it!
@@2inthepink1inthestink11 99.99999% of Aussies never knew who she was before that stunt
Thanks!
Thank you 😊
This is why its always best to buy something built in the 90s, 80s, 70s, or 60s. The houses may be old, but they were structurally built strong. My house is 1959 and has a few minor cracks in some of the walls, but overall, it is structurally fine.
Same for cars unfortunately
Agree generally. Older places should be better but I have seen some real shit boxes as well. I was an owner builder on my own place in the mid 80's and then large extension in mid 90's Mate, there is not a single crack outside anywhere and to quote what the council inspector said of my frame for the extension.." in all my years in this work, I've never seen a frame built as strong as that"... and all I did ( I was the carpenter here) was use several extra studs at openings, lots of sheet bracing on walls , steel lintels instead of wood etc etc.
yep, spot on, we used to live in a house built then, and all the timber work was 100% hardwood, no pine anywhere.
Not "Safety First", but "Safety Worst". Dangerous not only for the neighbours but the on site trades.
Non compliant!
I’ve watched several of your videos and one thing that amazes me is the roofs. The design / construction techniques appear to guarantee future leaks. Having a poorly constructed and supported sump that’s mounted above the living space with the drain plumbing running through the house or above the ceiling seems bizarre…
i agree totally, it looks so thin , and all that silastic everywhere is only going to degrade.
When the general public knows this is the quality they get and simply stop paying to have new houses built and all the work dries up, trades and builders might have to change a few things. I’m never building a new house again, that’s for sure.
This is a re-upload. It's an impressive investigation but I hoped that there'd, at least, be an update attached.
knew for sure when i saw the vacuum, hope the builder found it
youtube might have found the last version to be ... non-compliant.
@@retrozmachine1189 it's a shamozzle.
How about going back to see if things have been fixed and become " compliant "???
It would be better to get consistent videos or do we only see a bad one out of a hundred making me skeptical about Aus building regulations.
You should put link to the Full original Z, I remember it as the most shockingly bad build from top to bottom, from the horrid retaining walls and preflooded ground floor drainage to the horrible roof framing, just layer upon layer of travesty. I hope that builder hears 'non-compliant non-compliant' in his dreams every night.
100% calling you when i start building. Are you able to educate everyone on how to pick a good builder to avoid these issues? i know thats super hard but this makes me so nervous about building.
My question is, will any of these things even get fixed? No one holds these builders accountable do they? So effectively building could continue with no rectification?
different rules for different states. But this is why so many builders to try get this man removed from doing inspections. This is a multimillion dollar home and thats the state of it. Shocking
Except the builders is in breach of contract and won't get any more money. This is liable to go to court and the site will be dormant for years.
Wellsaid mike thumbs up for that.
i was thinking the same thing, im guessing the builder can just give it up and cut his loss due to a dispute, hopefully the client didnt pay up front (or the deposit covers very little of the work). Im sure there's tribunals etc. you can take them to court over but that takes years and a lot of cash id assume. He has mentioned before about the tens of thousands of cases pending arbitration, sadly this step is just the beginning of the process.
@@seanworkman431 so what is your suggestion I think when you see what has happened it’s too late
Cleaning up the industry 1 shit build at a time.
I do civil construction, a engineer usually has to tick off each critical step before we proceed to the next. I think that needs to be done on houses too with the Inspectors checking
Name and shame all these dodgy builders and tradesmen
Nice to see u making normal length videos finally
You should be given your own TV show to reach a wider audience. I'm sure it would spark a greater conversation in Australia about building standards.
@@kylejordan8768 he could have a standing 5 minute spot on ACA uncovering these dodgy builds
Out of all the tradies that build a house you would think one of them would make the homeowner aware
I do a lot of cladding with stone similar to tiling. Stop being cheap with the glue ffs. A completely bonded tile or stone will also not break if there is impact due it not having hollow parts. Home job, suit yourself but if it's contracted charge more or don't take on the cheap shortcut jobs. Do it once do it right
Unreal with that live wire cable and the rusted beams 😯
You’re doing a great job mate, I want to see what happens next when you handover your report with all non-compliance things. How long it takes builder to fix? What are the charges if they failed to fix issues?
Imagine paying seven million for a build and ending up with a dogs breakfast result like this. What a disgrace
Everyone is bagging chinese build quality...meanwhile in our own backyard.
Drop by some building sites and see who the tilers, painters, and waterproofes are.
LOL!
Take a wild guess where these subbies are from...
@@Charliechorizowhere? I seen mainly arabs and white aussies being confronted here.
Everything manufactured in Australia is crap. No one cares over here.
@@brandonvernet The tilers, painters and waterproofers are non qualified foreigners. When I say non qualified I mean they haven’t done a trade school in Australia to understand Aussie standards.
I hate mastic. I did my own tiling at home and it was all mortar and decoupling membrane as per Schluter’s manual. It’s so simple. I’m surprised people mess with half-assery. It really is easier to do it right.
It’s a sad state of affairs when you can post so regularly. An indictment on the Oz construction industry.
Your industry is in crisis when I undertook my apprenticeship back in the late 70s the first thing we were taught was to keep a clean job site
I built myself a large multi million dollar property in the late 2000s and I had to teach all the contractors to spend 15 minutes at the end of the day cleaning up it was terrible
I don’t envy anybody building a new property today all I can say is be vigilant
Spot on 15mins at the end of the day tidy up the site, it keeps the work pride throughout the build
A friend commissioned the building of his house.
Every night my friend and his wife would go through the house and clear up all the builders' debris and sweep the concrete slab floor.
The gib/drywall guys were so impressed that they knocked $500 off the bill as well as doing a first class job quickly since their workplace was always safe underfoot...and under their mobile scaffolding.
It's worth both time and money to keep job sites clean......
More examples of the low quality building work going on in Australia, just terrible. Problem is a lot of houses are bought then rented out completely over priced and the tenant is stuck waiting for the issues to be fixed. Glad I haven't bought a house in Australia, what a waste of money
It's appalling to see the subpar workmanship displayed by some builders and tradespeople. Considering most homes are lifetime investments, it's astonishing they're willing to compromise quality. The lack of attention to detail and compliance is staggering.
Personally, I was taught to take pride in my work, regardless of its simplicity or complexity. From my early days flipping burgers at McDonald's to various minor tasks like cleaning, I've always strived for excellence. It's disheartening to think some professionals don't share this ethos, leaving homeowners with a costly mess.
this is tragic ... how can anyone justify building a house these days without regular independent inspections?
They bored through all those jack studs too (where you were commenting on roof bracing straps) to get their conduit through
I noticed that too 😅
Is this a re-upload? I could have sworn I watched this or near identical one before. Cable on side attached to back fence and everything
It is....
Its a low voltage cable but still deadly.
I’m a roof carpenter from WA whenever something is cut wrong I now say it’s a complete shamozzle.
At the very start of watching this channel I was looking for Standley knifes on the roof thinking they were box cutters left on the roof
keep up the great work!
Spot fixing those tiles is just so sloppy 😢
They weren't expecting visitors with an X-ray/thermal camera!
A builder could make a lot of money doing it right the first time. More cost and effort to start with but no re-dos, no fix ups, no legal problems, much less time over all and no stress or looking over your shoulder.
Crazy, builds like this pass inspection!!
Sad to see this is what happens in a first world country. The positive is that I find the direct references back to the Australian Standards, drawings, manufacturer's installation requirements invaluable as they are great learning opportunities.
I've been following you along I subscribe 2 months ago, i find your video of interesting, one good point the block series do you reckon you will find lots of errors and shonky work in the block the TV series.
Thanks again keep it up you doing a great job thumbs up for you👍
$7M and they have a live wire exposed. SMH. This is unsafe and should be shut down immediately, with all building, plumbing, tiling, electrical, engineers, concreting, architectural and other registrations should be revoked and the buildings condemned. Buyers to have their money refunded by insurance companies and assets of all of these thugs.
I was indeed flabbergasted !
Australian construction codes and standards on quality assurance doesn't exist, where are the inspectors and how are they fined for lack of duty of care or responsibility?
Thats what u get for using, straight off the boat, fresh tracksuit pants with vinyl leather jackets, english as an option
They all do it. I had a guy supposedly a freshly qualified tiler/plumber redoing my bathroom and among a whole host of problem I caught him affixing tiles with a silicone gun and then grouting over it like the tiles weren't immediately going to move and destroy the grout.
He hadn't got off the boat, he'd be taught by his father who also was supposedly a qualified tiler/plumber, both of them were shit.
Then they tried to harass me to pay for their shit work before it was completed, before they fixed anything and after I made them fix the shit they tried to bill me extra for new materials they had to buy to replace stuff they'd screwed up.
For example, they made a mistake in the shower recess, and it was not the correct dimensions, they tried to bill me for new glass that was the right size, yet they were the morons doing all the work, I didn't order the materials.
Fair call but there is a fair bit in our own backyard that are downright dumb. Half would not know a sabre saw from a stepladder. As long as they can suck down their energy drinks and puff on a ciggy all good.
Don’t forget sausage rolls for breakfast & lunch
had tto pause it for 5 seconds Zafir, i needed to get my popcorn. - jokes aside, this is bullshit, at EVERY level of responsibility there is major non compliance.
Hi mate. Is there anyway you can go back and show some of these builds that you have reported? I’m sure a lot of people would like to see if they actually have fixed the problems and the outcome.
Great Intro
Can you show a compliant house? Do they exist?
Of course, his one lol
Just wondering when you say stuff like these tiles and floor are going to have to come out,,does it actually happen or they just cover it up somehow?
i guess its easier to spot dab thinset but its not that much faster then doing a proper full notch on wall and skim coat the tile
As 3012, 2.5.2 states construction wiring can not be attached to a free standing fence. The wiring breaks several requirements of the standard
That sparky & builder/trades need to loose their licences!!
Better if they lose their licences....
Remember, just because you’re spending more, doesn’t mean you’re getting more.
It means a lot of other people are making a lot of money off you, and unfortunately, it’s now up to you, to make sure they have earned that money.
You put in opening credits LOL. CSI -NON COMPLIANT
This spot fixing of tiles is a real problem and caused water leakage if you fully cover the tiles with adhesive there will be no leakage what so ever
Everyone knows absolutely none of this will be fixed. The builder will just deny all of it and they will have no choice to accept it or abandon the project and their money.
I bet none of the issues he finds for any of the inspections get fixed
@@MrBronsen15 it's true they don't there is no recourse
@@thinktechnicallyit’s all a waste of time then. The only winners are site inspections because the owners are out of pocket paying him as well.
Such a shit system
Demolition straight away😮😮
Seen many junk plans with caveats on trying to absolve the engineer or builder of their responsibility. Good job the engineer has to have professional indemnity insurance which can be claimed against
Are all these non compliant issues enforceable before the house can be signed off ?
Poor Ozito vacuum also hiding from you, you found it, non complaint
It must be disappointing for the owner , even 7 m homes , it dosent matter if it's wrong it's wrong !
electrical circuits cannot be run along a fence according to Work Safe Vic
Imagine loaning someone $7 million for a construction project. You never check on how the project is going and you never hire a professional to check up on the different stages of the project. In addition, you have no contract with contingency clauses in it to stop payment if a stage of the project isn't up to code. Shouldn't the mortgage company have some interest in their collateral? Redux 2008.
Please turn on close captioning for us hard of hearing. Thanks!!
It works on my end. Hit 'CC'
Would love to know if that's the 'grey' mode on the Flir. Mine doesnt show the glue spots.
the caped crusader !!!
14:06 Needs to be attended to
😬ASAPeeeeeya
The people spot fixing the tiles for a living must know that it’s not compliant and wrong, they’re wilfully doing the wrong thing to cut corners and save themselves time and money ripping off the customer… 🤦♂️
that big wire is a massive risk
This is one identical to one that was done before, is this a re-upload or an identical place that was done before showing all the exact same things ?
hey get your self a endoscope so you can insert cam with light 👍 then you can find even more non compliant shamozzles
Hey brother, extracts come out Blurry. Would be great if you could make them clear so we can have a proper read!
As a builder you should know , but if your unsure the engineer is only a phone call away .
Something tells me none of these repairs are going to even be done it seems like there is nobody official checking behind these guys
Given the state of the rebar in the concrete, or should I say, on top of the concrete, all the concrete has to be x-rayed to check if it's structurally sound. if they fucked up one part then it's almost certain they screwed up others. That concrete has to be destroyed and rebuilt. Those steel beams need to be removed, cleaned and rust proofed before being installed.
Just to do those two things basically the whole place has to come apart.
Another quality Aussie built project..she’ll be right, is what it is.
Barely any real tradesmen exist anymore it’s just install and apply and they struggle with that!
Starts at basic level. Wood once rated as merchant 2nd grade now stamped as structural. In eg Bummings. How it gets stamped is a mystery re its quality. Piles of it get rejected by customers as they sort through it sits in wood racks unstacked bent and knotted/ faulty.
Is it possible to get a post that show how these issues have been resolved.
To the so called tradies involved, if you wouldn't do it to your own home why do it to somebody else's home.
Cause they just got off the boat, fresh tracksuit pants with vinyl leather jackets
@@AM-tn4omnah most are Australian . Just under too much pressure / lazy / greedy and just lack the skills.
Building Commission staff selling licences to mates fior years, 3 VBA staff recently arrested, licences being "borrowed", or sold. Shut down of trade schools thanks you little prick, John Howard.. Now Intergenerational bad building, and jerry builder immigrants somehow operating. Privatisation of Building Surveyors so a conflict of interest re their income, not enough inspecting. Tiling not registered trade.
Do people realise all that Silicon sealant will fail after 25 years? 🤔
These houses are getting so shonky, that they're akin to Tofu Dreg Chinese constructions.
Do architects ever call on a Building Inspector to QA the drawings before soil is turned
my shipping container cost 1750 delivered, and its better built. glad i never fell for the "luxurious mansion" BS... no mortgage, no debt, and if i want a new window, i just cut a hole with the angle grinder.
oooh, bit windy. me extension come verandah is flapping around... might need another rope on the tarp!
Do these ever get fully repaired to the correct state?
May God give you strength and protect you from the evil of the wicked and extend your power, O teacher, so that you may protect people from fraud.🏝️
I assume then that the framing and roofing wasn’t constructed to allow the required box gutter and sump sizes either. If that is the case how should the design process hold a chain of responsibility that removes these failures in a now very flawed construction industry. As the old saying goes, a fish rots from the head down.
have you ever seen correct waterproofing? seems to me, they always get this wrong
An Ozito vacuum? Are they leaving more garage around for you to find?
Does the work to fix get done.
Do you go back to see if they are fixed and compliant.
Can they sue the building inspector.
Where is all the Compliance work? Nowhere to be seeeen!
I want to know what the owner/buyer said when they saw the report and what is being done to correct it?
Also this should be a regular TV show. Get it out to the masses and show what these clowns are doing when you're paying hundreds of thousands or millions for them to build your houses.
Hold on as much as the engineer/draftee is at fault council should be as well for approving it
5 seconds in and an Electrical/Datacomms box screwed to a fence. Non compliant.
Why would anyone be a builder when you can be a building inspector
Bring back trade schools and decent 'qualifications' in the building industry, current 'training' is a big fail all around.
Just research more before spending your money like that, there are some good builders around for sure, just check their history etc, try to talk to previous customers, go check it out some of the builder previous jobs, DONT BE LAZY, do your part first.
How many people would open their homes to randoms walking through their houses tearing open seals and drywall to check builders work? Exactly zero is the answer.
You cannot be serious! 👀
They're bringing in unqualified engineers