News Archive: 2009
Leaky homes will cost $11.3b to fix - report
(Source: NZ Herald)
Between 22,000 and 89,000 properties are affected by the leaky homes problem and the estimated cost of fixing them is $11.3 billion, a report released today says.
"The damage is much larger than anyone had previously wanted to acknowledge," said Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson, who commissioned the PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
"This leaves thousands of New Zealanders in a terrible position - they may not be able to borrow the money to repair their homes, or to sell them, so their single most important asset is decaying in front of their eyes."
Mr Williamson said the report estimated that only a minority of leaky homes - around 3500 - had been repaired to date and about 9000 had gone beyond the 10-year legal liability time period.
"Issues can be laid at the doorstep of a lot of people and organisations, but the blame game has been played for too long - now it's time to act," Mr Williamson said.
"That's why the Government is bringing together a package as a priority to help affected homeowners repair their homes and move on."
Timber frames: Warning bells are ringing
(Source: Building.co.uk )
By Thomas Lane
The blaze that swept through a Peckham street two weeks ago has left the timber-frame industry in little doubt that, next time, lives may soon be lost. But can the sector do more to ensure there is no next time?
There have been plenty of fires in big, half-built timber-framed developments, but nothing like Peckham. Radiant heat and embers from the south London blaze ignited neighbouring properties in the early hours of Thursday, 26 November, gutting a four-storey block of maisonettes, badly damaging another, spreading to two more and forcing 310 people from their homes.
The images of these burned-out council flats, less than a mile from Lakanal House, the sixties council tower block where six people died in a fire in July, has concentrated minds. Many people are acutely aware that next time a timber-frame scheme goes up, people might die. Jonathan O'Neil, the managing director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), was quick to voice this fear in the aftermath of Peckham: "Ministers must act now before such fires not only ruin people's homes and possessions but cause serious injury or tragic loss of life."
The flames may have long since died down in Peckham, but the sparks are continuing to fly. The FPA and the Chief Fire Officers Association have called for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to increase safety checks on big timber-frame construction sites. Meanwhile, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is concerned about the rocketing cost of commercial fire claims and has identified timber-frame construction as one of the contributing factors. It is mulling over the findings of its recently published paper, Tackling Fire: A Call for Action.
Unsurprisingly, the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) is rattled. It has seen the intense media scrutiny of the Lakanal House fire and is all too aware of the repercussions should people die in a timber-frame blaze. "A fire like Peckham has the potential to really damage the timber frame industry," says Geoff Arnold, the body's chairman. It is easy to imagine a scenario in which nationwide panic prompts homebuyers to steer clear of completed timber-framed properties, despite the fact that they are safe once built. So - with its 25% market share of the country's new-build housing at stake - what will the timber frame sector do now?
Cracking down
Previous fires have led the UKTFA to produce guidance aimed at making timber-frame sites safer. The advice includes designing out hot works, the safe storage of flammable materials, good site security and the early installation of cladding and plasterboard. The problem is that the timber-frame contractor has no power to ensure safety standards are maintained after it has put the frame up and left the job. In Peckham, the frame had been signed off before the fire.
To combat this problem, safety consultant International Fire Consultants (IFC) launched a third-party accreditation scheme in 2007, aimed at contractors. This provided training and guidance for firms, as well as site inspections. However, for a number of reasons - but primarily the implementation costs - it only ever did one job.
Because this had so little impact, the UKTFA is launching its own accreditation scheme, called Site Safe. From January, UKTFA members will fully brief contractors on the risks of fires and will pay organisations including warranty provider the NHBC to carry out inspections. The scheme will apply to timber-frame jobs of more than four storeys or 2,500m2 and any UKTFA member working on these jobs must participate.
But Arnold is still aware that the inspectors have no power to make contractors change site practice. "A contractor that doesn't take this seriously poses a real risk to us," he says. And the chances that contractors will ignore the advice are high because, as with the IFC scheme, some of the measures could be expensive. Permanent security, for example, could be necessary in high-risk areas.
In addition, there are concerns about the procedure. The idea is that inspectors would report unsafe working practices to the timber-frame manufacturer, who could take a range of action from complaining to the offending contractor to tipping off the HSE. Arnold agrees that informing on customers could be seen as bad for business. "There is a danger of that, so it has to be handled delicately," he says. "But the risk of another Peckham outweighs that, so isn't that worth a robust discussion with the contractor?"
Peter Jackman, the IFC's chair, is sceptical about the plan. "It takes a detailed assessment and a lot of analysis to understand the risks specific to a site," he says. The IFC scheme involved assessing the risks, training the contractor to tackle these and conducting follow-up checks, something Jackson reckons could cost £3,000 for a four-storey, 2,500m2 development. He says: "The timber-frame industry is still looking for a cheapjack accreditation scheme as a cure all."
A costly business
Whether the UKTFA scheme works remains to be seen, but either way the risks of building with timber frame are likely to force costs up. Commercial fire claims increased 16% between 2007 and 2008, and are now running at £1.5bn a year, the highest level for 20 years. The upshot of the ABI's recent research could well be that new terms and conditions are imposed on policyholders, as happened in the nineties after a series of site fires.
"The insurers could say this is how you have to build with timber frame, or maybe the contractor would have to go on a course that really spells out the risks of building with it," says Peter Bressington, director of the fire engineering division of Arup. "If the contractor hadn't done this and there was a claim there could be some comeback from the insurer."
He adds that imposing terms and conditions on the industry in the nineties worked, as the number of fires did fall.
More pressure could come from the HSE if it heeds the calls for more safety checks on timber frame sites. It says fire safety on sites is already a priority and that it is preparing its strategy for the next financial year. "We will factor in what happened [at Peckham]," says Philip White, the HSE's chief inspector of construction, adding once the investigation at Peckham has been concluded any lessons will be fed back into the industry. Either way, contractors should prepare for higher costs and more scrutiny when building with timber frame. The alternative is far worse: a serious, fatal fire could also mean the death of an industry.
Steel Housing Companies Update: DW Homes
DW HOMES & IMPACT STEEL FRAMES
We have now partnered with Impact Steel Frames to be able to provide our customers with a choice of building frames. Steel has long been regarded as a renewable, durable and versatile construction material used in the world's most sophisticated buildings and skyscrapers. Giving our customers a choice is an important part for us in striving for a great customer service experience. Steel framing can span greater distances, allowing greater design flexibility. Interior walls can be placed without load-bearing considerations.
Steel frames provide structural rigidity and does not warp or settle over time; hence it remains airtight throughout the lifetime of the house, which means cost savings in term of keeping the house warm. Due to pre fabrication, a steel frame house can to be completed quicker than a timber framed house, saving on labour cost.
Steel being an eco friendly product was also a significant factor of why we have chosen to partner with Impact Steel Frames. Steel can easily be produced with minimal raw material wastage and can be easily recycled numerous times without losing its' quality or strength.
Merv Giam
Sales & Marketing Manager
DW HOMES
Light Steel-framed House Gets the Earthquake Test
(Source: 'BUILD' Oct/Nov 2009 issue)
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Point Ridge Project (Completed in 2007)
(Source: 'Progressive Building' June/July 2007 issue)
Steel Housing Companies Update: Navigation Homes
With the strength of over 30 years experience in the building industry, national buying power and partnering with the best well known quality brands, Navigation Homes is in a position to offer their clients the very best homes at the best possible prices.
Company Director Aaron Hall is a qualified builder by trade, but has spent most of his 30 year career in senior management positions in the building industry and has worked for such iconic building product companies such as Firth Industries, James Hardie and GIB Living Solutions. In the last 7 years Aaron has been the New Zealand General Manager and later Managing Director of large national housing companies & has taken the best of that experience and is applying it to the Navigation Homes offer.
Establishing a formal National Supply Agreement with Impact Steel Frames, a part of the Kiwi Steel Group, Aaron is excited about being able to offer Navigation Home's clients the option of steel framing at no extra cost.
With branches established in the North Waikato, Counties, East Auckland, West Auckland and the North Shore and branches about to open in the Waikato this exciting new housing brand is set to make an impression in the market and look to build great homes that their owners will love to live in and that other housing companies will envy.
Navigation Homes has a diverse range of standard plans, starting from the Compass Series for the first homebuyer market, through to the Nautical Series a funky Bach range of plans and the Designer Series which is an architectually designed range of larger more impressive homes. All come with a seven year Masterbuild Guarantee and a 60 day maintenance period.
Steel Housing Companies Update: DW Homes
www.dwhomes.co.nz
Axxis Steel® for Consumers
View the PDF file here
Axxis Steel®: Another Way to Build
View the PDF file here
Impact in Auckland Home Show 2009
You are welcomed to visit us and our partners at the Auckland Home Show this year. We are located in Hall 14.
Show hours:
Wednesday 9th September 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10th September 10am - 7pm
Friday 11th September 10am - 9pm
Saturday 12th September 10am - 9pm
Sunday 13th September 10am - 6pm
Horizon Homes
Horizon Homes is a specialist kitset home business supplying our customers affordable, appealing and sustainable kitset homes to deliver you more home...for less. Our vision at Horizon Homes is simply...
"To make affordable, sustainable homes accessible to all"Affordable homes...
We specialise in supplying kitset homes because we believe it delivers the most value to our customers. This way, our customers can decide how much or how little they want to contribute towards the building of their home.
Appealing homes...
By using modern design and well trusted, durable materials your home will provide superior comfort and a sound investment for many years to come.
Sustainable homes...
Let's look at the lifetime effect of a building's design and materials and how this affects the occupants and the environment in which we live, work and play. Some call it sustainable building, we like to think of it as responsible, thoughtful building.
www.horizonhomes.co.nz
Media: Axxis Steel® - A Better Way to Build
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Jennian Homes
FOR A HOME YOU CAN REALLY MAKE YOUR OWN, BUILD WITH JENNIAN HOMES.
Now building with Jennian Homes just got smarter with Tim offering steel frames on all his designs!
Building a new home is possibly the most important investment you will ever make for you and your family. With so many factors to consider, from planning through to the finishing touches, it can also be a daunting process, but we do our best to make it easy and enjoyable.
Jennian Homes have a strong reputation for providing innovation, quality and superior customer service. To build your new home, we can work from one of our inspirational plans and add your personal touches, or take you through the process of a unique design and build project for your dream home. By utilising this collaborative process of building and design, Jennian Homes has helped create dream homes for thousands of New Zealanders. The final result is a beautiful new dream home that combines Your Personality and Our Expertise.
www.jennian.co.nz
Steeling Home
Rounding third at last, light gauge is poised to score big
(Source: BuilderOnline.com)
By Iris Richmond
Jeffrey Prostor, president of Brookfield Homes, likes turning the tables. He asks people to imagine a history in which builders have been using steel, instead of wood, for the past 100 years. Imagine what would transpire if such a builder were approached by someone, product in hand, proposing the use of wood:
"Here's wood. Now, I have to warn you that it's heavier to carry and not as straight; it warps, cracks, and squeaks; it can catch fire; it doesn't span as well; and its price per foot will fluctuate. Did I mention that it's organic and therefore susceptible to mold? Oh, and there's this bug you should know about, it's called a termite ... ."
Prostor is sold on steel. In the early 1990s, he firmly pulled up a chair at the steel table and helped pioneer the use of a product that, until recently, had no infrastructure to support it.
Codes Catch Up
Prescriptive methods for working with steel took effect in 2000, when the material began to be covered in residential building codes. There are now more than 3,000 trained steel-code officials, and the membership base of the North American Steel Framing Alliance (NASFA) expanded from 52 to over 400 members in the last three years.
Taciturn Tiles: This diagram represents the Dietrich Metal Framing floor joists that should keep Centex's homes squeak-free. "Today, it's easier for production builders to use steel. There are fewer hurdles in the way, but many are only dipping their toes," says Prostor, whose Costa Mesa, Calif., company builds 700 homes each year, half of them using steel. He cuts cycle time in half when working with steel.
The use of steel in home building has increased 300 percent over the past three years, according to NASFA data, particularly in such locations as Hawaii, where 70 percent of all homes are built with some amount of steel.
Centex Slides In
Centex Homes' division in Columbus, Ohio, began using steel in its flooring systems to combat a constant thorn in its side. Of the roughly 300 homes built yearly by the division, 85 percent generated callbacks associated with floor squeaks and twists, humps, or dips in the floor.
"Frankly, there's nothing we hate more than having to put customers up in a hotel room for three days while our crew rips their floor up to fix wood joists that either twisted, bowed, or weren't installed properly to begin with," says Bob Gardner, purchasing and estimating manager for the division.
In early February, Centex partnered with Dietrich Metal Framing, a Worthington Industries company in Columbus and the largest manufacturer of steel products in the United States. The move marks the first use of steel undertaken by the division, which hopes to produce up to 200 hybrid homes during 2002, ranging in prices from $300,000 to $400,000.
"We believe that for builders unaccustomed to working with steel, it starts with the floor systems, where it's most cost-effective. We can come in 10 percent to 15 percent less on material costs, and there's less of a learning curve," says Chris Singleton, Dietrich's manager of business development.
This marks Centex's second attempt at giving Dietrich's TradeReady flooring system a go. Two years ago, the Denver division's trial run with Dietrich ended unsuccessfully with crews walking off jobs.
"The homes sold, but the project left everybody with a bad taste in their mouth with respect to steel," says Larry Leisge, construction services manager for the division. "It cost us three months, some egg on our face, and we were forced to abandon the project altogether because we had no support." When asked whether his division would ever try again, Leisge admits to feeling more than a little gun shy.
Jeff Prostor acknowledges that, despite advances, the steel industry is still struggling to penetrate the home building market. Training is a big part of it, he says, along with "a complete change in mindset and attitude."
Centex's Gardner credits Dietrich with supplying the complete package this time around, including expert trainers, and a long-term plan. Still, the division is starting small to test the waters, he says.
"I'm not trying to be ahead of the game. I'm just trying to put a better product in a house," says Gardner, who figures he can save $100 per house in warranty expenses. (Brookfield saves $300 to $450.) However, he considers them neither here nor there when weighed against more damaging, hidden costs.
"If you have problems with your wood, customers won't want to buy another Centex home. How do you measure that? Steel takes some of the guesswork out of making our homeowners happy."
Another Heavy Hitter
Lennar Homes reduced framing cycle time by 40 percent in its Southern California division since it began using steel a year and a half ago.
"We're always looking at alternative products and methods for operational efficiencies," says Dave Ball, the region's director of product development. "The steady decline in wood quality, coupled with its rising costs, prompted us to look forward in the marketplace five years and make the investment in steel now."
Lennar is expanding its steel operations -- including doing its own panelization -- from one to six California divisions, and it plans 10 hybrid communities for this calendar year.
"Steel is lighter than wood, which is easier on our crews, and lends itself better to panelization as a process," says Ball.
"There are less stucco cracks, we have cleaner jobsites, and liability costs are down by 20 percent for us, as well as for the homeowners. Bottom line: It's a wash for us right now, so we'll take the better product."
Chuck Robertson, president and COO of Whitepoint Homes and Steel Homes, a panelizing company, in Summerville, S.C., uses one word to describe the benefits of steel: profit.
"Steel escapes the vicious cycle of fluctuating costs -- 2 percent to 3 percent compared to 3 percent to 15 percent for wood -- and gives control back to the builder," says Robertson, who plans to build just under 100 homes this year.
Nicholas Lane, a framing contractor company based in Anaheim, Calif., which works with both Brookfield and Lennar, has been working with steel since 1993. "We would build all of our homes in steel if we could, but 40 percent of our clients still ask for wood," says Todd Setter, the company's director of client development.
Setter's appreciation for steel springs from the product's stronger weight ratio and longer spans, which allow framers to eliminate beams in the basement and take advantage of design possibilities that would be cost-prohibitive with wood.
"Many of Brookfield's homes, for example, look custom built, an added touch that comes at no extra cost to the builder, or to the purchaser," says Setter.
AXXIS: A Better Way to Build
Download AXXIS / NZ Steel Brochure
Timber and Aresnic Protection
(Source: 'BUILD' June/July 2009 issue)
Timber and Aresnic Protection
NASH Newsletter: June 2009
NASH Newsletter: June 2009
Residential Steel Framing
(Source: 'BUILD' February/March 2009 issue)
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Sustainable Steel
Did you know steel is the most recycled material in the world?
In fact steel is a low waste product and is 100% recyclable (again and again) without losing its mechanical properties.
Learn more about the Sustainability Journey by watching the video link at www.sustainablesteel.co.nz under the WHY STEEL?, WHY STEEL? links.
NASH Newsletter: January 2009
NASH Newsletter: January 2009
The Squeaky Homes Scandal
(Click on the image to enlarge)