Expert Report - Buying a Plaster Clad House | Moisture Detection Company Ltd

The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid when Buying a Plaster-Clad House

A plaster-clad house can be the bargain of the century or a financial time bomb.

The time to find out is before you buy.

This no-nonsense expert report contains the essential education buyers need to avoid making expensive mistakes.

Bonus Free Offer – Weathertightness Risk Assessment

Send us photos of the house and any details you have. Our experts will give you a free weathertightness risk assessment valued at $150 plus GST.

Ian at Moisture Detection clearly has a wealth of knowledge on all topics related to building weather tightness. More importantly he had the knowledge on all the options for addressing the leaks. Those options were discussed with me and I agreed on a scope of work. Moisture Detection undertook work, at a reasonable price, to improve weather tightness (windows, barge boards, roof flashing), remove gib and inspect some areas, and inject RotStop throughout the house. Some repairs were also conducted by a registered builder. Now with annual moisture readings I have been able to correct any causes of high moisture readings and have confidence in the condition of my plaster clad home. I have no hesitation in recommending Moisture Detection to any current or potential plaster home owner.

Bob

Hauraki

From the moment I first met MDC in 2013, I have been in awe of their commitment to total professionalism in every aspect of their business. Their expertise is beyond question – they are true specialists in the area of Moisture Detection and action to be taken to lessen the probability of damage occurring. MDC radiate the feeling that to them, the client is paramount and they have always gone out of their way to assist me in considering action to be taken from time to time. I have been totally satisfied with all the work they have done for me over the 8 years I have been using them. Without question, they are my first port of call for any house Moisture issues.

Murray

Mission Bay

This our first home buying experience in NZ and just want to say how much we have appreciated your knowledge, insights and integrity throughout this whole process. It feels freeing to talk to someone who is science based and grounded in their principles. You have not tried to up sell like so many others that are coming through our house have tried.

Thank you so much and we look forward to long-term partnership with you and your team.

Timothy

St Leonard’s Bay

I was recommended to Moisture Detection Company by a building inspector who highly recommended their weathertightness services.

I was very impressed with the level of service and their prompt inspection to accommodate my tight timeframes to go unconditional on a contract. Another thing that impressed me was the level of information they provided, along with the solutions to fix the problem without creating a whole lot of extra expenses.

This service was exceptional and they are great communicators.

I would highly recommend Moisture Detection Company to any homeowner who needs a weathertightness inspection. I also think every plaster clad home should have moisture probes installed to ensure early detection of leaks to provide a safe and healthy home.

Krissy

Wellington

In this report, you will learn:

The risks involved in buying a plaster-clad house.
How to identify which houses are most at risk and which are safer.
Why standard visual inspections and thermal imaging cannot tell you if a plaster-clad house is safe to buy – and what inspections are required.
If you do buy,
- How to make and keep your house safe and dry.
- How to protect your investment so you can sell in the future.
Where to get expert advice and support.
How the regulators, experts and councils failed plaster-clad houses (and continue to let them down today.

Why you must know this before buying a plaster-clad house

When buying a plaster-clad house, you must be aware of the disastrous failures of New Zealand’s building regulations. Tens of thousands of houses were built with substandard materials, workmanship and council inspections, leading to the ‘leaky homes crisis’.

All plaster-clad houses from this time can now be bought cheaper – some are great buying, others are not.

If you want to know how to find and buy a bargain, then maintain and add value to your investment, this expert report is your starting point.

When buying a plaster-clad house, many look great on the surface and buyers convince themselves that it must be OK. When we test the house properly we find that there are big problems, but then it’s too late.

Ian Holyoake, a former plaster cladding manufacturer, and now Managing Director of Moisture Detection Company, clearly explains the dilemma facing potential buyers. You will discover how the leaky home fiasco came to pass, how to find out which houses are lower risk, how to de-risk the sales process and how to maintain and preserve the value of the house if you do buy.