Whats the difference and how can it help identify defective building work??
According to the Home Building Act:
“major defect” means:
(a) a defect in a major element of a building that is attributable to defective design, defective or faulty workmanship, defective materials, or a failure to comply with the structural performance requirements of the National Construction Code (or any combination of these), and that causes, or is likely to cause:
(i) the inability to inhabit or use the building (or part of the building) for its intended purpose, or
(ii) the destruction of the building or any part of the building, or
(iii) a threat of collapse of the building or any part of the building, or
(b) a defect of a kind that is prescribed by the regulations as a major defect.
“major element” of a building means:
(a) an internal or external load-bearing component of a building that is essential to the stability of the building, or any part of it (including but not limited to foundations and footings, floors, walls, roofs, columns and beams), or
(b) a fire safety system, or
(c) waterproofing, or
(d) any other element that is prescribed by the regulations as a major element of a building.
Minor Defects are those which do not affect a major element of the building and generally pertain to cabinetry and painting etc.
New home owners should be aware that the painting of some surfaces such as a structural post or beam protects the building component from corrosion (and structural degradation) therefore not all painting is considered minor.
So your new home building work is protected by legislation which states what the builder is responsible to rectify and for how long.
Major defects are covered for a minimum of 6 years after PCI.
Minor Defects — for 120 days after Practical Completion Inspection
