Builder shortage behind quality concern
"What we do have missing … is a clerk of works on the site who is the independent eyes and ears for quality control." Professor Robyn Phipps
Builders are concerned quality may be sacrificed as the construction industry struggles to keep up with demand.
Building activity has soared over recent years. Since a low of just over 1000 a month in 2011, the number of consents issued has risen steadily to 2463 this January.
But with increasing demand to get buildings finished, and fewer qualified and experienced staff available to help with the work, there are concerns that corners may be cut.
A government inquiry, Operation Landing, visited 152 sites in South Auckland and the North Shore over 12 days at the end of 2016. It found licensed building practitioners (LBPs) were absent at 81.3 per cent of sites.
LBPs are certified to carry out structural or weathertightness work and sign off others’ work. There were issues with plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying at more than a quarter of the sites.
David Kelly, chief executive of Master Builders, said it had often been the case that whenever there was a spike in building activity, there were quality problems.
‘‘You get a whole lot of new players coming into the business, people who decide: ‘There’s plenty of work; I can set up a building business.’ Up until about five years ago anyone could do that.
‘‘Now you need an LBP but even so I don’t think there’s a huge amount of confidence in that scheme in terms of being able to control quality.’’
He said there were real concerns about a number of inexperienced people in the market.
Kelly’s counterpart at Certified Builders, Grant Florence, said his organisation was worried about quality, particularly in Auckland.
Last year it partnered with BRANZ, the building research association, and went around the country showing builders common mistakes. Florence said people who had been working as builders for 10 or 20 years came forward admitting gaps in their knowledge.
‘‘There’s also more imported [building] product coming into the country. I’m not saying that’s bad but I think our controls, measures and minimum levels of what’s acceptable are a bit theoretical.’’
Robyn Phipps, a construction professor at Massey University, said there was substandard work happening on building sites.
‘‘What we do have missing and used to have is a clerk of works on the site who is the independent eyes and ears for quality control.
‘‘That’s largely disappeared. People think the council will have that role but that’s not independent quality control,’’ she said.
‘‘While its great to see many construction companies employing specialised quality managers specifically to manage quality aspects of projects, it is critical that quality process and a culture of quality are robust across all the industry, from supply of materials to hand over documentation.
‘‘Of course this must occur without creating delays or excessive compliance costs.’’
Kelly said consumers could also be burnt if builders lacked commercial skills. Many more tradespeople are opting to go into business for themselves to make the most of the booming industry.
‘‘They might be trade qualified and do and set up their own business but they’re not experienced in running a business,’’ he said.
‘‘That’s one of the most significant challenges – moving from being a good tradesperson to being a good businessperson.
‘‘You have to manage everything, not just your own work but everyone else’s, your cashflow and margins. That’s where a lot of people tend to get into trouble – they are stretched.’’