Omni Builders

WHO IS WHO IN THE ZOO

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 05:22:00 GMT

And Oh What a wonderful Zoo it is! �� Full of Primates, Meerkats (think of that stunned look they get when something moves), nasty critters, creepy crawlies and a healthy smattering of sloths!

OK so that may be a little harsh!

So, we know contractors in the construction industry must be licensed for jobs over $3300.00.

But not all licences are created equal and you must check their qualifications AND their licence class.

Just because someone has a QBCC number does not mean they can do any or every job.

For example, a tiler cannot waterproof unless he has a waterproofing licence but is able to do tiling and vice versa.

A carpenter cannot build a house unless he has a builder’s licence.

Unless you are an owner builder, only registered and licences builders can build houses but not all builders can build all levels of houses/properties.
Check the qualification level before you begin or sign a contract and if you are unsure call the QBCC to confirm their licence covers the works they are going to do.

Below is a link to the licence search.

https://www.onlineservices.qbcc.qld.gov.au/OnlineLicenceSearch/VisualElements/SearchBSALicenseeContent.aspx

TRADIE LICENCING

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 03:53:00 GMT

So let’s talk LICENCING FOR TRADES & WHY IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT…..

Some of the biggest and most common issues we hear about are licencing and contracts.

Stories of dodgy tradesman who disappear in the middle of a job, suddenly don’t remember how to answer the phone, don’t have the mental capacity to call you back and even ask for cash payments before the work is done so they can buy the materials (Seriously! If someone says this just run away and run fast).

The only money that should ever be paid up front is the deposit which is 10% of the contracted price if under $20000.00 and 5% of the contracted price if it is over $20000.00

In Queensland ALL contractors MUST have a QBCC licence number.

A QBCC licence means they have a trade and as you need years of experience in the relevant building industry to get one.

This does not include handymen. Handymen are great and do not need a QBCC licence, but they NEED to be insured. If they are not, be very careful. A story I know from many years ago (not mine) included a gas pipe left on and leaking by a handyman (a mate of the owner) in a small unit and a cigarette lighter used by the owner when he come home 7 hours later. Everyone was fine but you can see how the insurance might not see it as their responsibility and not cover the damage unless the handyman was fully insured and doing work he was experienced and insured to do.

If you use trades without the necessary qualifications and licencing and something goes wrong in the future (your bathroom leaks and floods your house) your household insurance may also be negated.

So, to recap, all trades and builders doing works over $3300.00 must have a QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) licence number which can be checked on the QBCC website.

All licence classes are listed against the contractors, builders etc. this number ensures they have the basic level of knowledge to complete your work.

Exceptions to the $3300.00 rule are for Plumbing and/or Drainage, Gas Fitting, Termite Management which has no lower limit exemption. A full list can be found on the QBCC website.

For my money I prefer someone has a licence number any way – even for jobs under the $3300.00 threshold – a bad job is a bad job either way and my Italian heritage believes money is money and it better be for a good job…lol

On a different note all together – I think I know some of the guys who were inspiration for the cartoon characters in the header!��

5 LEGAL THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU BEGIN RENOVATING OR BUILDING

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:40:00 GMT

There are just lists upon lists of lists on the internet about the best way to choose a builder or trades person. It is very important as that choice will affect the entire job and sometimes your peace of mind for a long time to come. There is nothing worse than getting someone in to do a job, paying them and finding the walls are not plumb, the tiles not straight or the floor not level and then you get to see it every day for a very very long time.

1. IN QLD ALL CONTRACTORS MUST HAVE A QBCC LICENCE
In Queensland ALL contractors and builders doing works over $3300.00 must have a QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) licence number which can be checked on the QBCC website where all licence classes are listed against the contractors, builders etc. this number ensures they have the basic level of knowledge to complete your work.

Exceptions to the $3300.00 rule are for Plumbing and/or Drainage, Gas Fitting, Termite Management which has no lower limit exemption. A full list can be found on the QBCC website.

For my money I prefer someone has a licence number any way – even for $3300.00 job – a bad job is a bad job either way.

2. NOT ALL LICENCES ARE EQUAL
Most importantly you must check their qualifications! Just because someone has a QBCC number does not mean they can do any or every job. For example, a tiler cannot waterproof unless he has a waterproofing licence but is able to do tiling and vice versa.
A carpenter cannot build a house unless he has a builders licence.

Only builders can build houses but not all builders can build all levels of houses/properties.
Check the qualification level before you begin or sign a contract and if you are unsure call the QBCC to confirm their licence covers the works they are going to do.

3. INSURANCES CAN BE VOIDED BY NON-COMPLIANT TRADE
This is vital as if you do not use a correctly qualified tradesman to do your job, it may affect your household insurance.
If you are in a body corporate the same thing can apply and hence quite often the body corporate managers want to know what you are doing and who you are using.

If your plumbing leaks because you got the local gardener to do it on the cheap, the insurance company is not going to be overly impressed with your project management skills and claims are likely to be declined.

4. A QBCC NUMBER DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE GOOD OR EXPERIENCED TRADESMEN
While the QBCC number is a great start it does not guarantee a quality or experienced tradesman.
There are minimum requirements however you must still complete due diligence and get references and see prior work where possible. Not all work is the same.

A master tradesman is a wonderful thing but they are not everywhere to be found and the QBCC is not a watchdog for rubbish trades however they can be of help if a job goes wrong or there are issues.

5. NOT ALL TRADES ARE EQUAL EITHER
If there is one thing, I have learned in the building industry it is that there are still ‘cowboys’ out there even with licences.

I think the biggest difference I notice is with carpenters. Two young guys (yes, I know that is sexist, but this is only an example) get an apprenticeship to do a carpentry trade. One goes to work for a roof framer and the other for a high-end builder.
At the end of their 4 years Young Person Number 1 who went to work for the high-end builder can frame walls, do roofing, lay a slab, build your kitchen cabinets, lay your timber floors level, build walls that are plumb, complete your deck around the pool, hang your doors, fit windows and make you a lovely side cabinet.

Young Person Number 2 can do roof framing and is amazing at it (or not)
At the end of their apprenticeship they are signed off and they are both qualified carpenters. But I know which one I would want to have do my specialised timber ceilings and parquetry floors!

Again (and always) get references and check out work of the same calibre you are wanting to get done.

A side note that not all builders and subcontractors are dodgy but not all are good.

Not all are cowboys and not all are honest but there are great and talented subcontractors and builders to be found and most are wonderful humans as well.

Don’t judge the people or the industry as a whole by a couple of stories of lesser trades.