Sue and Blair Gordon are thankful the framing problem was discovered before their house was finished. Photo / Herald on Sunday
It started with an anonymous phone call with the message to "check your frames".
Sue and Blair Gordon believe they know who the caller was, but aren't
saying.
In October the couple took delivery of a load of frames and trusses from Bunnings.
The framework of the garage, on their rural property at Drury, south
of Auckland, was to be the first stage of their dream home.
Then came the phone call, followed by a visit from Frame and Truss
Manufacturers Association chief executive Rob Skipsey.
Skipsey said the timber used in the frames and trusses did not reach
the grade specified on the council-approved plans.
Another expert called to grade the timber was unable to do so. "It fell
below anything he could grade," said Skipsey.
The timber had red marks, indicating it was not to be used in load-
bearing situations. Of a dozen roof trusses, three were acceptable.
"Nobody said what those red marks meant," said Blair. "If you're not
in the pre-cut and pre-made scene or in a mill, you never see them."
The Gordons said they have been through a "horrendous" five weeks,
trying to sort out the mess.
They went back to Bunnings and their contractor fabricator, Total Frame and Truss of Henderson, which built the pre-made components.
Sue said after she complained, the Henderson company strengthened the trusses and frames. But the Gordons are not happy.
The project is five weeks behind schedule and they are negotiating
with Bunnings for compensation.
A builder friend told them at least 1500 homes are affected by the under-strength timber problem.
"I feel angry," said Sue. "It's been very stressful. There is no
excuse for this."
But the Gordons are thankful their problem was discovered before
their house was finished.
Others will not be so fortunate, and their homes may have to be
torn apart to remove suspect woodwork.
