Stop work orders slapped on new homes amid claims substandard timber being used

Charges that substandard timber has been used in some Auckland houses are being investigated by the Department of Building and Housing.

Building inspectors have been told to examine load-bearing frames and trusses for timber that has failed a standard strength test.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey said yesterday the practice seemed to be widespread throughout the Auckland Region. "Apparently trusses for about 1500 homes have been sold in Auckland in the past two years to unsuspecting builders and homeowners and the timber is not up to standard," he said.

"Of great concern are the houses already under construction ... we will need to go over historical consents as well as for consents currently before us," said Mr Harvey.

Eight homes have been given stop work orders by Waitakere inspectors.

Waitakere consents group manager Michael Campbell said: "We are taking a precautionary approach. We require them to either replace the timber or seek a determination from the Department of Building and Housing as to whether the timber can be used."

Timber and framing producer Carter Holt Harvey took the rare step on Wednesday of urging inspectors to check for inappropriate uses of non load-bearing timber produced and accordingly marked by the company.

It said such timber should be removed and replaced with compliant machine stress-graded timber that was adequate for the design.


North Shore and Auckland City Council inspectors have reported one house in each city with suspect structural timber.

Auckland City principal building officer Bob DeLeur said work was stopped on the house and the company asked to provide an engineer's report on what remedial work was required.

Building and Housing Minister Maurice Williams

thanked the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association for alerting members and councils in Auckland about the alleged practice.