Guides for homeowners

Practical, plain-English guides for dealing with defects in a new or renovated home in Western Australia.

General information, not legal advice — check current requirements with the Building and Energy / Building Commission or a lawyer.

• How to document building defects in WA

  A step-by-step method for photographing, measuring and numbering defects so your record holds up later.

• Building complaint in WA: what to prepare

  What to have ready before a building service or home building contract complaint to the Building Commissioner.

• Scott Schedule template for building defects

  What a Scott Schedule is, the columns that matter, and a free layout you can start with.

• Waterproofing defects: AS 3740:2021 explained

  How wet-area waterproofing is regulated for houses, and what to record if your shower or bathroom leaks.

• Tiling defects and drummy tiles: AS 3958:2023

  Cracked, loose, uneven and drummy tiles: what the WA tolerances say and how to record them.

• Defend My Build vs spreadsheets vs a building inspector

  An honest comparison, including when you should pay an inspector or a lawyer instead.