Defect, or simply within the allowance
The argument is about permission, not observation.
In short: Citing the tolerance converts a disagreement into a measurement.
Two questions
What was actually constructed, and whether it lands inside an allowance. It is invariably the second that ends up disputed.
Where allowances come from
Your contract, the National Construction Code, the relevant Australian Standard and the Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2017.
Why citation matters
Label something poor workmanship and an argument follows. Measured against a tolerance, it becomes a figure.
A worked example
Brick overhang. It is not an opinion about neatness; it is a dimension measured against an allowance.
The split
Each report is split structural against cosmetic, because that split is what shows you where to press.
Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Marsden Park. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
