Couple may knock down dream home

John and Jill Sterling planned to move into their house in Opito Bay by Christmas 2007. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A couple may resort to demolishing their two-year-old leaky home after facing a $200,000 repair bill.

Instead, the house, which cost $200,000, has never been completed and the couple say they have spent an extra $97,000 fixing leaks.

And repairs may yet cost another $100,000 - prompting the couple to consider knocking down their dream home and starting again.

"It's got to the stage where we just want to pull the bloody thing down and either sell the section or build something else," said John.

A claim has been lodged with the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service, but the Sterlings are worried about losing more money on lawyers and experts. "Everywhere you turn you've got to get more reports, more engineers," John said.

Problems were discovered after heavy rain during construction, when water leaked into the basement and seeped through the concrete slab. A report by an assessor for the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service found waterproofing and installation of the basement block wall was "inadequate".

Windows and doors were also installed without adequate flashings and repairs were estimated to cost $37,688.

A second consultant found more extensive problems, estimating repairs at $103,000.

The Sterlings acknowledged their "difficult site" was already prone to flooding, but said that was made clear to the builder and the drainlayer.

They said building inspectors for the Far North District Council should have picked up the problems, instead of signing off at key points during construction.

Contractors JV Homes, which changed its name from The House Company during the build, wouldn't answer questions on the Sterlings' house. The Department of Building and Housing has scheduled a hearing for July 19 to make a determination on repairs.