Update June 2025
Australia's residential construction industry has copped ongoing criticism over build quality. Many new homes have problems, from minor defects to major structural issues.
What’s going wrong?
A big part of the problem is skills and training. The industry relies heavily on subcontractors and labourers with limited experience who don't always understand the materials, standards and regulations they're working to. Corners get cut to save time and money.
Quality control is lacking too. Thin supervision, inspection and testing mean faults go unnoticed until it's too late, and "she'll be right" wins out over getting it right.
The boom-bust cycle encourages a get-in, get-out mindset. Builders rush to finish homes during busy periods, with little regard for how they'll perform in 20 years.
Owners are left dealing with leaking roofs, water damage, electrical faults and structural issues. In Queensland, your builder must fix defects you report within the 12-month defects period after practical completion, and the QBCC Home Warranty Scheme covers non-structural defects that appear within 6 months (lodged within 7 months) and structural defects for longer. The problem is that getting defects fixed can be slow and stressful.
Builders should focus on high quality and meeting the reasonable expectations of home owners, not just speed and profits.
Causes of Poor Workmanship in Residential Construction
The root causes usually come down to skill, experience, training and professionalism.
Many workers move in and out of the industry quickly and never develop strong skills or a sense of craftsmanship. Without proper supervision, training and quality control, poor practices become normal.
Corners get cut to save time and money. The “rip, ship and bust” mentality puts speed ahead of quality: inspections get skipped and poor work gets covered up.
Some operators treat residential construction as a quick earn rather than a craft, and the system makes it too easy for them. They don't always grasp the impact of their work on people's lives and finances.
Lack of Understanding of Materials and Building Standards
Many builders and trades don't have a strong grasp of how materials work, their limits and how they interact, and they struggle to keep up with changing codes and standards.
Waterproofing is a good example. Wet areas like bathrooms, laundries and balconies are often sealed incorrectly or not at all. The updated AS 3740 (waterproofing of domestic wet areas) tightened the requirements, which is effectively an admission by the standards bodies that workmanship hasn't been good enough.
Part of the problem stems from a lack of proper training and education. The “have-a-go” attitude of some builders means that people enter the trade without formal qualifications or apprenticeships.
Many trades learn on the job without understanding the technical side. Even qualified tradespeople need ongoing learning to keep up, but it often falls by the wayside when there's work to get done.
Homeowners have a part to play too. Check your builder's licence and history on the QBCC licence search, and ask for references from previous clients.
Closely supervise work as it progresses and do not be afraid to speak up if something does not seem right.
Lack of basic business acumen
Many trades and contractors struggle with basic business processes. Invoicing is a good example: some don't understand the link between a purchase order and a tax invoice, or what a tax invoice needs to include. As they grow, they rarely improve their systems.
A recent example: I hired a plumber to fix another plumber's mistakes. We agreed the scope over the phone: inspect the installation and bring it in line with the manufacturer's instructions. We got the invoice and paid it promptly. A few days later, a second invoice arrived for extra work we'd never asked for or discussed. It also referred to the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act (BCIPA), which was replaced by the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017, with the payment provisions starting in December 2018. Because the claim still had to be handled properly under the current Act, we spent an hour preparing a payment schedule in response.
That's wasted time. Send ten wrong invoices a week and you're burning close to $1,000 in lost productivity. And if a business gets invoicing wrong, it's reasonable to assume it makes similar mistakes in installation, quality management, planning and communication.
It amazes me how many people start making money in their trade and never look at how they could work better by finding bottlenecks (see note below), waste and inefficiency. Someone pays for that inefficiency, and it's usually the consumer.
Note: this management principle is called the "Theory of Constraints". Read our post on it HERE.
The Need for Improved Training and Skills
Trade schools and apprenticeships should put more emphasis on materials and building standards. Tradespeople need to know not just how to install something, but why it's installed that way.
Codes and standards change regularly, so ongoing learning should be mandatory. In my opinion, to keep your licence you should complete refresher modules every year and submit proof before it's renewed.
Communication, problem-solving and the ability to read plans matter too. Site supervisors in particular need technical and people skills to monitor workmanship, make sure inspections happen and hit milestones without sacrificing quality. They should own the outcome, not just the program.
Governments and industry should also encourage young people into construction through scholarships, grants and paid training, and promote it as a long-term career, not just a job.
Balancing Speed and Quality in Construction Projects
Builders are under pressure to finish homes fast, and quality suffers. Homeowners end up paying for poor workmanship and materials that don't last.
Rushing Critical Stages
Rushing compromises critical stages like concrete, framing and waterproofing. Concrete needs time to cure and gain strength, framing needs to be accurately set out and fixed, and waterproofing needs careful application. Skimp on any of these and you'll pay for it later.
Lack of Supervision
Supervisors focused on speed don't always check the work. Without proper supervision, mistakes and shortcuts go unnoticed, like pipes at the wrong fall, loose wiring, uneven floors or patchy paint.
Low-Quality Materials
Cheap materials fail sooner. Roofing, flashings, cladding, MDF products and other materials chosen on price often need early replacement, costing you time and money.
The answer is balance: schedules that allow enough time for each stage and proper supervision, and durable materials that save money over the life of the home.
Implementing Effective Quality Control Processes
Quality control means checking that workmanship, materials and the finished result meet the required standard, at every stage.
For home builders, this means:
Inspections
Regular inspections of work in progress and on completion, checking against the building codes, standards and good practice, from foundations and framing to wiring, plumbing and insulation. Inspections catch mistakes early.
Supervision
Proper supervision of trades and contractors. Supervisors oversee the day-to-day work, answer questions and make sure tasks are done right.
Testing
Testing to verify quality, from materials meeting specification to plumbing, electrical and air conditioning once installed, so faults are fixed before handover.
Documentation
Keeping thorough records of permits, plans, variations, inspections, test results and materials used. Good records give transparency and accountability.
Fostering a Culture of Quality and Continuous Improvement
Lifting quality takes a culture of continuous improvement, led from the top.
Continuous Improvement
Workers and companies should:
- Review issues from past projects and make improvements
- Stay up to date with the latest products, methods and regulations
- Provide mentorship and learning opportunities for new workers
- Welcome feedback and make changes to address concerns
Foster Responsibility
Everyone, from architects and engineers to trades, supervisors and certifiers, has to own the quality of their work. Blaming others has to stop.
Moving Away From the "Rip, Ship and Bust" Mentality
“Rip, ship and bust” describes builders and trades who cut corners to finish jobs as fast as possible.
Some operators enter the industry to make fast money, with little concern for quality or the client.
They get in, make a profit and get out before the problems surface.
The result is substandard work that shortens the life and value of the home. Common issues include:
- Poor waterproofing and insulation leading to leaks, mould and high energy bills.
- Faulty wiring and plumbing that requires expensive repairs.
- Structural issues due to improper construction methods.
- Use of cheap, unsuitable materials that deteriorate quickly.
Owners feel it for years through maintenance costs, health issues and trouble selling. Builders with this mentality face few consequences, and some wind up their companies to avoid accountability and start again.
Stronger licensing requirements would help weed out dodgy operators. In the meantime, protect yourself:
• Check your builder's licence and history on the QBCC licence search.
• Book independent inspections at key stages (slab, frame, lock-up, practical completion).
• Use stage checklists (like our C5 to C16 checklists) so you know what to look for.
• Put every defect and concern in writing, with photos and dates.
Construction Quality Management FAQs
How can quality management in residential construction be improved?
Several steps can be taken to enhance quality management:
- Better training, education and licensing of workers.
- Stricter quality control, including more thorough inspections and testing. Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) are an easy way to do this.
Anthony Painter
Elevating Residential Construction with SWMS + ITPs
- Value quality and customer satisfaction over fast completion. This needs a cultural change in parts of the industry.
- Increase supervision and accountability. Workers and contractors need to be monitored more closely to ensure compliance with standards. Penalties can be imposed if quality is compromised.
- Review and update building standards and regulations regularly.
- Commit to continuous improvement through ongoing education and learning from past mistakes.
- Increase transparency and consumer protections. Home owners need access to quality ratings, histories of complaints, and avenues for pursuing remediation if quality issues arise. This also motivates improved quality.
Enforcement by regulatory authorities
Inspections and Penalties
Regulators inspect building sites for compliance with codes and standards, and can issue fines, stop-work orders and licence suspensions. Penalties for serial offenders have been increased.
But limited resources mean not every site gets inspected, and some problems don't show up until long after handover. More inspections, tighter licensing and harsher penalties for dodgy operators are needed.
Enforcement matters, but working with industry on training and a culture that values quality is more likely to drive lasting change.
Conclusion
As a homeowner, don't accept poor workmanship. Hold your builder to the National Construction Code and the Australian Standards.
And if you're in the industry, take pride in your work, keep learning, focus on quality over speed, and build homes you'd want to live in yourself.
Australian homes should be built to last. The solutions are clear, now let's make it happen.
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