A failed building inspection on joinery work is more common than many homeowners realise, and it doesn't have to become a nightmare. In most cases, the issues are identified, the joiner is required to remedy the work, and a re-inspection is booked. Understanding the process — and your rights — makes the whole experience far less stressful.
What Does a Building Inspection Actually Check?
When a building consent has been issued for work involving joinery — such as new windows, external doors, bifold or sliding doors, or structural framing openings — your local council's building inspector will visit at key stages to check the work meets the NZ Building Code. For joinery, inspectors typically look at:
- Correct installation of window and door frames (plumb, level, and square)
- Proper weathertightness detailing — flashings, sill pans, and seals around frames
- Compliance with Clause E2 (External Moisture) of the Building Code
- Fixings and structural connections where joinery sits within framing
- Glazing safety requirements (e.g. safety glass in required locations)
- Thermal performance where relevant to the consent
If any of these elements don't meet the required standard, the inspector will issue a failed inspection notice (sometimes called a non-compliance notice or inspection report with defects listed).
What Happens Immediately After a Failed Inspection?
The inspector will document the specific defects in writing. You and your joiner (or main contractor, if applicable) will receive a copy. The work cannot progress past that stage until the issues are resolved and a re-inspection is passed. This is important — continuing to build over failed work can create much bigger problems down the track, including having to demolish completed work to expose the defect.
Your joiner should be notified immediately if they aren't already present. In most cases, the responsibility to remedy the work sits squarely with the tradesperson who carried it out.
Who Is Responsible for Fixing the Work?
If your joiner is a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), they have legal obligations under the Building Act 2004. LBPs who carry out or supervise restricted building work (which includes most structural and weathertightness-related joinery) must:
- Complete the work to Building Code standard
- Provide a Record of Work on completion
- Be accountable to the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme if their work is defective
If the joiner's work caused the failure, they are generally responsible for remedying it at no additional cost to you. This is both a contractual obligation and, for LBPs, a professional one. If the joiner disputes responsibility or refuses to remedy the work, you have several options (see below).
What If the Joiner Won't Fix the Problem?
This is where things can get complicated. Here's a step-by-step approach:
- Put everything in writing. Email or letter is better than a phone call — you need a paper trail.
- Review your contract. A written contract should specify defect liability periods and remediation obligations. If you don't have a written contract, this is harder but not impossible.
- Contact the LBP Board. If your joiner is an LBP, you can make a complaint to the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme. Disciplinary action can include suspension or cancellation of their licence.
- Seek independent advice. BRANZ publishes technical guidance that can help establish what the correct standard of work should have been.
- Consider the Disputes Tribunal. For disputes up to the Disputes Tribunal's current monetary limit, it is a relatively low-cost option — check the current threshold on the Ministry of Justice website. For larger claims, you may need legal advice.
- Check Consumer NZ guidance. Consumer NZ has useful information on your rights when tradespeople do substandard work.
Re-Inspection: What to Expect
Once the joiner has remedied the defects, you'll need to book a re-inspection with your council. There is usually a fee for re-inspections, so it's worth clarifying with your joiner whether they'll cover that cost given the failure was due to their work. The re-inspection follows the same process — the inspector checks the specific items that failed and either passes them or identifies further issues.
How to Protect Yourself Before Work Starts
Prevention is always better than cure. A few simple steps can significantly reduce the risk of a failed inspection:
- Always use an LBP for restricted building work — check their licence status on the LBP website
- Get a written contract that includes defect liability provisions
- Ask your joiner which inspections are required and who is responsible for booking them
- Make sure a building consent is obtained before work starts where required — check with your council about Schedule 1 exemptions, as some minor joinery replacements may not need consent
- Use quality, NZ-compliant joinery products — reputable suppliers and manufacturers provide technical installation guides that, when followed, support compliance
When to Call a Professional
If your joinery work has failed an inspection and your current joiner is unresponsive or unable to remedy the issues, it's time to bring in another qualified professional to assess the situation. An independent LBP or building consultant can provide a written assessment of what needs to be done, which is valuable both for remediation and for any dispute process. You can find qualified local joiners and building tradespeople on tradedirectory.co.nz.
For anything involving weathertightness failures, act quickly — moisture ingress can cause rapid and expensive damage to framing and linings.
