The Choice Homes Home Owners Guide : 2022 Edition

Built for thousands ofhappy families.

Home Owner’s Guide

Exterior

Plumbing

Your New Home By Choice Homes

Once again – thank you for selecting Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd.

The purpose of this booklet is twofold:

• As an explanation of the Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd Home Owners Warranty and

• To provide you with a guide on general mainte nance which should be undertaken by you the home owner (or your property manager) to preserve your investment as well as the warranty.

Property maintenance is very important. Your prop erty was built to comply with strict standards set in place by various local, state and federal government agencies.

As with a new car, regular maintenance will help to not only maintain the property value but will also in crease it considerably. Proper care of your property does not take a lot of time or effort, as long as you familiarise yourself with this ‘Home Owners Guide’ and use it to assist you to protect your in vestment.

Some items mentioned in this booklet will only be applicable if they are included in your ‘Building Spec ifications’.

Home Owner’s Warranty

Practical Completion Inspection

Your house is made up of hundreds of components sourced from quality manufacturers, suppliers and trades people. Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd utilises an independent building inspection carried out prior to the Practical Completion Claim. Minor adjustments and defects will be attended to after a joint inspec tion of your property by a Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd representative and either yourself or your agent. This inspection is very important. Choice Homes will endeavour to rectify relevant defects within two weeks, however rectification of defects is not a pre condition to your obligation to pay the Practical Com pletion invoice.

12 Months Maintenance

365 days after signing off your inspection, you are entitled to a Maintenance Inspection. You will find a Maintenance Request Form in the Choice Homes Handover Pack. Please complete and send to Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd towards the end of this period listing any maintenance requirements. This service to you is free. If an owner or their agent reports a maintenance or warranty problem, which turns out to be their responsibility, Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd reserves the right to charge a service fee and cost of replacement parts. Example: a domestic blockage in the sewer line, an occupant not switching on the stove isolator, faulty electrical appliances or general occupant damage.

Service Contract

If you are a tenant renting this property, please be aware that all maintenance needs are to be directed to your Property Manager listed below.

Interior Maintenance

Bench Tops

Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd uses high quality lam inate and stone bench tops. Care should be taken not to use appliances such as kettles and toasters directly over joins in the beach tops, and pots, pans and baking dishes should never be placed directly onto the surface. Ensure you clean any spills on or near the joins immediately. Bench top surfaces are not designed to be used as chopping boards or ironing surfaces or a seat.

White Goods/Stainless Steel Appliances

The working surface of your stove and oven are usu ally finished in glass and/or stainless steel. To main tain the appearance of these appliances, stains may be removed with hot soapy water and a clean cloth prior to the stains drying. For stubborn stains, place a hot damp cloth on the surface for a few minutes. There are a number products on the market designed specifically for stainless steel goods. Do not use gritty soaps or abrasives, as these will leave dull patches on the surface. Refer to the manufacturers handbook for service or repair work. Contact the manufacturer directly for warranty claims. Note: If the stove does not work, check that the isolator switch located near the stove is turned on and the trip switch is in the ‘on’ position in the meter box.

Tiles

Tiles, particularly in damp areas such as bathrooms, should be washed regularly and the room ventilated to reduce the likelihood of mold growth. Tile chipping is not covered under warranty. It must be noted that the grouting between tiles will take approximately 12 months to completely set. Powder residue from the grout is easily removed by regular cleaning and pol ishing with a dry soft cloth.

Interior Plaster Walls

Weather extremes, timber shrinkage, brickwork expansion and contraction of the plaster itself can contribute to hairline and minor settlement cracks in plaster joints and cornice joins. For these reasons, it is not advisable to fill minor cracks if any appear in the first 12 months. However, if you wish to repair them, GapFiller (available at all hardware stores) can be used by carefully filling the cracks and then touch ing them up with matching paint. Excess paint used in your property is usually left by the painters in the garage or laundry cupboard.

Painted Surfaces

The highest quality paints available for each surface have been used in your property, however they are not designed to be washed daily, as some may be lieve. Paints labelled as washable simply means that accidental surface marks can be carefully cleaned off. Paint manufacturers suggest this may be achieved using warm soapy water and a soft cotton cloth dabbed on the marks until they are removed as wiping or scrubbing will leave shiny patches on the surface. Chips or grazes should be touched up with a small fine brush with a small amount of matching paint.

Doors and Windows

Graphite lubricant or dry lube spray should only be used to fix a squeaky door hinge – never use oilbased lubricants as they will attract dirt and dust. Aluminium sliding doors and windows should only be lubricated with dry lube spray occasionally - more regularly on high use doors. Tracks should be reg ularly cleaned removing dust and dirt to allow the rollers to move freely. Never use harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners or scourers. Note: the weep holes, located at the base of the window tracks, must be kept clear to ensure no water builds up in the tracks.

Ceiling Joints and Nail Marks

Modern designs use the beauty of the appearance of flat surfaces to give space to rooms, hence the use of seamless plaster walls and ceilings. It must be remembered that a completely flat surface is impossible to achieve and the combination of ma terials used for walls can add to this. Lighting can

also greatly contributed to this by the placement of lighting close to surfaces and also windows without blinds or curtains throwing glancing or side light. Do not store items in the roof cavity above ceilings. This area is not designed for storage.

Exterior Maintenance

Termite Control

Your home has been treated in accordance with Australian standards and local by-laws to guard against “white ant” infestation. This treat ment is very effective, however inspections every 12 months are a must and necessary for warranties. Please read the information supplied to you with your construction contract in relation to this.

Note: if you are thinking of building extensions, fences or retaining walls which will adjoin ex ternal walls, or of moving earth against the building (including garden beds, paving or concrete works), consult a Certified Pest Controller first. Any disturbance may void your Termite Warranty.

Land

The placement of the house slab has been designed by a structur al engineer to allow for the ground to slope away from the slab. This is done to prevent moisture building up around the perimeter of slab. The homeowner should not plant gardens, shrubs or trees against the house that may cause a change in the slab moisture. Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd will not cover structural slab damage as a result of altera tions made by the owner to the fall of the land, including layers of pav ers or concrete. The natural ground underneath must slope away from the building at all times. It is the responsibility of the owner to maintain ground levels once the house is handed over.

Landscaping

Landscaping is usually undertaken by Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd’s pro fessional contract landscapers in accordance with local government require ments. Regular mowing, watering, fertilizing and garden mulching should keep your lawns and gardens looking great for years to come

Lawn Grub

Between the summer months in SEQ from around September through to April new lawns are susceptible to infestation of lawn grubs. The first sign of this is brown patches of turf where the grubs have established themselves, they will then turn onto moths and you will notice light brown furry cocoons attached to the eaves, patio ceiling, windows and fly screens. To best eradi cate them, frequently clean and wipe away the cocoons and spray the lawn with ACELPRYN which is available at most hardware stores.

Note: it is important that you never plant gardens, shrubs, trees or place water features against the house above the weep holes as this may cause a change in the under slab moisture and could encourage termite infestation. The nat ural ground around the slab should slope away from the building at all times where possible.

External Painted Surfaces

External surfaces should be washed down twice a year with water and a soft broom, otherwise the build-up of dust and dirt on the surfaces can cause staining, pitting and peeling of the paintwork or a build up of mold. When repainting, do not use dark colours on external doors as the heat absorption could cause the door to warp.

Garage Doors

Roller and panel lift doors are generally maintenance free. If squeaking occurs, wipe the rollers and track clean then apply a silicon spray. If the problem per sists, contact the manufacturer. A service by the sup plier is required every year to maintain the warranty.

Brickwork

Bricks are used on exterior walls for a number rea sons, one of which is the minimum maintenance re quired. The most common problem with brickwork is the appearance of salts and minerals on the brick surface in periods of high humidity. This is not a long-term or structural problem, it is merely cosmetic. Simply use a wire brush to remove the powder from the bricks. Do not use water.

Concrete

Due to the nature of the material it is virtually impossible for any builder to prevent minor crack ing in concrete. The slab in your home has been designed by engineers to meet the ‘Building Code’ and Australian standards so as to withstand antici pated pressures. Cracking may result however from uncontrollable conditions such as unequal ground settlement, shrinkage and prolonged periods of un seasonable weather. Hairline cracking has no det rimental effect on the structure of your home and Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd utilise the expertise of qualified tilers who lay tiles on flexible glue to safe

guard any cracking of the tiles. Should you become concerned or the cracks in the concrete are clearly wider than 3mm, contact our maintenance department.

Roofing

The roofing material used on your home is designed and installed to be maintenance free, but it is ex tremely important to keep gutters, valley boards and down pipes clear of obstructions such as leaves, twigs and balls as they may cause internal flooding.

Note: do not walk on the roof unless it is absolutely nec essary. People retrieving balls from roofs and TV antenna installers are common causes of leaking roofs. Any damage cause by walking on the roof will void the warranty.

Cracked roof tiles are not covered by our twelvemonth warranty. Any internal damage resulting from cracked roof tiles is not covered by our 12-month warranty. Hairline cracking to the bedding of your ridge capping and hips tiles is very common in new homes due to the settling of the timber supports. Regular maintenance to the ridge and hip capping and pointing is your responsibility after 365 days from Practical Completion.

Plumbing

Burst Pipes and Joint Leaks

The main stop cock is located on the road side of the water meter situated in the front corner of your boundary. If you have a pipe leak, turn the main wa ter off immediately. If possible, wrap bags or sacking around the pipe at the leak and place containers un derneath to catch any drips. This will minimize any water damage to walls and ceilings. If the problem arises within the warranty period, call Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd to determine cause and liability.

Note: ensure the area around your water meter/stock cock is kept clear of plants and soil build up and do not mow directly over them.

Drainage

Keep lawn and garden storm water grates clean and clear of leaves, soil and grass at all times. Do not place any items over storm water grates as it will restrict the drainage of surface water, which could create flooding in the yard and in extreme cases the house.

Blockages

All baths, basins, sinks and floor wastes are fitted with a grill over them to stop solids from entering and blocking the drains however small solids such as vegetable matter, hair and tea leaves can pass through and also block the drain.

Note: do not empty teapots or fat down the sink and always run hot water down the sink after washing fatty utensils. If a blockage does occur, it may be necessary to dismantle the drain below the sink. This is not a warranty issue and thus would incur costs to rectify.

Nappies, sanitary pads and toilet rim blocks are some of the main causes of blockages in the toilet systems. Again this is not a warranty item and a call out will incur a charge by the plumber.

Toilet Cisterns

If the cistern overflows, turn off the water at the tap located behind the toilet and drain the cistern. There is an adjustment screw in the cistern that will lower the water level when refilled. Ensure the float valve arm is free.

Shower Compartment

Glass shower screens are made to be maintenance free, however they are not designed to withstand di rect contact with hot water as the rapid expansion of the glass can cause cracking. The silicon sealant around the shower screen, bath and basins has an expected life of two years. We suggest you replace it with a reputable bathroom silicon sealer prior to this to ensure all moisture is kept away from unsealed walls.

Hot Water System

The hot water system installed in your house will give many years of reliable service. Any adjustments are best left to the manufacturer. The overflow pipe over the drain next to the system is designed to relieve the pressure build up in the tank and so will drip from time to time. However it is advisable to check the pressure every six months or so by opening the relief valve on the side of the system until a constant stream of water flows from it – if this flow occurs in a

manner of seconds the system is working correctly.

Caution: overflow water is very hot.

Water Hammer

Water hammer is the thumping of pipes when the water is flowing, not when the taps are turned off. If the latter occurs, check that the taps to the washing machines are turned off and that all taps are turned off. Taps turned off quickly may cause a pressure thump, which can also loosen pipe clips and damage the tap washer. If water hammer does occur within the first 12 months, contact the Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd Maintenance department.

Rainwater Tank and Pump

Please refer to your warranty pack.

Electricity

Electricity

Circuit breakers and safety switches are fitted in your meter box. If a breaker or safety switch trips, do the following: turn off all appliances. Reset the breaker or switch. Turn on each appliance in turn to ascertain which one is causing the problem. Do not plug the suspected appliance in again but have it serviced im mediately by a qualified electrician or service person. If the breaker or safety switch continues to trip dur ing the 12 months maintenance period contact the Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd maintenance depart ment. Note: storm damage of any kind is not covered under maintenance or warranty.

TV Reception

TV reception may vary from site to site. As per your Building Specification, Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd provides a TV antenna and two outlets. If you experi ence poor reception, please arrange to have a boost er installed by a reputable supplier.

NBN,Telephone Line and Outlets

As per your Building Specification, Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd provide a telephone lead-in from the front boundary to your home and two outlets. Please contact your preferred retailed to arrange telephone or NBN connection. We also provide the NBN home distributor box and 2 data points.

Notes

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Important Note

If you have an electrical, plumbing or structural problem, you must contact the Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd maintenance department so we can establish responsibility and cause. Choice Homes cannot reimburse monies spend on other contractors you have engaged at your property. We must be given an opportunity to resolve an issue providing the house is still under warranty.