Building Business April 2022 by ITM Support Office

THE LATEST NEWS FROM YOUR BUILDING SUPPLIES SPECIALIST

Can building contracts protect you from project disruptions?

Introducing ITM's new paint line-up

ISSUE 102

How to protect, prepare, install and paint weatherboards 17

A 20 PR 22

Ideas for incentives, so your best staff never want to leave 23

INDUSTRY NEWS

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

Can building contracts protect you from Covid, product shortages and rampant inflation?

The easy access advantage – Mitek® Posi-STRUTSTM

03 – 04

21 PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

PAINT

Prefinished EzitrimPlus internal moulding and trims

Introducing the ITM Trade Series paint range by Dulux

22 BUSINESS ADVICE

CODEWORDS

Five incentives to keep your staff

23 – 25

Grounds for complaints. Codewords quiz

09 – 10

EMPLOYMENT

NEW PRODUCT

Minimum wage increases to $21.20

A rigid air barrier alternative – IBS RigidRAP

NEW PRODUCTS

CODEWORDS

Finger - jointed kwila

Skills maintenance: what is it and why we need it? Codewords quiz

13 – 14

NEW PRODUCTS

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

The latest innovative plywood products

Drying times for compounds

INSURANCE Contract works insurance and additional items and extensions

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE How to protect, prepare, install and paint weatherboards

17 – 18

30 – 31

NEW PRODUCTS KalsiFloor cement board flooring

ITM GIVEAWAY

ITM CHECK SHIRT

! FRETHE

WI HASE PURC

Spend over $500 on any deals in The Mighty Hardware Sale and score a free ITM Check Shirt* *Strictly while stocks last. Limit of one per customer.

Building Business contributes towards your LBP skills maintenance requirement. Ensure you log this into your ITM diary or the ITM App today. All prices exclude GST. Prices are valid April 1st - May 31st 2022, unless specified otherwise. Building Business is a bi-monthly magazine produced by ITM Support Office. For feedback or address updates contact: ITM Support Office, PO Box 101556, North Shore, Auckland. Email: buildingbusiness@itm.co.nz Ph: 09 415 2787

ISSUE 102: APRIL 2022

In this issue

The building contracts most residential builders depend on have provided good protection from the unpredictable disruption caused by Covid-19. But there are more turbulent times ahead, and you will need to adjust the way you work.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Can building contracts protect you from Covid, product shortages and rampant inflation?

Building contracts legal specialist Geoff Hardy says standard form contracts provided by New Zealand Certified Builders and Master Builders have allowed builders to complete projects without significant legal issues – despite strict lockdowns, long delays to work schedules and an acute shortage of building materials.

Delays, cost increases Even when a contract specifies a fixed price and fixed completion date, there are clauses in the standard contracts that allow for changes on both counts. “There are a number of provisions that allow for an extension of time. The most pertinent one concerns ‘any laws passed or government regulation’ which affects your ability to get on with the job,” says Geoff. “Another big question is, can builders pass on the increased costs that Covid gave rise to? In a fixed price scenario, there are a number of ways that the price could be adjusted.

Geoff says that while it’s reassuring that existing contracts provided good protection under extraordinary circumstances, “there were one or two possible areas of exposure, so I wrote a special set of Covid clauses to plug any remaining loopholes.

“For example, any provisional cost or PC sum where both parties have agreed that there was uncertainly about the cost of a specific component of the build, means the builder can pass on any increased cost above the PC estimate.

“In the case of NZ Certified Builders, the original contract pretty much covers 90% of exposure, and the additional clauses cover the remaining 10%.”

“Likewise, if the builder could not get a fixed price from a subcontractor or supplier when he first priced the job, then, if the contract contains a cost fluctuation clause, the builder should be able to pass on that increase to the owner as well.”

Master Builders chief executive David Kelly says their standard contract “has been developed as a best practice contract for the New Zealand market and includes a provision for price fluctuations.”

Product substitution

Nevertheless, he stresses extra caution and encourages frank dialogue when builders and clients discuss projects. “We are experiencing global disruption, creating unpredictable and rising material costs. This makes it very difficult to determine exactly how much a build will cost. The key for builders is to communicate and be upfront and honest with their customers”.

CONTINUE >>

Due to worldwide supply chain disruptions, shortages of many building products continue to be an issue. However, the standard contracts have clauses that allow for substitution of the product specified initially (with conditions), if that product was unavailable.

Extra caution

INDUSTRY NEWS

Banks won’t lend unless it’s a fixed price? Geoff Hardy believes banks are out of step with the new market realities the building industry is facing. “Let’s be honest, in this day and age, if someone chooses to start a building project, it’s ludicrous to think you can lock a builder to a fixed price or completion date knowing the costs are going to escalate rapidly and materials aren’t going to be available. “The banks are quite naïve, and they lack a commercial understanding of the realities of the market at the moment.” Is the option of including a large contingency in the contract a possible solution? “The banks understand that, and it is reasonably common. It always worked in the past when we were in a normal environment, but we’re not in a normal environment anymore, because the cost increases are horrendous.”

Being resourceful Geoff believes most successful builders are “pretty resourceful and are getting by these days doing business on a simple basis: I’ll order the materials now, sign the contract now, the materials won’t arrive for nine months or whenever, that’s when we can start the project. “Most customers are waking up to the reality of the situation, and they’re going with that.” NZCB chief executive Grant Florence has seen an increasing prevalence of a 'buy now' culture in contracts to ensure projects can get some certainty. “I’ve seen contracts requiring the builder (or client) to purchase the materials upfront right now and lock that section of it in. If the owner or the builder has the cash flow to do that, then that’s a great solution, but small builders and most clients don’t have the cash flow to work that way.”

What happens to your workforce when you can’t work? If your project comes to a halt because you (or your subcontractor) can’t get the materials you need, who pays the wages? “If the builder doesn’t have another site to deploy employees to, or if the second site is on hold as well, there’s no option but to make redundancies,” says Geoff. “Many of the builders I talk to are planning to scale down their operations. They’re finding this Covid situation and shortage of materials is way too demanding to manage. So instead of having four projects on the go, they’re cutting down to two.

“There will be those who say I can’t do this anymore; it’s too hard. My concern is that they’ll leave the industry, and we can’t afford that.” “That will mean putting off staff. Other builders will snap them up because the demand is so high, so I don’t see any mass redundancies in the industry. And for some, the option of relocating to Australia will be attractive given the higher wages there. “So there’ll be fewer resources here to meet demand, and that will be an ongoing problem.”

Be flexible Grant Florence has the same worry: “We’ve had nearly five great years of good solid demand, and a lot of builders expanded their geographic reach, having different gangs working outside their traditional area, but we’re seeing them scaling back now. “Builders are going to have to look at how they plan their jobs, be flexible and do things out of schedule. Having said that, there will be those who say I can’t do this anymore; it’s too hard. My concern is that they’ll leave the industry, and we can’t afford that.”

Product shortages critical New Zealand Certified Builders did a survey in February among their regional leaders in the network, asking them to rate materials supply availability across the country. “We asked them to rate materials supply from 1 to 10... 1 being all good, 10 meaning jobs have stopped and all progress has halted,” says Grant Florence. “The results came in across the country at 7.5, so it’s a substantial issue. “I think builders are fairly innovative, and they need to be. They will have to constantly review their building schedule, shift to another part of the construction and do stuff out of sequence to keep their teams going. “There’s been a lot of finger-pointing at the merchants, but they’re in the same difficult situation as everybody else. Supply shortages… anybody that tells you they know when it’s going to finish is talking rubbish. I don’t think anyone really knows.”

NEW PRODUCT

Introducing ITM's new lineup We've just launched the ITM Trade Series paint range. It's made right here in New Zealand* and the paint is so good that we've put our name on it. Prep

Interior

A good job starts with a good prep coat, and ITM Trade Series has a range of prep coats to suit.

Interior walls get the most scrutiny due to the amount of time we spend staring at them. We have the interior paints you can trust for an excellent finish you won't be coming back to fix.

ITM Trade Series Water-based Multisurface Prep is a primer, sealer, undercoat in one. It can be used for both interior and exterior applications, making it the perfect all-round prep coat to have in your ute or van. It's also used for sealing the ends of cut weatherboards. It has good tannin blocking, excellent opacity and strong adhesion properties. There's also an Oil-based Multisurface Prep if the job requires it, or an Acrylic Sealer Undercoat for interior-only jobs.

Exterior Exterior painting projects cover various surfaces, from houses and roofs to decks, fences and pergolas. They require paints designed for the task to perform throughout NZ's harsh and variable environment. ITM Trade Series Exterior Broadwall paint is made from a formulation that has been rigorously tested for our conditions, earning it a 15-year guarantee^ against peeling, blistering and flaking. It also has strong adhesion, offers long-lasting UV protection and can be tinted to a vast range of colours.

ITM Trade Series Interior Broadwall paint is easy to apply with its diverse application compatibilities. It has a low spatter when used with a roller and the formulation is also spray friendly for the big jobs. Colour choice is in abundance, as it can be tinted to hundreds of shades. To top off the interior, ITM Trade Series Ceiling has a flat finish to help hide imperfections and has excellent touch-up ability. And for the perfect finish for doors, windows and trims, ITM Trade Series Enamel is low odour, water-based and suitable for exterior use. Check out the new range at selected ITM stores nationwide. *

Excludes oil-based products. ^Refer to product label for full

conditions. This guarantee does not limit and may not necessarily exceed your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. Colorsteel is a registered trade mark of New Zealand Steel Limited.

ITM Trade Series Roof paint also boasts a guarantee^ of 10 years against peeling, blistering and flaking. The Roof formulation can be matched to popular Colorsteel® colours and is suitable for drinking water collection. If you want to add vivid colour to bare timber fences, ITM Trade Series Fence Finish comes in four popular colours; Ebony, Brown, Karaka and Redwood, and has a quick re-coat time. Or, if you want a semi-transparent matt finish for decks, fences and pergolas, ITM Trade Series Deck & Fence Stain is a water-based formula that's durable and offers UV protection.

™

TRUSTED EVERY TIME

CODEWORDS

Grounds for complaints There are 11 grounds for discipline of LBPs if restricted building work fails to meet certain standards and does not comply with the Building Code. The Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP) scheme was introduced in 2012 to improve the construction sector's performance and hold practitioners to account. While the LBP licence comes with formal recognition of the builder's competence and grants the holder a right to carry out or supervise restricted building work (RBW), it also sets up high expectations of the LBP's performance and behaviour.

• holding oneself as being licensed to carry out or supervise certain building work or building inspection of a type that he or she is not licensed to carry out • making a false declaration or representation, knowing it to be false or misleading • breaching the code of ethics for Licensed Building Practitioners • conducting oneself in a manner that brings, or is likely to bring, the LBP regime into disrepute.

Negligent work is the most common fault The RBW must be completed to a certain standard and be compliant with the Building Code. Deviation from the expected standards or the building consent, negligent work and failure to provide a record of work (RoW) are just a few examples of grounds for complaints the Building Practitioners Board (the Board) receives from the affected parties.

Grounds for discipline There are 11 grounds for discipline as stated in section 317 of the Building Act 2004. These include: • being convicted by any court in New Zealand or elsewhere of any offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of 6 months or more • carrying out or supervising negligent or incompetent building work • carrying out or supervising building work of a type that the practitioner is not licensed to carry out or supervise • carrying out or supervising building work that does not comply with a building consent

Providing a Record of Work If an LBP does not provide a RoW following the completion of RBW, they may also face a penalty. Remember, if you did not complete the project or your contract was terminated, you are still required to provide the RoW for the amount of work you completed. Currently, the Board does not enforce code of ethics breaches because this was only recently developed. There is a one-year transition period until 26 October 2022 for LBPs to familiarise themselves with the expected standards of behaviour in the industry.

CONTINUE >>

• failure to provide a Certificate of Work about any plans and specifications required to accompany the building consent application (Designers) or a RoW on completion of the RBW (Building Practitioners)

The most common ground for discipline is negligent work or poor workmanship. This may include anything from using incorrect fixings to any deviation from good trade practise or the Building Code. It is important to remember that the term 'negligent work' covers not only the RBW but any building work where the LBP did not demonstrate due diligence in completing the work.

10 The complaints process

under one of the above grounds? An Investigator from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will contact you with complaint documentation. You then have 20 working days to study the documentation, consult with your lawyer (if necessary), obtain expert opinion (if required) and produce a response. While the situation may be stressful, it is a good idea to provide your response to the Investigator, as this is your chance to present your side of the story, explain your actions, and provide evidence to support your statements. On receiving your response, the Investigator will report to the Board summarising the information received from both parties. Consent-related documentation may be requested.. The Board decides whether to proceed with the hearing. The hearing can be held on papers in some cases, which means the Board will make a decision based on written submissions from both parties. The purpose of the hearing is to further investigate and determine if the licensed building practitioner has committed a disciplinary offence. If the Board decides the LBP has, they will also consider the penalty, if any costs should be imposed, and whether the matters should be published.

Penalties The penalties may include one or more of the following: • Suspension or cancellation of the LBP licence. • Restrictions on the kind of work the LBP can do. • A fine of up to $10,000. • Order the LBP to complete specific training. • A formal reprimand of the person. • Order the LBP to pay costs.

DESIGN

F FOUNDATIONS

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

This article is relevant to these classes: ROOFING

a) Carrying out or supervising building work that does not comply with a building consent b) Carrying out or supervising building work in a slow manner c) Conducting oneself in a manner that brings, or is likely to bring, the LBP regime into disrepute d) Carrying out or supervising negligent or incompetent building work 2. Upon receiving the Investigator's report, the Building Practitioners Board will: a) Always hold a hearing b) Hold a hearing 'on papers' c) Make a decision on whether to proceed with the hearing d) Dismiss the complaint 3. In which two of the following instances does an LBP have to provide a RoW document? a) Upon the full completion of RBW b) Upon partially completing RBW, if LBP no longer intends to finish the project c) Upon receiving full payment for the work completed d) Upon resolving the disputes with the homeowner

by Irina Vanags Investigator, OccupationalCARPENTRY Licensing

1. Which of the following is NOT one of the grounds for discipline under section 317 of the Building Act 2004?

EXTERNAL

PLASTERING Knowing your rights and responsibilities, fine-tuning your client interaction practices and increasing your competence levels helps you achieve a high level of compliance with the current legislation and avoids SITE BRICK & the stressful disciplinary process. BLOCK LAYING

Codewords Quiz

Answers: 1.b 2.c 3.a & b

CODEWORDS

So, what happens if your client/contractor/council makes a complaint against you to the Board

ALL

ADD TO LBP ACTIVITY LOG This article is from Codewords Issue 105. Use the ITM App to log your activity today.

IBS has developed an excellent alternative for the rigid air barrier market with IBS RigidRAP. The product has been on the market for many years and acceptance is growing at a tremendous rate.

Healthy homes In New Zealand, we tend to build houses as cheap as we can, not necessarily as good as we can. By using IBS RigidRAP, you can be assured that your house is getting the best secondary protection available at a reasonable cost. At IBS, we believe New Zealand homes should be fixed with some form of rigid air barrier to help keep them healthy and warm.

Double the protection IBS RigidRAP is an 8mm OSB board engineered in Europe to the highest standards and then laminated with an approved NZBC building wrap. This gives your house double the protection from the weather throughout the building process, providing a warmer, quieter, healthier and stronger home. RigidRAP has been tested as a bracing element and temporary weather protection during the construction process.

Easy to install The OSB board is rigid in construction and will not warp, crack or delaminate, making installation effortless with standard woodworking tools. Having been Codemark certified, RigidRAP must be accepted by local Councils and can be swapped out for an existing rigid air barrier as a minor variation to the plan. IBS RigidRAP can be used with at least nine different brands of flashing tape and is approved to be out in the weather for 90 days.

Specifications IBS RigidRAP comes in three handy sizes: 2440mm, 2745mm & 3050mm x 1196mm x 8mm. This product is used on timber frames, however, IBS has also developed IBS RigidRAP-XT which has a 10mm EPS foam on the rear of the board to give a thermal break on steel frames. IBS RigidRAP is an excellent choice for your next rigid air barrier. For more information, visit www.ibs.co.nz.

11 PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

A rigid air barrier alternative

This is the sixth and final article in the series looking at the history of the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme.

Systemic failure In August last year, the High Court in Wellington found that builders' fundamental errors and failure to follow installation instructions were so significant that 144 owners of leaky buildings couldn't prove a flaw in the fibre cement cladding product was the cause of their weathertightness problems. This failure to follow instructions was also alluded to in the 2002 Hunn Report into the weathertightness of buildings.

CODEWORDS

Skills maintenance: what is it and why we need it?

It is important to remember at this point that the Hunn Report referred to the weathertightness issue as a 'systemic failure'. There was no single factor to blame; the rules, the design, district planning, building practices, training, the inspection regime, materials, product testing and appraisals, literature availability and accountabilities on-site all contributed.

What is skills maintenance? Nobody wants to do a job incorrectly or poorly. The truth, though, is a bad job is going to be the outcome if you have not read the manufacturer's installation instructions and don't understand how that product works.

Why do we need continuing professional development (CPD)? "The Government's goal is a more efficient and productive sector that stands behind the quality of its work; a sector with the necessary skills and capability to build it right first time and that takes prides in its work; a sector that delivers good-quality, affordable homes and buildings, and contributes to a prosperous economy; a well-informed sector that shares information and quickly identifies and corrects problems; and a sector where everyone involved in building work knows what they are accountable for and what they rely on others for."

This is especially relevant today with the supply chain issues across the industry. The building consent authorities (BCAs) are being realistic, having additional resources available to determine which items or components may be substituted. The important thing is to talk to them before you make a change. To find an alternative component, some research is needed. Will the substituted product have similar characteristics to the original? Sometimes, an expert must provide the BCA with verification that it does, so talking to the designer in the first instance is vital. This is perfect skills maintenance – the research, discussion with experts and council, and showing the apprentice or tradespeople how and why this was done and how it works. In this case, you can cover both on-the-job learning (the research and what you learned) and elective activities (the teaching). For the LBP being shown, it is also an elective activity.

CONTINUE >>

The Licensed Building Practitioners scheme was built around the above statement which, incidentally, is just as relevant today as when it was written before 2004. The part which says "a well-informed sector that shares information and quickly identifies and corrects problems" is the basis for what is arguably the single most contentious aspect of the CPD scheme or, as we know it, skills maintenance.

Suppose the designer doesn't do their homework. They could be potentially specifying a component or system that is not right for that situation. If the building practitioner substitutes the specified product or system for something similar, it's going to be the same outcome – products and materials that are possibly not fit for purpose.

Watch out for a future article in Building Business for hints and examples of these learning opportunities.

Remember to log your skills maintenance There is also the issue of recording the skills maintenance once you've recognised it. With today's technology, it is a simple exercise – just search LBP on your phone, log in using RealMe and click on 'Skills maintenance' on the left side of the screen. This brings up everything you need. You can complete the quiz questions found at the bottom of this article, record the details of a trade breakfast you went to or, if you have a few minutes, you can complete the on-the-job learning section. If you're not able to do this on your phone, use the same procedure on your computer when you get home. Or if you're not that tech-savvy, write it in the back of your diary that day. Once you get used to doing this regularly, you can keep up with your skills maintenance throughout the year with only a few minutes every couple of weeks, and it's all there and complete at the end of cycle. This way, there’s no last-minute panic when you need to relicense next week and you haven’t started yet! It really is easy to stay on top of it.

Your history lesson is complete This brings our series on the history of LBP scheme to an end. Several LBPs were not even born when the journey began in the 90s, and many others have forgotten why the scheme came into being. The main reason for this series was to reinforce the necessity for us all to continue learning. Whether it's the big stuff or the small, it all comes down to the "well-informed sector that shares information and quickly identifies and corrects problems."

DESIGN

EXTERNAL PLASTERING

How often have you heard the boss say, "You'll learn something new on the building site every day"? Now that's skills maintenance!

by Bruce Duggan

SITE

BRICK & BLOCK LAYING

Senior Technical Advisor, MBIE

CARPENTRY

FOUNDATIONS

This article is relevant to these classes: ROOFING

ALL

Codewords Quiz 1. What is the inevitable outcome of not reading the manufacturer's installation instructions? a) Nothing – I did it this way last time, and it worked b) Nothing – no one will know c) The installation could very possibly be incorrect d) Nothing – it'll be fine 2. Which of the following is not an example of skills maintenance? a) Researching a product I haven't used before b) Studying up on something I did a long time ago and have forgotten the details c) Showing the apprentice how to do something and explaining why it needs to be done this way d) Buying a new ute e) Discussing a product substitution with the designer 3. Can you record your skills maintenance at any time using your mobile phone? a) No b) Yes Answers: 1.c 2.d 3.b

CODEWORDS

The main thing about skills maintenance is recognising it. If you haven't carried out a specific task before or you did it a long time ago and need a refresher on how it's done, it's probably skills maintenance. It's that easy!

ADD TO LBP ACTIVITY LOG This article is from Codewords Issue 105. Use the ITM App to log your activity today.

Drying times for compounds

Air drying compounds (the compounds in pails) are held together by binders (glue). When these binders coalesce and cure, they bind the filler particles (mainly limestone) together, which causes the product to go hard. How hard a specific compound will be to sand is dictated by temperature as it cures.

The warmer the weather, the harder the product will become to sand. The colder the weather, the softer the same product will become to sand.

Swirl marks or glazing When a compound designed for summer is used in winter, it can result in the application sanding too easily, which can leave swirl marks that ruin the finish. It may also be easily damaged if someone brushes past a dry but not painted joint. Conversely, a harder compound may sand well in winter but become too hard if applied in very hot weather or direct sunlight. This may result in the product becoming 'glazed' when sanded, making the job more difficult than it needs to be.

Choose a product suited to the conditions There is a range of GIB® compounds, and each is optimised for warm, cold or in-between weather use. It is up to the tradesperson to select the product most suited to the conditions. Choosing the correct product will make it easier to sand and improve the quality of the finish.

The GIB® Trade Finish range ensures products with similar trowelling properties are available, but with different sanding characteristics to suit different seasons/drying conditions. The harder to sand products should be used in the colder weather (winter). The easiest products to sand should be used in warm weather when the binder will cure harder.

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

The GIB® plasterboard range of air drying compounds caters for different weather conditions caused by seasonal change. As we move into a new cool season, the same product will become softer to sand.

17 PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

Weatherboard must-knows Do you know your stuff when it comes to storing and installing weatherboards? Take the SPP Quiz to test your knowledge: a) Do you need a groundsheet if storing wrapped weatherboards outside? b) Since weatherboards are treated, do you have to keep them dry prior to installation? c) How can you avoid laplines appearing on your weatherboards? d) Why do you need to paint the cut ends of weatherboards? e) Can timber weatherboards be painted black? f) Can you use a framing nail gun on weatherboards? Southern Pine Products (SPP) is a supplier of Tussock FJ Radiata Pine Weatherboards to ITM stores across the country. The range includes pre-primed acrylic or pre-primed oil/enamel weatherboards, but none of them are waterproof! Too often, we get called to job sites where the correct storage process wasn’t followed. The following information will help you store and install weatherboards correctly, so they stand the test of time.

Protection Weatherboards must be kept dry before installation. Being H3.1 treated, sometimes people mistake weatherboards for being waterproof. In short, they’re not. To ensure your product is covered under warranty and performs well for years to come, weatherboards need to be kept dry and protected until they are installed and painted. On-site weatherboards are often stored outside. If you keep your weatherboards outside, ensure they’re on a flat and well-ventilated surface, 150mm off the ground and on bearers one metre apart. Even if the pack is wrapped, you must use a groundsheet and protective cover.

Preparation The SPP website has datasheets with further detail about weatherboards and protecting and installing them correctly. It’s a good idea to provide these to apprentices and refresh your knowledge from time to time. (For more information go to: www.sppnz.co.nz/Technical-Information) For example, to avoid laplines appearing on your installed weatherboards, pre-paint the top 40mm of each board in the same colour as the intended topcoat before installing. Perhaps the most crucial piece of advice we wish all our customers knew is to seal all your cut ends and edges with two coats of quality acrylic exterior primer immediately after cutting and before installation. Timber weatherboards are hygroscopic (absorb moisture from the atmosphere), so when you cut the boards and expose the end grain, they are very good at absorbing moisture.

Installation The NZ Building Code and BRANZ best practices are your guides when it comes to installation. However, we’d like to reinforce that using sealants or glues between the board laps is not a good idea, and it may inhibit the naturally occurring movement of the cladding and trap moisture.

18 PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

When putting up weatherboards, it’s also essential to only use an approved nail or screw system. Framing nail guns can damage the weatherboards creating large nail holes where moisture could get in. Nails need to be punched below the surface and filled immediately to avoid this.

Paint Before any paintwork, you must lightly sand and clean the weatherboards, and spot-prime nail holes or bare timber. The boards must be dry with less than 16% moisture content. Refer to standards AS/ NZS 2311:2017 Guide to the painting of buildings for further details. Once prepared, apply a minimum of one full coat of acrylic primer and two coats of quality exterior acrylic paint at a rate of 12-14m2/L whilst ensuring a combined topcoat thickness of no less than 50 microns. You mustn’t allow your customer to choose black paint for timber weatherboards, and paint must be a light colour with a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) greater than 45%. Dark colours absorb UV and may cause timber movement, distortion and resin bleed. The choice of a light top colour and a correctly applied quality paint system will help to minimise this occurrence. More information about resin bleed can be found at www.sppnz.co.nz/Technical-Information

SPP Weatherboard Quiz Answers a) Do you need a groundsheet if storing wrapped weatherboards outside? Yes – weatherboards must have a groundsheet and protective cover outside. b) Since weatherboards are treated, do you have to keep them dry before installation? Yes – to ensure dimensional stability, you must keep weatherboards dry before installation and paint as soon as possible after installed. c) How can you avoid laplines appearing on your weatherboards? You can pre-paint the top 40mm of each board with the same colour as the topcoat. d) Why do you need to paint the cut ends of weatherboards? To stop the weatherboards from absorbing water resulting in timber movement. e) Can timber weatherboards be painted black? No – Timber weatherboards must be painted a light colour with an LRV greater than 45%

f) Can you use a framing nail gun on weatherboards? No – Framing nail guns can damage the weatherboards creating large nails holes where moisture could get in and are therefore not recommended.

Fast, clean and durable, KalsiFloor is the ideal substrate for lightweight flooring solutions. Key benefits: IBS scans the world’s foremost building supplies manufacturers to find the best and most suitable products for New Zealand’s harsh conditions. All products are tested and approved for use in accordance with our local building code, assuring suitability and performance. KalsiFloor is a strong, high performing structural floor product with the feel of concrete. This quality cement board offers speed of construction and performance suitable for light commercial and residential floors. It's ideal for quick preparation of mezzanines and intermediate flooring, and can be a suitable alternative to the hard to source 19mm treated ply floor. KalsiFloor can be directly finished with carpet or vinyl in residential or office projects. Ceramic tiles can also be directly fixed to KalsiFloor without laying ceramic tile underlay. The benefits of using KalsiFloor as an alternative to conventional plywood is that it's dimensionally stable, impact-resistant, moisture, mould and water-resistant, easy to install and work with, and is also non-combustible. All this makes it an excellent replacement for your flooring needs. KalsiFloor is available in 2400 x 1200 x 20mm and 1800 x 1200 x 20mm square edge at the moment, with a tongue and groove version available mid-2022.

For more information, visit www.ibs.co.nz.

• Resistant to termites, insects and other vermin • Moisture, mould and water-resistant • Speed of installation • Impact-resistant • Lightweight solution • Non-combustible • Higher mechanical strength • Durable • Does not swell

NEW PRODUCT

KalsiFloor 20mm cement board flooring

The easy access advantage

Open web design The unique open web design of trusses made using Posi-STRUTS provides excellent access for services, making them lighter and quicker to install than solid timber joists or steel alternatives. Plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning/ducting can all be easily accommodated by this ingenious open web system. Forget cutting through solid timber joists and reducing their strength; Posi-STRUT trusses make difficult access a thing of the past.

Top chord support No other beam can boast 'Top Chord Support'. This eliminates the need to use expensive joist hangers and custom brackets for fixing that other solutions often require.

Span and installation Posi-STRUT trusses are manufactured in lengths up to 8 metres, with either 70mm, 90mm or 140mm wide chords, depending on your load-bearing requirements. They can span large open areas with minimum use of internal supports, making them ideal for open plan designs. They can also be designed and engineered for special projects and tailor-made to accommodate special support conditions like hidden steel beams.

The wide chord surface of Posi-STRUT trusses ensures easier fixing, plus it enables the truss to be placed upright without the need for temporary bracing. They also provide a rigid floor structure that's even and uniform. The unique strongback bracing system used with Posi-STRUT floors tie adjacent Posi-STRUT trusses together to minimise bounce. More than just a flooring solution, Posi-STRUTS have been used in innovative applications in roof construction, with everything from the standard roof to curved roof lines.

Usage As well as domestic construction, Posi-STRUTS are also used in commercial and light industrial applications because they offer a far more costeffective solution to steel and are much easier to install. Posi-STRUTS make excellent purlins, rafters or floor joists. They're also suited for second storeys, sites with poor foundations and steep sites, avoiding the need for cut and fill, and costly retaining wall structures. For more information, visit www.mitek.co.nz

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

Posi-STRUTSTM are ideal for today's building needs because they offer a wide range of advantages that deliver savings to the architect, engineer and builder. They are a truly customised, totally engineered flooring system that combines timber's versatility with the strength of steel.

22 PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

Ready to topcoat, pre-primed timber mouldings for a premium finish With Prefinished EzitrimPlus internal moulding and trims, you can achieve a premium finish with less preparation. The flexible yet durable coating allows seamless installation. Key features: • New and improved • Defect-free • Light, yet strong and stable • Wide range of profiles and dimensions • Easily worked - cut and drill • Easily painted - priming system ready to top-coat The finger-jointed radiata pine clears are coated with a unique finishing system during the manufacturing process. Once profiled to shape, a flexible gesso coating is applied as thin as possible to make the surface flat and true. The gesso coating prevents finger joints or timber imperfections from showing through the final painted surface. Boards are finished with two coats of primer and the surface buffed to finish, ensuring adequate adhesion for paints.

Installation Installation is easy, as the coating is formulated not to fracture when cut or nailed correctly. There is no need to prepare any of the board surfaces. Fill and tidy up nail holes, and apply the topcoat of paint. The rebated frog into the back of all profiles boards (except Dressed All Round (DAR)) allows the board to fit snug against the wall, resulting in a perfect finish every time. EzitrimPlus mouldings are solid timber and can be used in bathrooms and kitchens. EzitrimPlus offers a range of profiles in 10mm and 18mm thickness and all in a versatile 5.4m length. For all profile types and size, visit www.ititimspec.nz

Great for skirting, architraves, jambs, reveals, shelving, joinery, furniture, bathrooms and kitchens (while not exposed to constant wetting), and any interior finishing application that requires the great look of timber mouldings.

5 steps to great staff incentives

Nothing stings more than losing one of your standout workers. You know, the ones that always turn up on time, have a great attitude and never let you down. They’ll go the extra mile because they take pride in their work. Things tick along nicely. Until they ask for a ‘quick chat.’ They’ve had an offer they can’t refuse, and they’re off. Great staff are worth their weight in gold at the moment. So how do you make sure your best staff stick around? Think about your current team. Who can you not afford to lose?

1. Can your incentives pass the poacher test? Say your best employee got approached tomorrow with a job offer. Losing a valuable team member hurts. What would stop them from saying yes to that offer?

Everyone wants to know where they’re heading. You can help your employees by investing in them and

Give great bonuses for hitting targets, like the team gets a specific dollar amount for completing a job on time or early. Consider a $10K bonus if they are still with you at the end of each year. For the ultimate employee – think about offering a profit share or even an ownership share to keep them for good. Only your MVPs should be considered for this type of incentive.

2. Do you know what your staff want next? Long-term incentives are crucial for retention. But you’ve also got to walk before you can run. Knowing what your team wants in the short term matters, too.

CONTINUE >>

The best incentives help you build a culture that people won’t want to leave.

aligning their goals with your business goals. Show them how working with you gets them the career path they want, which creates loyalty and they are less likely to get poached.

BUSINESS ADVICE

Business Coach Daniel Fitzpatrick looks at how to implement incentives that keep your staff self-driven and poacher-proof.

24 BUSINESS ADVICE

Have you spent time finding out what your team members value most? Don’t assume you know what they consider good perks. Ask them and find out what they want. They’ll give you powerful incentive ideas for now and later on.

For example, if your apprentice wants to work on turning up on time or improving their attitude, and you agree, hold them accountable to these performance goals by grading them out of 10 at the end of each week.

Show them how going the extra mile will help you help them achieve that goal. One business owner I work with goes out of his way to help his staff. In their first few months, he finds a way to contribute to their personal lives. He sets them up with a mortgage advisor if they’re looking for a house, or they get to leave an hour early to coach their kid’s sports team on Thursdays. The point is, it’s what matters to them.

3. Is your incentive programme breeding entitlement? Entitlement is the last thing you want in a staff member. So how do we stop it creeping in with the use of incentives? You might do this already. Keep the incentives random and unexpected. Shout your guys the odd coffee here and there. Give them something like an ITM gift card to show appreciation for solving a tricky problem.

Do this with your team, so everyone has something they’re aiming for. This way they don’t get bored, as studies show being bored in their current role is the most significant reason people look for a new one. Keep your team challenged by giving everyone a number they’re accountable to. The best sports teams are great at this. The players hold each other accountable, not the coach. When everyone has their number, your guys will help each other out.

5. How big are you on the little things? Incentives are great. But they’re not your only tool to building a team that loves working for you. Recognition is powerful (and a lot easier). Research shows that 63% of staff who feel recognised are highly unlikely to look for a new job. On the flip side, a lack of recognition is why 44% of employees change jobs. The key lies in the inconsistency. Informal gestures that say ‘we appreciate your effort.’ Keeping them unexpected is what keeps entitlement at bay. If staff don’t know they’re coming, expectations don’t grow. That said, random incentives are a move, not a game plan. They’re valuable, particularly if you sense entitlement brewing. But they’re best placed as the cherry on the incentive cake, not as the cake itself.

4. How often do you ask your team members their number? You’ve asked each staff member what they prefer as an incentive. Extend the buy-in. Ask them to come up with their own performance goals. Go through this process together. Agree on something, then catch up regularly to help them stay on track. This doesn’t have to be long (10mins weekly should do it), but consistency is key.

One tradie I worked with had an admin person who was on a performance roller coaster. She wasn’t entirely giving the boss what he needed. Productivity fell, especially when she was at home during the holidays. Deliverables weren’t meeting deadlines or required standards. Tough conversations weren’t working. It turns out she finds it hard if she’s not encouraged. Once her manager said things like ‘thanks for your work on that project, I couldn’t have done it without you’, there was a considerable change. She was diligent again and a lot easier to work with. So what drove this change? Not a lot. Just her boss making her boss made her feel appreciated by acknowledging what was true – he couldn’t have done that task without her. Sometimes we can overlook the power of recognising the value of what our team does every day.

Recognition of a job well done can be one of the best returns on investment in your business. How often do you say ‘thank you?’ So what’s the ultimate key to staff retention? You’ve got to pay your staff well, but more money isn’t always the answer.

Need some help to get your team performing at the highest level? Book a free strategy chat with me here: www.nextleveltradie.co.nz/nextstep

by Daniel Fitzpatrick Business Coach, Next Level Tradie

Instead, find out what truly matters to them and reward them in that way. Even better, attach it to their long-term professional growth plan. Make it personal. Cookie-cutter bonuses and incentives can be helpful, but they only go so far. Align staff incentives with your business goals. This gets everyone on the same page, and your business ends up running with the fluency of a Formula 1 pit crew. Well, maybe not quite. But you get the idea.

Daniel Fitzpatrick is a business coach for trades & construction business owners. Find him at NextLevelTradie.co.nz

Minimum wage increases to $21.20 On 1 April 2022, the minimum wage for New Zealand’s lowest-paid workers increased from $20 to $21.20 per hour. The starting-out and training minimum wage also increased from $16 to $16.96 per hour. “Many Kiwis who earn the minimum wage have gone above and beyond in our fight against COVID-19. We remain committed to supporting New Zealanders by raising their wages as we continue to recover and rebuild from the pandemic,” Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood said.

“Raising the minimum wage will directly benefit approximately 300,000 workers, and will help many households that have been most impacted by the effects of COVID. For someone working a 40-hour week on the minimum wage, this increase will see them earning an extra $48 a week and almost $2,500 more each year. The wage increase will also have a stimulatory effect on the economy as many workers will spend the extra money on goods and services which, in turn, will help support businesses,” Michael Wood said. As of 1 April 2022, the current minimum wage rates (before tax) are:

“With the arrival of Omicron, we are once again calling on many of our frontline workers – such as cleaners, supermarket workers and security guards – to keep the country running as the virus spreads and cases begin to increase. I think everyone agrees those contributing so much to our COVID response deserve a pay rise.

Type of minimum wage

Per hour

8 hour day

40 hour week

Adult

$21.20

$169.60

$848.00

Starting-out

$16.96

$135.68

$678.40

Training

$16.96

$135.68

$678.40

These rates apply to employees aged 16 years or over. For more information, visit www.employment.govt.nz

BUSINESS ADVICE

This recognition doesn’t have to only come from you. Share praise from customers in your group chat. This will make your team feel great about the work they’ve done.

Finger-jointed kwila

This deck was built using 140 x 19mm QuikDeck Multi

However, with a lot of finger jointed-kwila, you end up with many joins, which can be an issue for some homeowners. bbi looked into this problem with key suppliers and have come up with a fantastic solution – bbi QuikDeck FJ Kwila Decking. bbi QuikDeck is available in three types:

QuickDeck Multi As its name suggests, this is a standard finger-jointed product with multiple joins per length. It is available in 90 x 19mm and 140 x 19mm Reeded Profiles in 5.4m and 5.7m lengths.

QuikDeck Premium This product has a maximum of four joins per length, providing the benefit of long, selected lengths without too many joins. It’s available in 140 x 19mm Reeded Profile in 5.4m and 5.7m lengths.

QuikDeck Supa This is the top of the range product with only two joins per length, giving the benefits of long, selected lengths with even fewer joins than QuikDeck Premium. QuikDeck Supa is available in 140 x 19mm Reeded Profile in 5.7m lengths.

Warranty All the QuikDeck Kwila uses select grade kwila decking, and the joins use high quality, long-lasting glues. The warranty on bbi QuikDeck is the same as standard random length kwila. As the timber ages, the joins tend to fade, which adds to the aesthetic of this beautiful timber.

Other hardwood decking products Adding QuikDeck alongside the current range of hardwood decking means bbi has a product for any decking job. bbi also stocks Vitex, Purple Heart, Garapa, Kwila Posts and Beams, Decking Spacers, and Hardwood End Seal Wax. Contact your local ITM for a full range of bbi products or visit www.bbi.net.nz.

NEW PRODUCTS

One of the most significant issues often heard from customers is not being able to purchase selected lengths in kwila and ending up with lots of offcuts and short random lengths. The solution to this is finger-jointed kwila, available in 5.4m and 5.7m lengths.

BlondeLine Plus plywood

VLine plywood

Innovative ply

BlondeLine Plus

VLine poplar core pine plywood

The new plywood product for 2022 is BlondeLine Plus. It’s a matt UV coated both sides Birch veneer on a poplar core. It’s available in 9mm and 12mm thicknesses and comes in two sizes; 2.4 and 2.7m lengths. This is a fantastic product for interior linings, including walls and ceilings. The matt UV coating on both sides requires less finishing, saving time and money.

bbi is also adding a new range of poplar core pine v-grooved shiplap in both 9 and 12mm thicknesses, available as both 2.4 and 2.7m sheets. The v-groove provides a lovely aesthetic to interior linings and ceilings, and the shiplap edge makes fitting and fixing fast and easy.

ValuePly 2.7m and 3.0m untreated poplar core pine plywood Also new to our range are the 2.7 and 3.0m sheets in our ValuePly poplar core pine. 2.7s are available in both 9 and 12mm thickness and 3.0 is available in 12 mm. These longer sheets are perfect for lining buildings with higher studs and large ceiling areas.

These new products, alongside our current range of interior lining, means bbi has a product for any interior job. bbi also stocks a full range of construction plywood, including CD F8, DD F8, cladding, flooring, form ply and many other specialist plys. Contact your local ITM for a full range of bbi products or visit www.bbi.net.nz.

NEW PRODUCTS

bbi Wood Products has been supplying new and innovative plywood products to the New Zealand market since 2008 and we're proud to continue this by adding three new product lines to our range in early 2022.

Contract works insurance

INSURANCE

Contract works insurance has all sorts of additional items and optional or automatic extensions. You need to understand what these cover. We sometimes get clients asking to remove the automatic allowances within contract works insurance, since they believe they are irrelevant to their job. This is a bad idea!

Professional Fees – this covers the additional costs of professionals such as architects, engineers and surveyors, and any consent fees necessary to rectify the loss after an event.

What are these allowances?

Increased Costs During Construction – this covers costs incurred for variations and fluctuations in the contract price and/or increases in the costs of labour and materials during the construction period.

Principal Supplied Materials – some insurers give an automatic allowance if the homeowner supplies materials to the builder to incorporate into the works. For example, they buy the bathroom vanity or tiles themselves, or purchase the whiteware. Demolition and Removal of Debris – this covers the extra costs if there is a disaster and the works have to be dismantled and carted away, and the site cleared before rebuilding can start. If you don’t have this, the insurer won’t pay anything towards these costs. We know from experience after the Christchurch earthquakes that demolition and removal costs can skyrocket after such an event, so an allowance needs to be made for this.

Escalation in Cost During Reconstruction – covers the increases in costs during reconstruction work. It also covers the cost of inflation on any unbuilt part of the works before the loss. To be clear, the last two don’t mean you can claim for increased costs on your project; they mean that if there is a claim (eg. accidental damage to the works), there is an allowance for cost increases that may have happened during the build or the reconstruction.

31 Plans/Drawings and Site Documents – covers the cost to replace any loss to these documents.

There are also other common allowances, both automatic and optional: Transit and Storage – covers accidental loss or damage to materials meant for the project but temporarily stored at other locations, and then also during their transit to the contract site. Completion Cover – typically, contract works insurance ends on the date on the policy or the practical completion of the project, whichever is earlier. This extension gives an extended period of cover after practical completion, which helps cover the potential gap where a domestic house policy may not yet be in place.

In a Nutshell Make sure the allowances in your contract works insurance reflect your contract requirements. And certainly don’t remove them as the automatic allowances generally come at no extra cost (so you won’t save any money by taking them out).

by Ben Rickard Trade Insurance Expert, Builtin The information presented in this article is general and not intended to be financial advice for individual situations. It would be best to speak to an expert about your specific circumstances and needs.

There are plenty of other extensions, both optional and automatic. All are contained within the policy wording, and it’s a good idea to understand what

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FOR YOUR NEAREST ITM STORE PHONE 0800 FOR ITM OR VISIT ITM.CO.NZ PRODUCTS ON PROMOTION: All prices exclude GST. Prices are valid April 1st until May 31st, 2022 unless specified otherwise. Some products may not be available in every ITM store, but as part of our rain check policy can be ordered in at the advertised price. Contact your local ITM store to confirm stock availability before visiting.

INSURANCE

There are standard amounts for each allowance, usually between 5-10% of the contract value. They can be adjusted on request, and the amounts need to reflect what your contract requires.

they are and ensure you’re meeting the terms of your contract and covering any potential hazards.