What is the incidence of pedestal paving hiding water issues beneath?
The success of pedestal paving depends on elements beneath, including drainage, falls to substrates, membranes and upturns.
Pedestal paving has become more popular in the past 5-10 years, and our experience with water issues beneath is varied.
There is no specific Australian Standard yet that covers the paving installation. Therefore, installations rely on manufacturer recommendations combined with other standards such as waterproofing and drainage.
The success very much depends on elements beneath, including drainage, falls to substrates, membranes and upturns.
It can be a very effective product. I have seen some very good installations and some bad ones that have failed.
In instances where the substrate was incorrectly installed, issues have been undetected because they are not visible and difficult to access.
It is very difficult for building inspectors to check the substrate during a post completion inspection without lifting pavers. That becomes very time consuming and expensive for owners. For this reason, it can be a problematic area to regulate.
More often, I have seen blocked drainage due to build up where leaf and/or debris has fallen between joints.
Pedestal paving needs to be on a maintenance schedule where specific pavers are lifted above drainage points routinely so the paving can be inspected and cleaned.
Related webinar
Log in to your existing Lookupstrata Account to download the printable file.
Bruce McKenzie is National Manager for Commercial Services and Major Projects at Sedgwick's Building Consulting Division, the largest claims management corporation in the world. With over 36 years' experience as a licenced building contractor, Bruce has received multiple state building excellence awards and a National Building Award through Master Builders Australia.
Since joining Sedgwick a decade ago, Bruce has led the growth of its Commercial Services Division, managing major building projects nationally across the insurance and private sectors — including property damage, catastrophe events and large-scale remediation. He has acted as expert witness on high-profile litigation matters, most notably the Lacrosse Tower combustible cladding case, and served as Program Director for Cladding Safety Victoria, overseeing the recladding of over 40 buildings as part of the Victorian Government's $600 million rectification program. In 2022 he commenced a secondment as Program Director for Project Intervene with the NSW Office of the Building Commissioner, addressing serious defects in recently constructed buildings.
Bruce is a licensed builder in NSW, QLD, VIC and ACT, and holds an Advanced Diploma in Building & Construction Management and a Diploma of Project Management.
Lookupstrata Directory
Looking for NAT Strata Specialist in your area? Search within our LookUpStrata Directory for the best list of contacts available
Search the directory
Comments
Log in to leave a comment