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[Holidaze]

Further to my original post finally have decided to fully renovate bathroom and pay difference of what strata will pay for repairing shower recess.  Bathroom has begun demolition this week after finally organising trades due to Covid craziness in the construction industry.  During this it has become evident all copper water pipes are not chased into brick wall, they are just laying around perimeter of walls, just under floor tiling to service shower, bath and vanity.  I advised strata and they said they are not responsible for any pipework irrespective if it is to Australian Standards or not and I will  have to bear the cost and they will not take care of anything other than defective shower recess.

My tiler has advised that pipework must be chased into brickwalls as he cannot waterproof or tile otherwise.

Is this correct from Strata does anyone know?

Many thanks

 

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[Jimmy-T]

Having only recently emerged from our own bathroom nightmare (sorry, renovation) my thinking is that having the pipes external on the wall isn’t such a big deal as you can easily gyprock the walls and tile them.

However, the pipes on the floor are a different issue and that feels like a defect (and may have contributed to your initial problems).

Anyone else with any thoughts?

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[Holidaze]

Yes possibly cause however as the unit was built around early 1980s and no water proofing evident and rendered walls we have to chase the new pipes into brick walls away from waterproofing to shower and also new tiling to floor and walls

I really would of thought if strata covering recess they would cover the pipe work in recess along internal perimeter of shower as well but they say no!

 

see photo green is copper pipe on  perimeter of  all walls  in Bathroom aftEr floor tiles removed

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[kaindub]

The strata manager could be correct.

Remember that your lot is defined as the inner space between the external walls, and the inner space between the ceiling and the floor.

Pipework in internal walls is the lot owner responsibility.

Pipework in external walls is OC responsibility.

Whilst it may grate on you, the approach you are taking is probably the most expedient.

The OC is only required to maintain and repair common property. That does not extend to making it better, even if the initial construction was questionable. Surely you want your bathroom to be a better standard and more functional.
You can battle it out with the OC, but in the mean time you don’t have a bathroom.
If you feel you need to pursue this I suggest thst you take lots of high quality photographs before, during and after your renovation.

Also get reports prepared by a building consultant. Your local plumber is not suitable as they are not used to preparing reports as expert witnesses . If your plumber is challenged in a court, they are likely to be discredited and not help your case.

My daughter renovated a strata bathroom two years ago. Peeling back the finishes revealed a multitude of sins. She decided the easiest course of action was to pay for the repairs herself rather than have a protracted fight with the OC. She now has a bathroom to her taste and the memory of the renovation is long forgotten

 

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[Holidaze]

Thanks for that and  she is made good  to current Aust Standards and finishes to what she wants and have reports being done as we speak and just awaiting receipt of them to forward to our insurance due to leak on internal wall pipe. So hopefully insurance comes through for her for part of costs

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