Target Repairs

Target repairs are repairs to only the area showing obvious damage, or areas that are known to be constructed in a way that may allow moisture entry and/or structural damage to the building. Because the cost of a target repair is considerably less than a full reclad it is a very attractive option to many home owners.

Because of current legislation, even target repairs for external moisture related faults require a building consent, and thus require just as much preparation and attention to detail as a full reclad.

A target repair may be as simple as rebuilding a leaking deck with new materials and more ground clearance, or completely recladding an entire elevation of a building. 

The risk to homeowners and councils alike though is the possibility of another failure on the repaired building. Two factors influence this possibility:

• The existence of 'systemic' faults in the building. In other words, the faults that are being remedied by the target repairs may exist in apparently sound parts of the building as well, and unless they are detected and remedied as well, may fail at a later date.
• The integrity of the target repair itself. Although the repair may be good, the junction between new, and old may fail.

Because the council must approve a building consent for target repairs, and then issue a Code Compliance Certificate when they are completed, it is liable for any consequent failures in the building. If there is the remotest possibility a target repair may fail, or other systemic design faults may exist in a building the council may insist on a full reclad instead of target repairs, to reduce their exposure to liability.

Likewise, according to the Building Act the home owner is just as responsible to ensure any repairs they have carried confirm to building regulations. If these repairs fail, the home owner is also liable. 

A target repair should only be considered after professional advice from an expert has been taken.