Australian Building Standards & Warranties

When selecting products for your renovation, consider the warranties offered and the ease of access to after-sales support. These factors are essential for ensuring long-term satisfaction with your renovation. 

You should maintain receipts and documentation from your home renovation because they help you track expenses, prove regulatory compliance, resolve disputes with contractors, ensure accurate tax reporting, facilitate future resale or insurance claims, and serve as a reference for maintenance or upgrades to the renovated areas.

Ensure that your contractor can guide you through the warranty aspects of all products used in your renovation. Nouvelle’s experts are knowledgeable about the coverage details and processes for claiming warranties. Get in touch with us to know more.  

• Workmanship and Adherence to Plans. Guarantee that the work will be conducted skillfully and in line with the agreed-upon plans and specifications. 
• Quality and Suitability of Materials. Assurance that all materials used will be of high quality, suitable for their purpose, and new unless specified otherwise. 
• Legal Compliance. Commitment to ensuring the work complies with this Act and all other relevant laws. 
• Timeliness and Diligence. Promise that the work will be completed diligently, either within the contract’s timeframe or within a reasonable period if no time is specified. 
• Fitness for Occupation. In cases of dwelling construction, alterations, or renovations, the work will make the dwelling reasonably fit for occupation. 
• Fitness for Purpose. Assurance that the work and materials will meet the specific purpose or result as expressly communicated by the owner, relying on the contractor’s expertise. 

The effect of this legislation is to incorporate into every residential building contract those terms as if they were warranties which the parties had agreed would bind the builder at the time when the contract was signed. They have effect as terms of the building contract and may be sued upon if the builder breaches any of them. 

• Appliance Warranties. The manufacturer’s warranty on an appliance such as a fridge could be two years, while the warranty on its motor could be up to 10 years. Some higher-end appliances may have long or more substantial warranties.  
• Extended Warranties. Some retailers and brands also offer extended warranties on products at the time of purchase, but given the reasonably long life of some appliances, it’s worth seriously considering if this is a worthwhile purchase.  
• Material-Specific Warranties. For products such as benchtops, Caesarstone Australia, for example, warrants the product to be free from defects for a period of 10 years from manufacture.  
• Joinery Work Warranties. Naturally, also ensure your contractor has a sensible warranty for the joinery they provide. Nouvelle’s joinery designers deliver what they promise.