HOME BUILDING LIKE A BOSS

It’s Raining, You’re Panicking, and Your Roof Isn’t On

Jaimi - Boss Building Brokers Episode 75

We’re told to expect delays in building, but no one tells you what that actually feels like.

In this episode, Jaimi and Maddie get radically honest about the reality of building during Perth’s winter months.
From rained-out slabs to sick tradies, feature brick delays to delayed titles, we pull back the curtain on what’s really going on behind those “sorry, your build’s delayed” emails.

This isn’t just about weather.
It’s about pressure.
It’s about the emotional toll of construction.
It’s about what you can control and how to cope when everything feels out of your hands.

We talk through:

  • What’s a “normal” delay and what’s a red flag
  • What builders plan for (and what they don’t)
  • How weather impacts everything from slab pour to your street being titled
  • Why pushing too hard can sometimes make things worse
  • The right way to ask your builder for an update
  • And why your emotions in this process are 100% valid

“If you’re freaking out, that doesn’t mean your build’s a disaster, it just means you care. And you’re human.”

Whether you're in the middle of construction, about to start, or just trying to stay sane through delays this episode is your calm voice in the chaos.

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📍This podcast is for buyers building a new home in Perth Western Australia.

The information shared on HOME BUILDING LIKE A BOSS is general in nature and does not take into consideration your individual circumstances, it is not intended to be specific advice. This podcast exists purely for education purposes and should not be relied upon to make financial or building decisions.

 Welcome to Home Building Like a Boss, the podcast dedicated to helping first home buyers in Perth build their dream home with ease and excitement. I'm Jamie, your host and go-to Building Broker. Are you ready to feel empowered, in control, and excited about your building journey? I'll help guide you with expert advice, insider tips and tricks, and real life stories to help you navigate the confusing world of home building.

Tune in as I take you on the journey to building your home like a boss.

Okay. I've got Maddie back here with me today, and we are going to dive into weather during construction and your building journey. It's obviously also in different sections, which we'll talk about, um, but how the weather and rain affects your construction journey. And I feel like, you know, you were saying.

Yesterday that when it hits winter, all you turn into is emails on timeframes and building and delays. And it's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Yeah. I personally love winter. Outside of construction, I'm a winter gal, but in construction not good. I want to cry in a fetal position in a corner. It's, yeah, it's a, a very different part of my life.

Yeah. How, let's talk about. Delays in construction and first what those delays can be. And then we can talk through how builders account for them, what you know, why do they happen. And then also practical things on how people can deal with those delays. And the reassurance that it is already factored into the timeframe, which I think is the most important part.

Builders know it's, yeah. Winter, and we need to factor for these delays. So it's not going to, even though it's a delay, it's not a delay on your overall timeline. No, and unfortunately, I, I'm pretty sure every builder's gonna be sitting here listening, going, yeah, yeah, yeah. There is a contingency plan in place.

They always will have a plan. Just because your bricks might be sitting out there for eight weeks does not mean that you've. Gained eight weeks on top of your, let's just say your 12 month guarantee. Yeah. Obviously things can blow out and that's like really, really rare that we have an experience. I mean, we personally have never had one, but you know, seeing people having four year bill times, I mean that's very, yeah.

Obviously very circumstantial. Um, but when it comes to weather specifically. There's a lot that can happen and I think people tend to forget that it really does impact whether or not like your trades are on site, people get sick like naturally, where in the winter months people get more sick. Yeah. So you yourself wouldn't see yourself out there stacking bricks if you've got a, a chest infection.

Yeah. So there's that little bit of reality that needs to be in there going, hey. Would you do this if you were in a scenario? No. Okay. Well then why would you expect a trade to do that themselves? Yeah. There's also trade shortages around Perth at the moment, so that's playing to a factor in terms of timeframes, delays being pulled off site, this and that, and so forth.

So it's not just, there's not just one delay or for a specific reason. There could be lots of other things that you might not know about. Underneath or behind the scenes. Yeah. But at the end of the day, fielders know and are aware of this and they've got these contingencies in place to say, Hey, it's so, so fine.

Yeah. But, and making up the time elsewhere and things like that. Yeah. People like to hit the panic button straight away and look, I get it. We all get it. We will built here. Um, because there's a lot of these external factors and pressures in your life driving this response. But at the end of the day, it's not going to change.

So it's not about. Going, oh, okay. Push, push, push. There's definitely time to push. Um, but it's, there's a level of expectations and acceptance of a situation that will help make the experience feel better. Yeah. And having that education and understanding that it is factored in for, it's not. Eight weeks on top of your 12 month build, that eight weeks is factored in already.

Yeah. And I know we had a client recently that had their, their feature brick was delayed first. Yes. And then a brickie team started, or I think it was one brickie on a pretty big house, which also takes home longer than five Brickies would. Yeah. And sometimes that happens. You might get a team of five and you might get one, and then that brickie got appendicitis.

Had surgery. Had surgery, so then another BRICKIE team was allocated. So that did take a significant amount of time that reached plate height. Yesterday. Yeah. And roof is going up today. So the builder to make time back 'cause they knew that happened so they could reshuffle other things around to get a roof frame on quicker than what you would on having a normal gap.

Yeah. And also like the site supervisors being. No, like they do. They've got a big job. They do their jobs well. This supervisor knew that plate height was gonna be like at approximately this particular time. So he pre-ordered all the roof timbers that, yeah, the day after they finished plate height, they were already on in terms of roof carpentry.

We've also got. Whether they're coming in this weekend with rain. So he's like, no, let's get this on. Yeah. So it's, there's a lot of factors that will hinder or help a construction phase, um, but just rest assured that it is going to happen. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just when, yeah. Yeah. Now, at the end of the day, builders do not want you here longer than necessary.

Put that out there into the universe. We, they don't want you sitting in construction for three years. Yeah. Like, no. Yeah. That's worse for them. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now let's talk about the specific delays with weather in construction and what parts of the process that happens and what delays there are and how that all works.

Well, obviously, in terms of we are talking wet weather, winter. The first few phases of your home, so basically right away from earthworks to roof cover are going to be affected. Um, obviously people aren't gonna be putting up roof sheeting in an a torrential lumber storm. Yeah. So there's a lot of components, not necessarily like.

Outside. There's also inside components as well. So as an example, if you have white set float for your walls, they need time to dry. Yeah. Um, in even tile, adhesives, glue paint, these, all these little things will need time to dry. And that's why you might see some heats in your home blowing in hot air. Um, but the real big part where con, um, construction gets affected by weather is really at the start and sometimes a little bit towards the end of it's in terms of paving, aggregate pause, things like that.

But yeah, you're going to see the real big delays right at the very start if you are in winter, during these first few phases. Definitely. Yeah, because they're not brick aren't laying bricks. No. If it's raining, can't pour the slab. Like all those things you can, you might want the slab to be poured, but you do not wanna be paying for a grinder to be grinding your slab back 'cause it's dimpled.

So it's, it's patience is a virtue. Unfortunately, this virtue isn't necessarily a lot of us have. Trust me, I don't either. Um, but these will save you. Lots of pain long term, and the builders will tell you what's going to happen. Yeah. You're not gonna be left in the dark. Um, but yeah, it's, a lot of these things take time to cure, to set to dry.

So the weather is going to impact you unfortunately. Yeah. And what about. Um, the hot weather. Ooh, yes. Well, roof sheeters also do not want to work in hot weather either. I mean, I would just, right in the middle is good. I know. I often make a couple of jokes, like they'll just look up into the sky and see one cloud and go, no, not today, but all in jest though.

But you don't wanna be getting pierced by sun reflection off a metal sheet. No. Yeah. Yes. On a 40 degree day. So again, there's also. OHNS. Yeah. That needs to be maintained. Um, no one wants your site to be shut down because someone's fallen off a ladder or a roof or got sun stroke, things like this. So hot weather can delay things just in terms of things not even wanting to set themselves.

Mm-hmm. So it's too hot. Um, your slab also will need time to cure. So if you see your water being constantly on, you might have a big water bill. It's because your slab actually needs water to help cure. Um, so during the hot weather, they will probably will have your tap on Yeah, for a couple of days. Um, so these sort of things can affect your timeline as well.

Um, but again, not a lot of it. Too much in summer. It's really the winter months affect it most winter. Yeah. The winter in that early stage. Oh yeah. Yeah. That's fun. How, what advice can you give people around managing that with their builder and their expectations? Yeah. Um, communication. Yeah, communication.

It will never hurt. Like you or the builder to ask the question. If you are unsure, ask the question. Um, if you haven't seen any work being done on site in a week, two weeks, however long, ask the question. There's no harm. And at the end of the day, they will know the reasons why more so than you do. So assumptions are the mother of all screw ups, in my opinion.

So you don't just assume that your site super hasn't been to your house. Yeah. Trades aren't there. This and that. The amount of people, not our clients, but the amount of people I hear in the industry going, oh, I got to the site and I can't see my trades there. They get there at six o'clock and they leave at two.

Like they don't work on the same timeframe as what we do. Um, they might've been pulled off site. You know, there's so many different variables involved, but it will never hurt to ask the question again. Being informed about this. And ultimately, like people start to then go, well, they should tell me no. No.

If a client liaison was to tell you every single delay that would happen, all that's going to happen is you're gonna get frustrated. Yeah. So, and that there becomes, that's a full-time job. Just for full-time job. Yeah. And a lot of, I sometimes I have to remind people. They, you are not their only client. So they might be in a pre-up meeting for three hours.

Yeah. And then they come back to 80 emails and it's, you know, things do take time. So a level of patience is also required. Um, and just at the end of the day, Nori, that it is going to get done. But if you are not aware, just ask. Yeah. Yeah. I think having an open line of communication with either your client liaison or if you have access the site super.

Yeah. You've got multiple avenues there. I would always encourage. Not even just our clients, anyone out there who's listening to always go to your client liaison first. First. 'cause that's their line of communication. Everything comes into them. They are essentially your middleman in this whole scenario.

Um, but even it, I mean, going back onto delay to the delays, whether doesn't even just impact your home, it can also impact your titles. Yes. So having an open communication with your broker, your land agent, finance broker, all these people will ensure a much smoother process. At the end of the day, it's not your job to know everything.

Yeah. It's just your job to understand it. And agree to what's happening at the time. Yeah. So, yeah, 'cause we had a client the other day, their land titles. What was the email that you got? The titles were, it was, titles have been delayed till late August. They were originally due in May, um, but late May, very late May.

Um, but unfortunately all the wet weather has impacted sewerage, footpaths, retaining walls, and all this happening. So. It is important to know as well that the weather doesn't just affect construction. It actually can affect, can affect the construction of your land. So all these things obviously require dry weather to construct.

Yeah. So it's for those listening out there who may have impending titles coming through. Obviously just having the understanding that it may be delayed. Mm-hmm. Um, but it's nothing that anyone can do, unfortunately. Yeah. It's just where you're at the mercy of the heavens, so, yeah. Yeah. And I guess, yeah, it's something that you don't really think about, like you do, obviously with delayed titles, you have delayed titles, anything it might.

Whatever it might be, but yeah, it can be the weather in those sense too, if that's not built, can't go to Land Gate, can't get this, can't settle, can't start construction. Yeah, exactly. Sometimes it's not just the most people think of a delay in titles as the admin side going into Land Gate. Um, where they process most of the time it is that, don't get me wrong, um, but yeah, there are actually construction delays that will affect your practical completion and then people coming out and doing surveys.

Yeah, so it does tend to hold up a lot of things at that particular point. There is quite literally, we are at the leniency of whoever's doing the development, but in terms of construction. Obviously there's a little bit more of freedom, leeway, and obviously things in place to make sure that the work's being picked up elsewhere.

Yeah. So you often find that once you hit lockup, it's a very straightforward process. There's no real delays. Um, if there is, it could be things to do with external circumstances like suppliers, discontinuation of products, this sort of thing. Um, but once you hit lockup, you're pretty safe. Safe in terms of.

It's just a straight narrow path. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And I think, I guess, yeah, the most important thing to take away from this whole episode is that these things do happen in construction. Yeah. And it's okay that they happen in construction. Yes. Because I think. With what's happened over the last, let's call it five years in the industry, the word like delay and those things obviously comes with a very negative connotation around yeah.

Certain builders who took four years to build houses and all those things, these small delays, and I'm not even gonna call them. Delay. I don't know another word to call it right now, but hindrance. A hindrance. A hiccup. A hiccup. Yes. Uh, no. Not even a hiccup. A little detour. Yes. What? A two week detour still gets you in?

Yes. To the 12 months if like, if. Obviously you have the right builder. 'cause I can't speak for all builders. We cannot out there, um, in who are achieving their timeframes that they said they would. I can speak for a handful of builders that we work with in that 12 month timeframe. They factor these things in, but it's about knowing.

A few detours here and there is, okay. It's obviously when it starts to blow out and you've been sat on site for six months is a completely different story to whether or trades being sick for a couple of days or all those things, and I think it's such an emotional. Investment and big money investment for people that it's a lot and there's, you know, rent and prices and interest rates and all these things that add up, which the outside pressures that you were talking about, but knowing that this is okay, but if you ever feel that it's not okay, ask the question.

For sure. And we're not saying your emotions are not validated. For sure. We, we know, we've been, we've also been through it. We've all had moments. Where Ja, I mean, Jamie sat on my porch and cried at one point. Like, like front door? Your front door. Yes. I do remember that. I literally cried because I kept on going onto my block and the roof was not on.

Like, I, I really do get it. Um, we all had had these, I'm pretty sure I was annoyed at my builder's delays too, and I was, yeah, I'm pretty sure they, um. They did it in seven months and now looking back, or it was eight months and they said they were gonna do it in six. It was obviously pre COVID times. Yeah.

And I remember being upset about that. Yeah. And so I completely get it and now I'm like, oh wow, what you were upset about. That is not good months bill. That is like unheard of. Yeah. Um, I think I had my house built maybe like 10, 11 months. Yeah. And yeah. Look, we, it's so okay to feel these emotions at the time.

Let yourself feel the emotion. Um, because at the end of the day, we're only human. We can, we are not robots not here who completely devoid of anything. We're allowed to have these feelings, but it's after that. Going back to the realization of. My builder isn't going to let this sit for three years. Yeah. I am going to have and see progress.

And if you don't know what's next, always ask. There might be portals, you might have your portal and you might be able to see this, that, that, that, and so forth. On there, which will highlight to you what's next. Um, but even just the assurance of, hey, like when do you expect to see trades on site? Yeah. Like, okay, your tr your trade team is coming in the start of next week.

Great. Yeah. Like it's, I think what sometimes gets people a little bit upset is the 10 not seeing it tangibly there. Yeah. So again, they might miss their trades on site. They might not see. Everything. Yeah. Again, we are all not construction experts, so you might hop into your house and go, has anything been done?

But it has, you just can't, you just see it to the naked eye. Yeah. Um, but it's just about being informed and going, okay, what's happening when, um, is something happening this week or what's the next stages coming up? Yeah. So if you ever have those feelings where you go, I actually don't really know or have these questions, you just have to shoot them off.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I think it's more just like talking around, nobody talks about these things in construction either. Oh yeah. So it's like just having those conversations to let you guys know that it is. Yeah, normal and it's okay. And knowledge is power and knowledge. Just being informed in a way that you can understand or just essentially just being able to know what you want to know to give you that freedom.

Going, okay, so something is happening. I can relax now. Yeah. And um. Construction is such an emotional time. I would say probably one of the most emotional like processes in building. Yes, there's a lot happening at the so stage in finance, but it all starts really coming to life, obviously in construction.

So there's a lot riding on it. Um, and seeing things physically for people can really stir emotions. Um, so you're allowed to feel them and we want you to feel them, but we obviously want you to be really informed about. Delays are going to happen. Yeah. No one's build is perfect. No one's building. If someone says to me today, I had no delays, my build was built, done in 12 months and I was completely happy with absolutely everything.

I'm going, you are lying to me. Yeah, for sure. Um, but unfortunately delays do happen. They are a part of the building industry. They are very, very normal. Yeah. You are not experiencing an abnormal build. It's very normal. Um, but if you ever are unsure, ask the question. Yeah. And I think that's so, you know, we help our clients through that process too.

Yeah. It's like, Hey, I'm not sure about this. Hey, is this normal? Hey, yeah, I'm freaking out about this. Hey, where the fuck is this? What the fuck's happening? Yeah, I'm on it, Maddie, to the rescue. So yeah, it's. Let me light some fire. Um, yeah, it's so having those people around you to be able to there for, for that support too.

Yeah. Oh, for sure. And especially if you are someone who's not able to get to site a lot. Yeah. Like if you're a five o worker, if you're a shift worker, sometimes it's just not feasible to actually get to site. Every day. Not that I recommend you go every day, no, maybe once a week, maybe two. Um, but it's, at the end of the day, it's just making sure that you are happy and if your happiness is going to be s greatly increased 'cause you've had.

Phone calls with your builder or so on and so forth, and you're a bit more aware of everything. Great. If you want something to do that for you. I mean, we do that as a part of our experience with our clients, um, and it does greatly help those people who just really cannot get to site. Yeah. I mean, and for some people, they just don't want to be there.

Good for you. Yeah. Well, they dont live close either. No. Yeah, no. We've got people who live rural like Yeah. Outside of Perth. It's so fun. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. Cool. Well thank you. That was good little episode on weather, which we're gonna release soon in the middle of our Perth winter, so that can hopefully help everyone I, and all the winter delays.

Yes. I love winter so much, but being in the construction industry really does suck the life. Oh, just a couple extra emails. It's so fine. It's so fun. Oh, thank you. All good. Thank you so much for tuning in to the home building like a Boss podcast. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and learn something new.

Remember, you've got this and I've got your back. Until next time, stay inspired. Stay informed and stay confident on your building journey. I can't wait to chat with you on the next episode. Don't forget to check out the show notes for more information and free resources. If you haven't already, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode of the home building like a Boss podcast.