‘Deceptive’: Homeowner's dream shattered after shocking building shortcut
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Building a new home is meant to be an exciting milestone, but for some homeowners, it can quickly turn into a costly nightmare.
One recent case has highlighted a concerning issue in the construction industry—one that could leave homeowners with unexpected bills and major structural problems.
What appeared to be a standard build concealed a shocking shortcut that now threatens the integrity of the home.
A homeowner in Victoria was left devastated after discovering a major issue with her newly built home, forcing her to put moving plans on hold.
A site inspector uncovered a deceptive construction shortcut that not only compromised the home's integrity but also left her facing a massive repair bill.
Prominent building site inspector Zeher Khalil found that polystyrene had been used in place of concrete on the home's exterior—an unapproved substitution designed to cut costs.
‘I’ve had enough of these scammers,’ he shared.
‘This guy is deceiving the homeowner.’
The discovery meant the owner, who had already paid $420,000 for the build, would now have to fight to recover her money through legal action.
Zeher estimated that fixing the problem could cost anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000, with additional issues found inside the home.
Footage of the site inspection posted online shocked Australians, with many questioning how polystyrene could be used in housing construction.
‘Where is that allowed on a house in Australia?’ one person asked.
Zeher explained that while polystyrene is commonly used in construction, it must be included in the approved building plans and meet certification standards.
‘You have to use polystyrene that's certified and has its own certificate of conformity,’ he said.
‘At the moment, he's put in this foam, we don’t even know what it is, and he’s coated it.’
Beyond exterior use, polystyrene is also found in housing foundations, specifically in waffle pod slabs.
Waffle pods create voids in a grid where concrete is poured, reducing material costs.
While some high-density polystyrene is strong, Zeher stressed that installation must strictly follow engineering plans to avoid failure.
One of the biggest risks is water damage, which can cause the entire system to collapse.
‘If water gets in while the slab is being laid with polystyrene, the system just fails,’ he warned.
Builders are increasingly cutting corners due to rising material and labour costs, leading to rushed jobs and costly mistakes.
Zeher argued that builders should prioritise getting it right the first time instead of relying on fixes later.
‘Everybody's rushing to get the job done quicker because that's how they get paid quicker,’ he said.
Mistakes not only result in expensive repairs but also contribute to construction waste, a growing issue in Victoria.
Incorrectly installed polystyrene often has to be ripped out and discarded, adding to landfill and environmental damage.
Construction waste has already been described as an ‘environmental disaster’ by residents near new-build sites.
Polystyrene waffle pods have been seen scattered across building sites, with some ending up in waterways and causing severe pollution.
Zeher believes the root of the problem lies in underquoting jobs, forcing builders to cut costs wherever possible.
‘That’s the feeling I’m getting,’ he said.
He urged prospective homeowners to thoroughly research builders by visiting past projects and speaking to previous clients.
Checking online groups dedicated to builder reviews can also provide insight into their work quality.
To protect their investment, Zeher advised homeowners not to make payments until each stage of the build has been inspected.
‘That’s where you have the power,’ he said.
‘It’s so important to not pay unless you’re really happy with the work. Get an inspector to look at it before paying that stage.’
‘As soon as you pay, you have to go to court. Why should you pay for work that’s not compliant, not per the plan or defective?’
Watch the video below to learn more.
With builders cutting corners to save costs, do you think stricter regulations are needed to protect homeowners? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
One recent case has highlighted a concerning issue in the construction industry—one that could leave homeowners with unexpected bills and major structural problems.
What appeared to be a standard build concealed a shocking shortcut that now threatens the integrity of the home.
A homeowner in Victoria was left devastated after discovering a major issue with her newly built home, forcing her to put moving plans on hold.
A site inspector uncovered a deceptive construction shortcut that not only compromised the home's integrity but also left her facing a massive repair bill.
Prominent building site inspector Zeher Khalil found that polystyrene had been used in place of concrete on the home's exterior—an unapproved substitution designed to cut costs.
‘I’ve had enough of these scammers,’ he shared.
‘This guy is deceiving the homeowner.’
The discovery meant the owner, who had already paid $420,000 for the build, would now have to fight to recover her money through legal action.
Zeher estimated that fixing the problem could cost anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000, with additional issues found inside the home.
Footage of the site inspection posted online shocked Australians, with many questioning how polystyrene could be used in housing construction.
‘Where is that allowed on a house in Australia?’ one person asked.
Zeher explained that while polystyrene is commonly used in construction, it must be included in the approved building plans and meet certification standards.
‘You have to use polystyrene that's certified and has its own certificate of conformity,’ he said.
‘At the moment, he's put in this foam, we don’t even know what it is, and he’s coated it.’
Beyond exterior use, polystyrene is also found in housing foundations, specifically in waffle pod slabs.
Waffle pods create voids in a grid where concrete is poured, reducing material costs.
While some high-density polystyrene is strong, Zeher stressed that installation must strictly follow engineering plans to avoid failure.
One of the biggest risks is water damage, which can cause the entire system to collapse.
‘If water gets in while the slab is being laid with polystyrene, the system just fails,’ he warned.
Builders are increasingly cutting corners due to rising material and labour costs, leading to rushed jobs and costly mistakes.
Zeher argued that builders should prioritise getting it right the first time instead of relying on fixes later.
‘Everybody's rushing to get the job done quicker because that's how they get paid quicker,’ he said.
Mistakes not only result in expensive repairs but also contribute to construction waste, a growing issue in Victoria.
Incorrectly installed polystyrene often has to be ripped out and discarded, adding to landfill and environmental damage.
Construction waste has already been described as an ‘environmental disaster’ by residents near new-build sites.
Polystyrene waffle pods have been seen scattered across building sites, with some ending up in waterways and causing severe pollution.
Zeher believes the root of the problem lies in underquoting jobs, forcing builders to cut costs wherever possible.
‘That’s the feeling I’m getting,’ he said.
He urged prospective homeowners to thoroughly research builders by visiting past projects and speaking to previous clients.
Checking online groups dedicated to builder reviews can also provide insight into their work quality.
To protect their investment, Zeher advised homeowners not to make payments until each stage of the build has been inspected.
‘That’s where you have the power,’ he said.
‘It’s so important to not pay unless you’re really happy with the work. Get an inspector to look at it before paying that stage.’
‘As soon as you pay, you have to go to court. Why should you pay for work that’s not compliant, not per the plan or defective?’
Watch the video below to learn more.
With builders cutting corners to save costs, do you think stricter regulations are needed to protect homeowners? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
