Building defects? Fix the cause, not the symptom.
Engineer-directed rectification of building defects in Sydney strata and commercial buildings — waterproofing failures, structural cracking, facade and cladding defects. Investigated to the root cause and fully documented for your OC, certifier or claim.
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What is defect rectification?
A building defect is rarely just the thing you can see. A stain on a ceiling, a crack in a wall, a leaking balcony — each has a cause, and any fix that doesn't find the cause just moves the problem somewhere else. That's especially true in strata, where a common-property defect affects every owner. Defect rectification is repairing the failure behind the symptom — not patching what's visible.
Proper rectification starts with investigation: which layer or system failed, and why. The repair is then designed to an engineer's methodology and documented at every stage — so the fix holds, and the paperwork stands behind it whether you're getting works signed off, claiming under the building bond scheme, or dealing with the original builder.
6 signs your building has a defect.
Most defects show up long before anything fails outright. If you can see any of these, something underneath needs diagnosing.
The defect you can see is a fraction of the problem you can't.
Building defects don't stay still. Left unactioned, a maintenance item becomes a structural one — and a committee liability.
Safety risks
Failed fixings, spalling concrete and loose facade elements above walkways are a public-safety risk the owners corporation owns — and a council order waiting to happen.
Escalating repair costs
Water past a failed system reaches the structure and the units below. Caught early it's a contained repair; caught late it's concrete repair, internal make-good and a much bigger bill.
Loss of asset value
Defects show up in strata reports and pre-purchase inspections — and follow the building until they're fixed properly, dragging on every sale in the block.
Rectify defects the smarter way.
We don't patch symptoms — we investigate the cause, fix the system that failed, and document it so the fix stands up.
Diagnose the source
Our building investigation identifies whether the problem comes from waterproofing failure, structural movement, or poor detailing — before a price is quoted, so the scope matches the actual cause.
Match the repair to the system
Defects live in systems — waterproofing, structure, facade, fire. We match the repair method to the system that actually failed, often integrated with waterproofing remediation.
Integrate repairs with the whole building
A defect in one system usually touches its neighbours — facades, windows, internal finishes. We tie the rectification into adjacent systems for long-term performance, often as part of façade remediation.
Cut costs by avoiding rework
Quick fixes always fail. Our approach follows investigation-led rectification done once, properly — so you're not funding the same defect twice.
The types of defects we rectify.
Targeted rectification through to whole-system remediation — each scoped on its own or as part of a wider program.
Why our rectifications don't fail twice.
The cheap quote patches the surface and walks away. Here's what that difference actually means for your building.
The proof is in the projects.
High-rise strata — Miranda
Balcony waterproofing had failed across two towers — water into the units below every time it rained. Each balcony was stripped to substrate, the root-cause failures found at upturns and junctions, and a new sheet membrane system installed with proper falls and drainage. Staged so residents always had access.
"18 balconies done in stages, 6 at a time. Every unit was watertight on the first go."
— BUILDING MANAGER, MIRANDA
Mid-Rise Strata — Warwick Farm
One residential tower with active roof leaks. Rooftop waterproofing had failed and water was getting into the units below every time it rained. We stripped the roof back to substrate, found the root-cause of failure at service penetrations and installed a new sheet membrane system with proper falls and drainage.
"They set up their team and completed the works all at once, not a single day of lost time was caused."
— STRATA MANAGER, WARWICK FARM
Low-rise strata — Manly
Tight walk-up strata with one driveway and carpark. Full balcony re-waterproofing delivered balcony-by-balcony while the property kept garage and driveway access. Staged for minimal disruption across the works.
"They worked around our access the whole time — every owner kept use of their carpark, and only a couple of balconies were ever offline."
— STRATA MANAGER, MANLY
Warrantied in writing. Verify everything.
Most defect repairs fail because the last contractor patched instead of fixed — and walked away with no warranty. We don't.
From first call to fixed quote — no mystery.
Send the reports you have, or just describe the symptoms.
Within 24 hrsWe visit, investigate, and confirm the actual cause of the defect.
Days, not weeksA documented, engineer-checkable scope your committee can approve.
Ready for AGMStaged works — a section at a time, residents in place, warranty on completion.
On your scheduleWe're a fit for some buildings, not all.
We'd rather tell you upfront than waste your committee's time. Here's who we're built for — and who we're not.
This is for you if…
- You manage or own a strata or commercial building with defects across common property or multiple units.
- You have an engineer's report or a defect that needs proper diagnosis, not a quick patch.
- The building is occupied and works need to be staged around residents.
- You need DBP-compliant documentation your committee and insurer can rely on.
- Your project is from around $50K and up.
Probably not us if…
- You need a single crack cosmetically filled or a one-off touch-up in one unit.
- You're after the cheapest patch to get through the next inspection, not a lasting fix.
- It's a small domestic repair under a few thousand dollars — a local handyman is a better fit.
- You need it done this week without an investigation — we diagnose before we price.
You'll deal with the builder, not a call centre.
I started Atomic Projects because I was tired of watching committees pay twice — once for the patch, then again for the real repair. Every project we take, I'm accountable for. Send me your engineer's report and I'll tell you straight what the last team missed.
What defect rectification costs in Sydney.
Costs depend on severity and access. These are realistic ranges — your fixed price is confirmed after a building investigation, before any work starts.
Individual defect repairs and rectification.
Multi-unit or whole-system rectification across a building.
Full building rectification and remediation programmes.
All scopes are transparent and fixed-price against a defined methodology — no mystery line items, no "we'll see when we open it up" surprises.
Start with a conversation.
We'll visit your building, confirm the cause of the defect, and give you a clear, fixed-price path forward — free, no obligation. We respond within 24 hours.
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What your committee will want to know.
Is this defect just cosmetic, or is it structural?
How long does defect rectification take?
How much does defect rectification cost in Sydney?
We've had this fixed twice and it keeps coming back. Why?
What is the impact on residents or tenants?
Will your documentation support our claim against the builder?
What causes building defects?
Are you registered for regulated work on our building?
What is the process for rectifying building defects?+
Who is responsible for fixing defects in a strata building?+
What is a defects liability period?+
Can defect rectification be staged to fit our budget?+
Yes, and on larger buildings it usually is. The engineer prioritises safety-critical items first, then the defects that worsen fastest, and the program is staged so the owners corporation can fund stages through the capital works fund across budget cycles. Staging by zone also limits disruption, because only part of the building is a work area at any time.
When should an owners corporation act on a defect report?+
Your OC deserves better than a patch.
Investigated to the cause, rectified to an engineer's methodology, documented at every stage — backed by a written 10-year warranty. Book a free assessment or a 15-min call.