Ensure you fill out all warranty registration paperwork for your appliances upon moving into your home as manufacturers hold independent warranties. When cleaning, avoid using harsh chemicals on appliances, make sure to use a specialised stainless steel cleaning product to maintain surface conditions. Make sure to also regularly clean the rangehood and dishwasher filters.
Please note: Stolen, scratched and appliances that become dented after handover are not covered under warranty. After 12 months, you will need to go directly to the manufacturer.
In new homes, movement due to shrinkage is expected as your home is still settling. It is common to find hairline cracks throughout as materials move during seasonal changes. If the crack in a material join is less than 1mm this is not deemed defective, however continue to monitor. If the crack becomes wider than 1mm please contact our Warranties department.
Plaster joins and fixing points are typically proud of the flat surface plaster and can be more visually noticeable based on the projection of light. Light projected at a right angle to the surface being viewed will appear flat however light projected along the same plane as the surface will create a minor shadow. This light effect is called ‘Glancing Light’. Glancing Light tends to magnify the joins and fixing points on a surface. Shadowing on surfaces evident at certain times or as a result of projection of light will not be considered defective and will not be covered under warranty.
Nail pops can occur in plaster lining, more commonly in ceilings and appear as a small pop or indent in the surface. These can occur due to seasonal changes and material shrinkage. Individual or isolated occurrences may not be considered defective.
Please keep in mind that paint, much like many other components of a home requires maintenance to keep it looking its best and to protect the material it is applied to. All paints and varnishes differ in their minimum durability periods, so we recommend this be considered when carrying out periodic homeowner maintenance.
Bathroom surfaces are designed to resist reasonable wear and tear. But sometimes, sand and grit can cause scratching. Please be careful not to transfer any from the beach or the garden into your bathrooms on your shoes. After your 12 month warranty expires, it’s easy to do small patch ups yourself. Visit your local hardware store for advice on suitable grout products and match colours as closely as possible.
We do not recommend using bleach based products for cleaning tiles with dark grout and this may lead to severe discolouration. Be sure to keep your shower recesses clean and avoid using abrasive cleaners on baths, basins, toilets, troughs, glass, tiles and any acrylic or laminated surfaces as these can cause scratching. We recommend only using mild household cleaners and water to effectively and gently clean all surfaces and fittings.
When in the bathroom, always remember to keep the extraction fan on and use a mat outside the shower for excess water. Be careful not to drop items on the base of the shower as it may damage the surface. Keep your bathrooms adequately ventilated to mimimise humidity and excess moisture.
If your shower screen needs to be adjusted within the first 12 months of being your home please contact the Warranties department. After this time, please contact the manufacturer directly.
Mirrors require special care in cleaning. Simply wipe over the surface with a few drops of methylated spirits on a damp cloth and polish using a lint free cloth. We do not recommend using abrasive cleaners. Shower screen glass should be cleaned using only cleaning materials, which are free from grit and debris to avoid scratching and marking.
Use only detergents and cleaning solutions that are recommended for cleaning glass, mild detergents are preferable. Clean your shower regularly to reduce the build-up of soap and grime and do not allow very hot water to contact the shower screen as it may crack the glass.
Please note: Cracked, chipped or scratched plumbing fixtures are not covered under warranty.
Your sink is designed to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. However, you can keep it scratch free for longer by avoiding harsh contact with metal utensils.
Leaks under your sink, laundry trough or vanity basin may only be due to shrinkage of the rubber seal in your waste pipe. Extra hand tightening may eliminate an unnecessary service call and damage to cupboard shelving. Water hammer is a common occurrence in most homes and can be kept to a minimum by gently turning off taps.
When installing your washing machine to plumbing fixtures, please ensure it is installed correctly as failed connections can cause damage to your cabinetry, flooring etc. We recommend using a licenced plumber to install your washing machine to eliminate the possibility of damage to plumbing figures and leaking.
Unfortunately, dishwashers and automatic washing machines cannot be controlled easily. Turning down the pressure at the water meter or fitting water hammer arresters may assist in lowering the noise. If your home is in a new sub-division it is possible that the metropolitan water main has higher than normal pressure to allow for servicing future residences. As the area develops, the water pressure to your residence should decrease to normal levels.
Ensure adequate ventilation when using a dryer as this causes humidity and moisture which can affect the performance of your plaster, paintwork, cabinetry and floors. Make sure you clean up any water spills as sitting water can seep into the surfaces and filter into joins of your cabinetry causing underlying layer to swell and warp.
Please note: The washing machine/dishwasher provisions are in the cabinetry. You will need to arrange installation of your own entry point through the cabinetry to fit your washing machine hose through.
Your benchtops will stay unspoiled for longer if you take a few simple precautions. Use chopping boards to protect your benchtops from knife scratches. Be sure to use mats or insulated stands under kettles, pans or hot food dishes as well as under heat-generating electrical appliances like toasters, fry pans and slow cookers. Direct contact with hot utensils can cause surface burns, blistering and delamination of your benchtop.
We also suggest that you dry off excess water immediately and do not flood or immerse the laminated surface. Sitting water can seep into the surface and filter into joins, causing the underlying layers to swell and warp. Do not allow water to pool around the edge of the sink and make sure not to sit or stand on your benchtop. Also, make sure to keep laminated surfaces protected from direct sunlight as it can cause contraction.
Please note: Cracked, chipped or scratched benchtops are not covered under warranty.
All new homes are fitted with residual current devices (RCD or safety switches). These are generally blue in colour and will trip in the event of fault or overloading. If you suspect there is a problem with a faulty appliance take the appliance to an authorised service dealer. A way to test this is by unplugging all appliances and switching the safety switch back on and re-plugging the appliances in 1 by 1 until the faulty appliances trips the RCD. Smoke alarms are hard wired and also require a 9volt backup battery.
We install Opticomm or NBN provisions as per your signed contract. After handover it is your responsibility to contact either Opticomm or NBN to complete the connection then you can engage your preferred internet provider.
We recommend you clean the filter and ducts approximately every 3 months and coordinate servicing of ducting heating/ air conditioning as required. The unit will indicate to you when a service is required. There is no time frame around when a service is required, this is based on how often you use your unit.
Make sure you provide sufficient airflow when using evaporative cooling by opening windows and doors. In the event that your heating unit is not operating, try the manual reset positioned on the unit.
If you have an issues with your heating and cooling within the first 12 months please contact the warranties department. If these issues occur after 12 months please contact the installers or manufacturer directly.
At the beginning of summer, we recommend you check that your home cooling system is running smoothly by following these simple steps below:
Evaporative cooling:
- Ensure the pump is on and the fan is running
- Open windows and doors for ventilation and to stop moisture build up
The effectiveness of your evaporative cooling depends on how many doors and windows you open through your home? Read our guide for specific recommendations.
Refrigerated cooling:
- Ensure blinds and curtains are closed
- Turn your system on and set the temperature
- Remember to clean your return air filter regularly
Refrigerated Cooling is only designed to cool one zoned area of your home at a time. Read our guide on zone cooling configuration.
Clean your fireplace regularly when your fire place is cool. Regularly remove dust, cob webs and debris from fireplace and coordinate annual service of your fireplace with Jetmaster.
Please ensure you are not cleaning your robes with harsh chemicals and make sure not to overload any shelving and hanging rails. They are designed to carry normal household items evenly. Clean sliding robe door tracks to keep them free from debris and functioning as intended.
Hairline cracks may appear in your concrete floor slab immediately after being poured and for up to 12 months after. This is a normal occurrence due to shrinkage and is not detrimental to the structure of the residence.
Ensure stains are treated immediately. Regular vacuuming of your carpet and steam cleaning your carpet every 12 – 18 months will help maintain and revitalise your carpet.
Please note: If a carpet repair is required and agreed to by Boutique, the same carpet will be used to complete the repairs or you will be offered a like-for-like reselection for the required area.
Keep tiles and grout in original condition by cleaning regularly with a soft clean mop and warm water. Avoid abrasive and bleach-based cleaners as this can cause grout to discolour. Always ensure liquid spills are cleaned immediately to avoid permanent stains on light coloured surfaces.
Glazed floor tiles are best kept clean with regular sweeping or vacuuming. Washing them with a solution of warm water and soap less detergent also helps. Glazed wall tiles however, should be wiped regularly with a soft cloth to remove soap before it dries. Harsh abrasive and corrosive cleaners should be avoided, particularly on decorated tiles.
Unglazed floor tiles have a slight porosity to their surface and can have a textured finish. This means more attention is required to keep the floor clean. Any spills should be washed from the floor straight away. Soap build-up and mould in wet areas can cause grout to discolour. To prevent this from happening, gently scrub with a nylon scouring pad or brush.
Please note: Cracked, chipped or scratched tiles are not covered under warranty. If a tile replacement is ever required and agreed by Boutique, we will arrange our supplier to provide the same product. If the same tile is available there may be a slight colour variance which is not considered a defect. If your tile is not available or discontinued you will be offered a like-for-like reselection for the required area. It’s important to note that different batch no. of tiles will provide a different shade. For more information on your warranties, click here.
Click below to download some extra information on how to best care for your tiles.
Avoid the use of abrasive or harsh cleaning products and stiff brushes. Keep wet areas well ventilated to avoid mould and mildew forming due to excessive moisture and be sure to clean silicone joins regularly to avoid deterioration. Inspect silicone joins every 12 months to identify any potential issues. If issues are found outside of your warranty period, please use a qualified professional to rectify.
To protect your flooring, remove any excess water from your floor immediately and sweep regularly to remove stones/ grit that will scratch the floor. Place door mats at external entrances and felt protectors underneath furniture legs. When you are ready to clean your floor, take the assembled mop provided at handover and spray the laminate/ Timber & Cork Floor Cleaner evenly across the micro-fibre pad. In a sweeping “S” motion, move the mop across the floor, swivelling the head of the mop as you approach walls or vertical surfaces. When cleaning laminate/timber flooring, in most cases, it is easier to clean in the direction of the grain or in the direction that any natural light hits the floor. Please note, mopping your floor in any other way may cause water damage which is not covered under warranty.
As timber flooring is a natural product it can expand and contract due to moisture and air conditions. You will need to ensure your home is adequately ventilated taking into consideration artificial airflows (heating/ cooling/ appliance/ showers/ baths). Sunlight through your windows and doors can cause fading through your timber flooring and can also cause expansion and shrinkage. Any spillages need to be cleaned up and dried immediately. If you experience creaking or gaps between your floorboards within the first 12 months please email our Warranties department. After 12 months of being in your home you will need to contact the manufacturer directly.
Please note: Scratched/chipped flooring is not covered under warranty.
Click below to download extra information on how best to care for your timber and laminate floors:
Walls and ceilings can be vulnerable to mould, but with proper precautions this can usually be minimised. Mould is usually caused by excess moisture in the air within your home. The best way to prevent mould is to ensure that your rooms are properly ventilated.
Make sure you always use wet area extractor fans and try to keep windows and blinds open as often as possible. To avoid chipping the edges of your walls, take care when moving furniture and manoeuvring around corners. Plaster isn’t designed to withstand heavy contact.
New homes require a lot of initial ventilation, as they are filled with hundreds of litres of moisture. This is contained within materials such as bricks, timber, plaster and tiles. To help with the drying out process, keep your home evenly heated, leave a window open as often as you can and use wet area exhaust fans at all times.
You may find a few creepy-crawlies in your new home. Ants in your kitchen are not a result of structural holes created by your builder, as ants don’t need visible holes to obtain entry. They should only be a temporary problem. However, visit your local hardware store for advice on how to get rid of them.
Your home is not pest or rodent proof as they can enter through the smallest of spaces. It is recommended you contact an appropriate pest control company as this is not a building defect and will not be covered under our warranty.