The Affects That Magnesite Has On Sydney Properties

The Affects That Magnesite Has Had On Sydney Properties

Up to 90 percent of apartments built between 1920 and 1980 have Magnesite-related defects, according to experts. Louie Douvis.

The City Futures Research Centre at the University of NSW said that in NSW alone there were more than 14,000 strata schemes containing more than 186,000 lots or units registered between 1961 and 1979 which may contain a Magnesite Floor.

Peter Johnsson, associate principal with engineering consultancy firm ACOR, said up to 90 percent of apartments built during that period had a Magnesite Floor, particularly those in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, northern beaches, and western suburbs.

“The cost to fix this issue can range from $5,000 for an apartment on the low side to over $250,000 today,” Mr. Johnsson said.

Marton Marosszeky, director at BCRC, a group of specialist consultants in materials for construction, said owners of older apartments needed to be aware of the problem. “It’s a looming problem that’s coming towards us at a fast rate at the moment,” he said. There were thousands of buildings built in that era with Magnesite Flooring. This could potentially eclipse the cladding issue.

But because it’s hidden and slow to manifest, it’s not getting a lot of attention.” One of the Magnesite Floor-related jobs in Sydney involved a 64-apartment building where all units were affected Signs of Magnesite Floor damage include cracked tiles, flooring systems failing, and floors that bulge over rusting steel bars.

“The owners will have to spend up to $2 million to fix this problem,” he said.

“They’re spending millions of dollars rectifying a problem caused by a defective building material that is no longer in the market for the last 30-odd years.”

Unlike the cladding issue, which prompted government and insurance industry intervention because it involves newer buildings, owners of older apartments with legacy problems will have to shoulder the cost. “You could argue that Magnesite is similar to faulty materials like flammable cladding, but because it’s not a new building, it’s been built at a lower standard in the old days, there’s no current pressure for the government,” Mr. Johnsson said.

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