Strata Repairs and Maintenance
Quick reference
The course on a page. Print it and keep it in the toolbox.
Is it my job? (Lesson 1)
| Always a licensed trade | Check your state | Handyman work |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical (beyond globes and batteries) | Locks rekeyed or changed for pay (NSW: Class 2 security licence) | Patching, painting, sanding |
| Plumbing, drainage, gas | Security equipment (Qld: installer licence) | Door levers, latches, stops, hinges |
| Waterproofing membranes | Glass: call a glazier | Closer adjustment (not replacement on fire doors) |
| Fire doors and their hardware | Value limit: Qld $3,300, NSW $5,000 (labour and materials) | Window handles, catches, winders |
| Asbestos removal | Silicone, caulking, trims, graffiti |
The two-minute safety check (Lesson 2)
- Material and age: before 1990, check the asbestos register; before 1970, assume lead paint.
- Dust: mask, drop sheets, wet methods, no dry sanding old paint.
- Height: right ladder, 1 out for 4 up, barricade the corridor.
- People: signs, timing, tell residents.
- Live services: isolate power and water, or call the trade.
Water damage (Lessons 4 and 7)
Make safe, then find the source, stop it, dry it (within 24 to 48 hours), measure it, then repair. A stain shows where water ended up, not where it got in. Condensation is a ventilation problem, not a leak.
Patching by size (Lesson 5)
| Size | Repair |
|---|---|
| Under 10 mm | Lightweight filler, two thin coats |
| 10 to 100 mm | Self-adhesive mesh patch, base coat, topping coat |
| 100 to 200 mm | Cut square, backer inside, new piece, tape and set |
| Over 200 mm or water damaged | Cut back to studs or joists, new piece, tape all joins |
Report diagonal cracks from door and window corners, cracks over about 5 mm, and cracks that keep widening.
Painting a repair (Lessons 6 and 7)
Clean with sugar soap, sand, seal the patch (stain-blocking primer over water stains), cut in, roll, two coats, and paint to a break (a corner or edge). Match colour and sheen from the building’s paint record.
Mould (Lesson 8)
- Fix the water first.
- Over about 1 square metre, after sewage, or in ducts: call a remediator.
- P2 mask, gloves, goggles.
- Hard surfaces: detergent, or 4 parts vinegar to 1 part water; if needed, 250 mL bleach in 4 L water.
- Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia.
- Soft materials wet over 48 hours and mouldy: cut out, bag, replace.
Doors (Lessons 9 and 10)
| Fault | Fix |
|---|---|
| Lever loose | Tighten grub screw (thread-lock) or through-bolts |
| Lever droops | Replace rose or set (same function, backset 60 or 70 mm) |
| Latch won’t catch | Tighten hinges; move or file the strike |
| Door sags or scrapes | 65 mm screws in the top hinge into the stud |
| Closer slams | Sweep or latch valve clockwise, quarter turns |
| Door hits the wall | Backcheck valve, or fit a door stop |
| Sticks | Hinges first; then plane and seal the edge (never a fire door) |
Fire doors: must self-close and self-latch; like-for-like approved hardware only; report problems.
Windows (Lesson 11)
Identify brand and series first. Clean tracks, clear weep holes, dry lubricant. NSW: restrictors on windows with a fall over 2 m, opening under 125 mm. Keep them working.
Damage or wear and tear? (Lesson 12)
Photograph, record, report the same day, keep removed parts. Remove graffiti within 24 to 48 hours; test the remover on a hidden spot first.
Silicone and caulk (Lesson 13)
Silicone for wet joints (strip it all, clean, dry, tape, one bead, tool, peel). Acrylic gap filler for gaps you’ll paint. A leak through tiles is a membrane problem: licensed waterproofer.
General education, not trade or legal advice. Licence limits, asbestos rules and window safety laws differ by state and change, so check your regulator before you quote or start. If a job involves electricity, plumbing, gas, waterproofing, fire doors or anything you think may contain asbestos, stop and get the right licensed trade.