Phil Tolley

I am a highly experienced Building Surveyor, with expertise in investigating and reporting relating to insurance assessment and reinstatement; weathertightness; defective building works; dilapidations; quality assurance; remedial work monitoring and acting as an expert witness in dispute resolution processes, including in the courts. My impartial, accurate and robust advice to clients over a wide range of building related matters has established me as a credible expert witness.

With almost three decades working in the building industry and having been involved in the Canterbury Recovery Programme following the 2010/2011 earthquakes as a technical advisor, I’ve developed a comprehensive understanding of building enclosures, building materials, construction methods and the overall performance of buildings as a whole.

I started my career as a carpenter and was fortunate to work on high-end residential construction projects with a level of complexity most builders would not consider undertaking. Through this work, I gained valuable experience around quality control and developed an appreciation for the science behind building performance. I then managed teams of project managers and quantity surveyors in a large New Zealand construction company, before working as a building surveyor with a focus on investigating and reporting on building issues. My well-rounded experience has given me an in-depth knowledge of the construction process, materials and their uses, regulatory compliance and building performance. I take pride in getting to the route of the problem, providing robust advice and sound solutions to my clients.