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Residential Homes

Common Defects

Common Building defects

THE EXTERIOR

The external areas of the report must include all areas of the property's exterior. All properties are built differently therefore each report will vary.  

As a purchaser you should make sure your inspector has covered all areas of the property of interest. Your inspector should be addressing areas such as brickwork, rendering finishes, driveways, gutters, downpipes, flashings, windows, window frames, flyscreens, doors and door locks, gates, pergolas, balconies, decking's, veranda’s, pathways, paving, drainage, fencing, retaining walls, exterior paint works and structural works etc.

EXAMPLES OF SOME FINDINGS AT INSPECTED PROPERTIES

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Rusting gutters and excessive rain water flow causes overflowing which will lead to  major issues underneath and likely water damage to ceilings walls and roof space 

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Gaps at the top of windows not flush with their brick lintel due to faulty workmanship or building movement.  Results in inadequate seal on windows, compromising heating and cooling and potential leakage during wet weather

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Pathways with inadequate fall and drainage. Ponding to low lying areas causing heaving to the  dwellings foundation materials and causes structural instability

Downpipe base PVC connections pulling away. Insufficient drainage connections which can cause settlement & cracking to the dwellings brickwork and their slab floors.

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Inadequate down pipe base connection points which will cause flooding and cracking and instability to the concrete pathways around a dwellings perimeter.

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Internal flooding to garages where the external ground level is higher than the internal floor level.  Mould growth on internal wall surfaces!

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Failing boundary retaining walls causing side pathways to collapse which cause trip hazards.  All retaining walls over 750mm high must be certified by a Structural Engineer.  Inadequate fencing

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Make sure all leaking gutters and downpipes are appropriatly sealed.

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When concrete patios or slabs are placed around drainage pipes and the slab settles it can pull the pipe connection apart.

THE INTERIOR

Interior of the home includes: garages, floors, walls, architraves, ceilings, windows, living areas, dining, kitchen, family rooms, bedrooms, walk-in wardrobes, storage cupboards, bathrooms, Ensuite’s, showers, WC’s, vanities, toilets, laundry, taps and their operation.

EXAMPLES OF SOME FINDINGS AT INSPECTED  PROPERTIES

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Shower tap flanges are not sealed - Causing leaking inside the wall cavity areas and giving high moisture readings to opposite walls.

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Newly installed acrylic bath not installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions.  Baths not being sealed as required

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The results of leaking showers. Wood decay and deterioration to the bathroom door framing timbers.

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Uneven internal stair risers. This being a trip hazard.

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Non-Compliant showers in some properties. 

ROOF VOIDS

 EXAMPLES OF ROOF VOIDS AS INSPECTED

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Incomplete and inadequately installed ceiling insulation.

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Blocked access into roof void

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Termite infestation.  Uncovered under flimsy coverup - If you don’t look, you can’t find

THE ROOF EXTERIOR

EXAMPLES OF ROOF EXTERIORS AS INSPECTED

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Rusted roof sheeting to additions - Poorly fitted roof flashings = leaking roofs. 

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Incomplete works - No bird proofing to the tops of valley gutters to either tile and/or iron roofs - can cause future damage by rodents, birds and other wildlife

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Overflowing house gutters due to poorly flashed pergola roofing. Poor flow of rain water in guttering systems! Potential internal leaks into property with overflow

SUB FLOORS

 EXAMPLES OF SUB FLOORS AS INSPECTED

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Shower leak damage to the subfloor floor framing timbers. Dampness also affected electrical cables under leaking showers recess
 

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Excessive floor movement due to collapsing isolated piers. Left over timbers in sub floor areas must be removed to prevent possible termite attack.

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Stored goods placed in a sub floor area hinder an inspection and may be harbouring a possible termite or vermin infestation.

TERMITE FINDINGS

A Pest Inspection can save you thousands of dollars.  Termites have been around since the dinosaur ages. They are a whitish soft-bodied ant-like social insect that feeds on wood.  Termites resemble ants in their appearance, manner of living, and social organization, but are not closely related. Termites can be very destructive to wooden buildings and structures causing up to 2 billion dollars a year.

EXAMPLES OF PROPERTIES INSPECTED

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Termite damage found in roof void areas to the ceiling frame timbers

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The result of termite infestation to plaster wall areas causing the plasterboard to bulge and break out

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Termite nesting found in outbuildings.

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Termite nesting found in roof void framing timbers.

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Our independent building inspectors provide highly detailed inspection reports for Pre Purchase Building Inspections. Our pre-purchase building and pest reports are prepared in accordance with Australian Standards (AS 4349.1-2007) Pre-purchase inspections – Residential buildings.

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