CONCRETE CANCER – A common house defect that often goes undetected

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A defect that we commonly encounter when carrying out building inspections on dwellings that utilise suspended concrete slab construction is something known as “Concrete Cancer” or Concrete Spalling.  This occurs when the steel reinforcement begins to rust due to exposure to moisture – the steel expands causing the surrounding concrete to crack and break away […]
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Balcony Checks – Prevention of collapse

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A number of recent news articles on balcony collapses is a critical reminder to anyone holding gatherings on their decks or balconies, it’s essential that they are maintained to minimise the chance of injuries or at worst fatalities of friends or family. The concerning cases of balcony failure are becoming more and more common, and […]
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pre purchase inspections

Getting the most out of your inspection

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For most Australians, the most expensive cost in a persons lifetime is their home.  When purchasing a house, the risk incurred by not engaging an experienced inspector to advise on the condition of the house is not something I would recommend.  And having a carpenter / builder friend stick their head into the roof space […]
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test for a leaning brick wall

Leaning brick walls

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When undertaking a typical building inspection of a dwelling with brick or masonry cladding, one thing we always look at in detail is the condition of the brickwork.  This can tell us alot about the condition of the foundations below.  Cracked, leaning or rotating walls are a problem for many homeowners. These issues are normally […]
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defects under the floor of a house

Hard to detect defects in houses

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To the untrained eye, houses can look very similar in appearance – four walls, a ceiling, a floor and a roof.  But to the house inspector, every little crack on the ceiling, or minor cosmetic defect on the wall could be an indication of bigger problems and require further scrutiny.  Water in subfloors, poorly erected […]
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DIY House Renovations – money saver or costly nightmare?

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DIY Home renovations can be a great way to save money. If you have been thinking about getting into the property market, and conducting your own renovations on a “fixer upper” or even planning to update and make a few changes to your own home, you are not alone. Well planned and executed renovations can […]
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asbestos check

Facts about asbestos

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Throughout the time we have been conducting Pre-Purchase House Inspections, we get countless questions from home buyers, home owners, renters and real-estate agents about asbestos. Will you be able to identify whether asbestos is present? Will you test for asbestos? Can you identify whether this or that material is an asbestos product? Our inspectors here […]
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inspector at work

Is a building inspection really worth it?

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This is the question many people ask when looking for a new property. Sometimes it is about saving a few bucks when financially strained, other times a last minute decision to purchase, means time restrictions are placed on obtaining a building inspection in Melbourne, and a decision is made not to proceed. A pre-purchase building […]
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leaking pipe into sub floor

Water Leaks Under Wet Areas

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When conducting pre-purchase building inspections, one of the most common issues we find under houses (in the subfloor) is water leaking from wet areas such as bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.   Although it may sound minor, if left untreated even a minor water leak can be an expensive exercise to rectify. Especially if it has […]
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is it termite damage or rot

Termites vs Rot – Would you know the difference?

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Termites are renowned for being very secretive and deceptive, but rest assured if you have them in your property our inspectors will locate them.  We have state of the art equipment and years of industry experience that ensures if they have taken up residency in your house, we will find them. We had a call […]
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