Skip to main content

How to spot common building defects

Before buying a home, you should always consult experts to conduct a building defect inspection. But even if you do that, you should look for common building defects yourself while inspecting the home.

In this blog, we’ll teach you about several common building defects and how to spot them. Having some understanding of these areas will allow you to make better decisions when buying a home.

1)     Mould

Mould, also called mildew, is a fungal growth that grows in warm, damp conditions.

An outbreak of mould begins as spores that are invisible to the naked eye but grow when the temperature and moisture levels are right. It can be evidence of issues major defects with plumbing or poor ventilation.

You can identify mould as dark blotches on the walls, ceiling and floor of your home. A strong, musty odour is also indicative of the presence of mould.

 

2)     Timber rot

Timber rot also called dry rot, is the breakdown of timber by fungi that eats away at the wood.

Much like mould, timber rot is caused in part by moisture. Poor draining, leaking gutters and wet ground can produce the moisture necessary to lead to timber rot.

Timber rot has the potential to be a major defect that can undermine the structural integrity of your whole home if it is allowed to spread.

 

3)     Damaged masonry

One of the more common structural defects in the home can be faulty masonry, often found in brickwork.

Weep holes are small gaps left between bricks to allow for better ventilation and drainage in the home.

 

These weep holes are necessary but do come with certain problems – namely, they are a way for pests to enter your home.

Furthermore, bricks that have weep holes can get more easily damaged.

 

When examining a property, you want to look for unobstructed, undamaged weep holes as a positive sign of undamaged brickwork.

4)     Termite infestation

A termite infestation is a serious building defect that you should always be on the lookout for.

While we have previously written about other ways you can identify termites, a quick peruse of the home gives you limited opportunities to look for these pests.

If you see any “white ants” around the home, you should know that there is no breed of ant that are white – it is most likely a termite.

One of the easiest ways to figure out if termites are present on a property is to see trees in the backyard.

If it looks as though parts of the tree have been chewed away, this is likely evidence of termites.

Knowledge is power when buying a property

Knowing how to spot these common structural issues will help you immensely through the whole house buying process.

Informing the inspector of potential faults you’ve spotted will help them in their inspection. Not only that, knowing the signs behind major defects will help you understand the defect report you receive.

For rapid building inspection services and defect reports, contact Dedant today on our website or call on 07 3807 0122.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chemical Termite Barrier

 Since 2009, we have been providing chemical termite barrier s. Brisbane and South-East Queensland is a popular spot for termites. Our climate, frequent rain and bushy-environment provide ideal conditions for termites as they love the heat and damp timber. Due to this and the high amount of damage they cause to homes, Australian Standards recommend that every home have a termite management system in place. This can be in the form of a physical termite barrier, chemical termite barrier, baits, and/or frequent inspections. However, a chemical termite barrier is the most effective system currently available. What is a termite barrier? A chemical termite barrier is a type of termite treatment that provides long-term protect against termites. It is installed around the perimeter of a home and prevents subterranean termites from gaining access to the building. The chemical used for the treatment is a long-lasting chemical that lasts for up to 8 years. At Dedant Building and Pest Inspect...
Post a Comment
Read more

Typical Defects Found During a Building and Pest Inspection

 A building and pest inspection is designed to give you peace of mind. By outlining the major and minor building defects and whether there is any evidence of termites, you are given a clear understanding of the condition of the property. Whether you decide to proceed with the purchase once you’ve received the report, based on the findings, is completely up to you. In this blog, we outline some of the common defects found within building and pest inspection reports to give you a greater understanding of the defects to help make your decision. Cracked Tile(s) in Building and Pest Report Whether a cracked tile(s) is deemed to be a major or minor defect in the building and pest report comes down to its severity and location. Often, they are classed as a major defect due to the possible water ingress or health and safety issues that result from the cracked tile(s). Water ingress is of particular concern if the cracked tile(s) occurs in a wet area. Obviously, water leaking through a cr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pre-purchase building and pest inspection

Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection Getting a pre-purchase building and pest inspection is a vital step when purchasing an existing home.  The pre-purchase building and pest inspection is a visual inspection of the property, that reports on major issues, minor issues and termite / borer activity or evidence. It is recommended that your purchase contract is reliant on your satisfaction with the outcome of your building and pest inspection. What is a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection? When you have found the perfect home or investment property, you generally love the location, near by amenities and ‘look’ of the property, but it takes and industry expert to see the full picture. Building inspectors are highly experienced professionals with extensive experience in the construction industry and further training to become an inspector.  There are two parts to the pre-purchase inspection – the building inspection that looks at structural issues, hazards and maintenance ...
Post a Comment
Read more