Dedant Building and Pest

Our inspectors at Dedant have seen all manner of houses. There are several common safety hazards that we have found through the years that you should watch out for. These various defects range from minor to potentially life-threatening. We'll go over some of the more prominent safety hazards with you in this blog. No railing on stairs In accordance with safety standards , every set of stairs is required to have at least one hand railing. This is because even a small staircase is considered a major tripping hazard. Serious trips can cause broken bones, sprains, cuts or potentially even death if you strike your head. With a handrail to hold onto, you can save yourself from minor and major injuries or worse, death. If you are lacking handrails on any set of stairs, seek to rectify this immediately. Loose railings One of the more common safety hazards is loose railings. Loose railings on stairs or balconies are another safety issue that is all too common in houses. They can potential...

Your pre-purchase building inspection is so important to get right, as it allows you to make note of faults you might not have otherwise seen. At Dedant, we have 3 pre-purchase building inspection steps that we follow to ensure we do the job right. By knowing these faults, you can make an informed decision about purchasing a new house. Because buying a home is so expensive, you'll want to make a careful decision about the final purchase. With this knowledge, you may wish to negotiate down the price or compel the seller to fix it. Alternately, you may choose not to buy the house at all. At Dedant Building and Pest Inspection, we conduct a comprehensive inspection that looks at structural issues, moisture issues and pests. These three things can all have a major impact on a house you’re looking to buy. Looks like a perfect home, right? Well maybe not. A pre-purchase inspection can reveal hidden flaws. 1)     Structural issues The first of our building inspection steps ...

 Shoddy workmanship found during building inspections is an unfortunate reality of the industry. The Building Code of Australia requires that qualified builders to meet the certain standards for safety, health, sustainability and amenities when they build, design and renovate buildings. Unfortunately, some builders and handymen either do not follow or do not know what these standards are and as such, mistakes can be found during building inspections. Here are some examples of shoddy workmanship that we have seen during our building inspections. Bent or Damaged Ant Cap All buildings must have some form of termite management system to protect them from subterranean termites. One form of solution is ant caps. They are metal barriers inserted between floor framing timber and house stumps. They are not designed to prevent termite entry. Instead, they are designed to prevent termites from travelling up stumps and pillars unseen. Termites must travel around the cap and thus expose themse...

Queensland has the toughest standards for building inspectors anywhere in Australia. Your Queensland building inspector should have a long list of qualifications and years of experience. Failure to have the right qualifications means that you cannot guarantee your building inspector has the proper skills, training, experience and equipment to do the job well. As such, you can spend hundreds of dollars, only for your unqualified inspector to completely miss the relevant issues impacting the property. Do not waste your time and money. Do not risk hiring a dodgy tradie. In this blog, we explain what qualifications building inspectors need to have. Queensland Building and Construction Commission The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (the QBCC) is the industry regulator for the entire state. The QBCC provides information, advice and maintains standards for property building standards. The QBCC can give remedies for defective work. QBCC standards are the strictest in Australia...

No one wants a leaky roof in their home. As such, you should know how to find and fix roof leaks as early as possible. If left unchecked, roof leaks can cause mould and rot throughout your house. They can also be an invitation for pests such as termites or rats to enter your home. Thus, our blog examines the causes and signs of roof leaking, as well as how you can fix them. How to find roof leaks 1)      Know the causes of roof leakage By knowing what causes a roof to leak, you can be proactive in stopping them. Roof leaks are generally caused by some form of defect or damage around your roof. Storms and high winds can damage or dislodge the shingles on your roof, for example. Furthermore, as your roof ages, the material it is made of will deteriorate. For example, flashing can rust or slip out of place. Gutters are a major source of leaks if they become clogged. A clogged gutter causes water to pool up and eventually damage your roof. Openings in the roof such ...

  Call Dedant building inspector Gold Coast for a free quote today. Phone 1300 022 225 Are you looking to buy a house, unit, townhouse, apartment, or commercial property on the Gold Coast?  From mega mansions to studio apartments, we do it all. Dedant Building and Pest Inspections is a local company that can provide you with the information that you need to make an informed decision on your purchase. The Gold Coast With expansive beaches that stretch forever, great restaurants, impressive skyline, surf beaches, vibrant nightlife and an inviting climate, the Gold Coast population has understandably been steadily growing over the last 20 years.  From the Northern Gold Coast to Coolangatta, the property market offers everything from beachside living to hinterland properties. As such, it is no surprise that the Gold Coast property market is one of the strongest in Queensland and is expected to boom in the coming years. Many new and existing residents are looking to make moves...

Concrete cancer, also called alkali–silica reaction (ASR), is a serious problem that can damage or destroy structures made of concrete. This blog explains what concrete cancer is, its causes and signs of concrete cancer with examples of when it has caused damage and how to prevent it. What is concrete cancer? When concrete is used in building material it is reinforced using steel. Concrete slabs, beams and columns are all supported by steel bars or mesh that is encased inside of the concrete. However, steel rusts over time when exposed to air and water. Concrete is a porous material, meaning it absorbs elements around it including moisture. Thus, this moisture wears on the steel and causes it to rust and corrode over time. Because of corrosion, the steel expands and deforms. As the steel expands it damages and breaks apart the concrete. As more metal is exposed to the elements, this rapidly speeds up the problem. Eventually, this weakens the entire structure until it is vulnerable...

 Buying a home is the biggest investment that most people will make in their lives. As such, you should protect yourself with a pre-purchase building and pest inspection. If you are the buyer it is always preferable to get a professional in to conduct a building inspection, combined with a pest inspection. The risks involved The average home in Queensland costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, at a minimum. Australian Consumer Law says that you have the right to ask for a refund, replacement or repair for any good or service that is less than $40,000 and bought for personal use. However, most properties in Australia cost much more than $40,000. As such, if you buy a home that is defective, you are unfortunately stuck with it. This can cost thousands of dollars in repair, put your health and safety at risk and ruin your dream home. This is the idea of “buyer beware”. Do not rely on vendors or real estate agents Vendors and real estate agents both want to sell you a home for the be...

 Many homeowners are eager to get their roof inspected when they book with us. The roof can be an area of concern when buying a house, as you generally cannot make a good visual assessment of the entire roof from ground level. Building and pest inspectors are limited as to how much of the roof they can inspect. Prior to booking a building inspection, you need to be aware of exactly what parts of the roof are and aren't inspected. In this blog, we explain the limitations of a building inspection and the various issues that can be found in roof areas. The limitations of a building and pest inspection and your roof When conducting a building inspection, there are limitations as to what can be inspected. Firstly, safety must be considered. As such your roof will only be inspected if it is safe to do so. For instance, an inspection of the internal roof cavity will depend on the dimensions of the manhole and roof cavity. The manhole must be 400mm x 500mm to be considered safe for an insp...

 Older homes offer buyers a chance to own a piece of history. However, you should be aware that these homes often come with risks. Thankfully, these risks can be found in a pre-purchase building inspection. While you should always get a pre-purchase inspection, you should have some knowledge of the inherent problems that can exist in older homes. Weather worn appearance One of the most obvious issues with older homes can be in their weather worn appearance. Over time, various elements of a home can become damaged or fall into disrepair. This is commonly reflected in aesthetic damage. Issues like peeling paint, rusted door handles and metal fixtures, cracked walls and windows, as well as decaying wood are all common in older houses. This is particularly true if more recent owners have not been vigilant in caring for the home. Beyond just being unpleasant to look at, this dilapidated appearance can signify an unsafe structure. For example, a wooden staircase that is decaying poses a ...

Having clean gutters is an essential part of a well-maintained home. Many people might ignore their gutters as they do not look at them very often, but they are an essential part of the home. In this blog, we will examine the impact that messy gutters can have on your home, how you can safely clean your gutters and how you can prevent it from becoming messy in the future. But first, it is important to know the purpose of gutters. The purpose of gutters Gutters are designed to catch water and ensure it flows in a safe, controlled manner down into the municipal sewage. Mostly they are designed to control the flow of rainwater. Water moves from the roof into the gutters and through the downpipe, before entering the drainage system. Why do I need clean gutters? Leaving your gutters to accrue debris and waste is a disaster waiting to happen. Damage to your roof When you neglect cleaning your gutters, this causes a build up of debris that results in a blockage. Generally, the main culprit of...

 Moving into a newly built home is exciting, but you need to complete the handover first. For the best handovers Brisbane, you will need an experienced inspector from a reputable company. In this blog, we will examine what the handover process is, the specifics of Brisbane handovers and what a handover inspection involves. What is a handover? Handover, also called new build handover or practical completion inspection is the final step in the building process. After the home is constructed and all the building work is done, it will be assessed to determine if it is suitable for habitation. ‘Suitable for habitation’ means that it has all the functions of a normal house. This includes power, water, and weatherproofing. The house can still have minor outstanding issues such as incomplete aesthetic elements like the paint job. However, no major defects can be present. Handover must be complete before you are given the keys and is also the point where you make the final payment. Pri...