Dedant Building and Pest

  Coronavirus and building inspections: What you need to know The Coronavirus has brought about many changes. Social distancing, isolation, rigorous hand washing and frequent disinfecting are all a part of life now. Many businesses are also struggling. Industries such as travel agencies, airlines, cafes and restaurants have been devastated. The building and pest inspection industry are in a better position, as it is tied to the property market. Despite COVID-19, houses are still being auctioned across Australia's capital cities. Last weekend alone, 2539 homes went to auction. Onsite and in-person auctions may be prohibited, but virtual property tours, private inspections and digital/online auctions are still happening. Houses are still being auctioned and sold at the present moment. Building and pest inspections are absolutely necessary for anyone looking to buy a house. ​How is DedAnt responding to the Coronavirus Crisis? The work of building and pest inspection requires a certain...

  6 of the most common faults found in building inspections Whether you’re buying or selling, you should look out for the most common faults found in building inspections. These faults can impact price negotiations significantly. If you’re selling you want to address these problems early and if you’re a buyer, you want to use these faults to drop the price of the house. 1) Degraded fencing Wooden fences are a common feature in many homes. However, they are also among the most prominent faults in any property. Over time wooden fences become degraded due to weather and pests like termites. You should consider termite treatment if this is the case. Fences are vital as they offer security and a barrier between your land and the rest of the world. An inspection can reveal the quality of the fence. 2) Concrete roof tile issues Concrete tiles are economical and durable. However, a building inspection can reveal hidden faults with this type of roofing. Mould, fading paint and cracked til...

More people than ever are embracing green living. If you’re looking to live a greener, cleaner life, you should plan a sustainable garden. With this garden, you can build an edible landscape and literally enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of your labour. Why sustainable gardening? Building a sustainable garden where you can grow fruits and vegetables has so many benefits. By growing your own food, you know it is safe and healthy for your family to eat. In the long run, a sustainable garden may even save you money. Eventually, you will find that you recycle your produce into self-made compost and avoid spending hundreds of dollars a week on groceries. Building your sustainable garden Coming up with a plan to build a sustainable garden requires consideration of space, resources and specific plants. Choose a space that has quality soil with good sun exposure and access to plenty of water. Select crops that suit the season and climate. If you don’t choose the right plants, they will not ...

People can have many different reasons for wanting an inspection report. They may be buying, selling, renovating or concerned about an infestation or potential building fault. You should know exactly what inspection reports are available to you and what these reports mean. When you know how to properly interpret the findings, you can make the best possible choice moving forward. Standard Building and Inspection Report Standard Building and Pest Inspections are conducted when you are selling your house, purchasing a new property, prior to renovation or for other reasons. These inspections look for faults that are listed in reports as either "major" or "minor". Major structural defects are issues that require immediate attention. These include termite damage, water leakage and a lack of handrails of stairs. Conversely, Minor structural issues include cosmetic or slight defects that do not threaten your safety or require immediate action. For example, minor issues inc...

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...

Water damage poses a major threat to any property. By allowing water build up and excess moisture in your home, you risk the safety and liveability of the home you love. Moisture attracts dangerous pests, such as cockroaches , silverfish and termites . It also breeds mould which releases toxic spores into the air which can impact your health. Such moisture and excess water can also cause structural and aesthetic damage as well. Given the risks associated with excess moisture, you should do all that you can to avoid it. Here are our top tips to stop moisture build up in your home. 1) Keep gutters clear Gutters are designed to control the flow of water off roofs and into an area that will not damage the house. However, gutters can become blocked by the build-up of debris such as leaves. A blocked gutter can’t carry water. Instead, water overflows and travels down walls. This water can seep into your home’s electrical system, pool around your foundation and ruin the external walls of you...

Finding cracks around your home can be evidence of a serious problem. As such, you should be cautious if you've found cracks around your property. This blog will guide you through the causes of cracks , where they're commonly found and what you can do about them. 1)     Cracks found in flooring Cracks in your floor are generally caused by problems with the foundation. These cracks can worsen over time, which can result in water leaks and other issues. Changes in soil are generally the cause of such cracks. When the ground around the foundation of your home becomes too dry, the soil around the foundation can shrink. This shrinking weakens the support for the foundation and causes it to move or sink, resulting in cracks. Similarly, when the soil becomes filled with groundwater , it can expand and push the foundation up, also resulting in cracks. 2)     Cracks found in walls Cracks can also be found in the walls of your home. The cause of such cracks...

Our inspectors at Dedant see many regularly occurring faults with houses. However, one of the most common and most damaging is rust. You should know how to prevent rust in order to protect your home. Rust is what occurs when metal is exposed to oxygen and moisture. It causes an orange-brown discolouration that erodes the metal, causing it to become brittle and prone to breaking. Rust has even been known to cause bridges to collapse. You can take these steps to prevent rust in the metals around your home. 1)     Keep metals dry Rust needs the right conditions to occur – namely, a high amount of moisture and exposure to the sun. As such, you should endeavour to keep metals dry. Keep all your metal items and surfaces as clean as possible. One of the most common places to find rust in your gutters, because water gets caught and causes metal to oxidise, producing rust. Thus, you should keep your gutters clean to prevent a build-up of moisture. 2)     K...

Mould is a major threat to your home, health and overall quality of life. You should take proactive steps to prevent mould from growing in your home before it becomes too large a problem. Mould has been known to cause health issues of all types, including a weakened immune system, allergies, severe asthma, nausea and lung disease. It is also a major eyesore to any home and can bring down the value of your home considerably if you’re looking to sell it. We have put together this guide to help you prevent a mould infestation in your home. 1)     Prevent moisture build-up Mould needs moisture and humidity to survive. As such, the first thing you should do is to prevent the build up of moisture . You can do this by first finding all places where mould builds up – do you have pipes that leak? Do you have a basement prone to flooding? Is there condensation around windows? Are your gutters clogged? Fixing leaky pipes, unclogging gutters and making an effort to dry the wet ...

Before you get your Building and Pest Inspection , it is important to know the areas that are not inspected in a building and pest inspection. Our qualified building and pest inspectors have extensive experience in the building industry and are very knowledgeable about building, structure, building hazards and identifying maintenance issues. They have also experienced pest controllers specialising in termite inspections and management. Other specialists that you may consider asking for advice before purchasing your new home are plumbers, electricians, swimming pool technicians, air conditioning technicians and smoke alarm technicians. By knowing what we don't inspect beforehand, you are able to make the necessary arrangements with other inspectors and tradespeople so that every aspect of your home can be examined. 1)     Electrical wiring Inspectors at Dedant Building and Pest Inspectors are not electricians. As such, we are not qualified to assess the safety or cond...

You are looking at purchasing a house and your building and pest inspection has noted that there is evidence of cracking in the stumps or house footings and you should engage a qualified house restumping contractor. What does this mean? House foundations are a crucial part of the construction process. What are stumps? Typically houses in Australia in the 1950s-1970s were built on timber or concrete stumps. There is a range of reasons why this was done and may still be done when building today. For one thing, the earth naturally has lots of uneven ground and many foundations can slope or be unstable. Furthermore, the ground has pests like ants and termites that would have an easier time entering your home undetected if they sat on the ground. It also helps protect against groundwater and flooding. Thus, stumps were created to allow for houses to be elevated off the ground. They are pillars made from wood, steel or concrete. Stumps also elevate a house and allow for better views above, ...

When house hunting, looking out for water damage is essential. Water is the cause of many major household problems that can end up costing you thousands of dollars down the line. It's important to know the signs of water damage and what to look for when buying. 1)     Musty smell Before even walking through the door, one obvious sign of water damage when buying might be the smell. Houses with water damage produce a smell like wet cardboard or paper. The smell can waft through the entire property, but it is strongest in areas that have water damage. These are generally the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. 2)     Poorly maintained gutters Poorly maintained gutters are another sign of water damage. Gutters are designed to divert water away from the house and safely into the garden or municipal damage. When they are damaged, this can cause rainwater to spill onto your property and damage it. 3)     Pools of water near the founda...

 Australia has been experiencing one of the worst droughts in history, causing more and bigger cracking in houses than has been seen previously. When you first notice a crack, it might not seem like much. Before too long, that annoying little crack creeps further and widens becoming concerning. Depending on the size of the crack and where it is, it can indicate different things. However, all cracks need to be taken seriously. It is very common to notice cracking in houses during a building inspection. Cracks can often be seen in flooring (particularly garage floors that are uncovered), walls, fences, and driveways. In this blog we discuss the causes of cracks and what they mean for your property. 1)    Cracking in houses and hot, dry weather Most house cracks are caused because of the ground under the foundation shifting. This shifting is commonly caused by soil drying out and contracting, which moves the house footing. Often, this movement is uneven, and this i...

Choosing the right tradesperson can be a complex decision. That's why we've created a blog to teach you how to hire a carpenter. Getting an underqualified or unskilled carpenter can cost you time and money. As such, you want to make sure to make the right decision. Have a plan ready You should have a good idea of what carpentry work you want completed prior to contacting a tradesperson. Have your plan set out so you know exactly what you want and within the time frame. Even a rough sketch can be something to work off. Consider giving examples of similar carpentry work that you like. This ensures you will like what you get. Know what type of carpenter you need Knowing how to hire a carpenter is important but you must also know what types of carpenters are out there. There are different carpenters who carry out different roles. Knowing what carpenter you need will allow you to focus your search. Rough carpenters Rough carpenters, also called framing carpenters or framers. They mo...