Dedant Building and Pest

  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...

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...

Moisture and water leakages are the reason behind many issues around the home. For this reason, you should know the most common causes of household water leakage. Water leakage causes rust on metal, creates mould and it causes wood to decay. At Dedant, we have over a decade of experience conducting building inspections.  As such, we know where most water leakages tend to originate from. By knowing the common causes of household water leakages, you can protect your home from these issues. 1)     Air conditioners Air conditions are one of the most common causes of water leakage. Your air conditioner produces water as part of the cooling process , some of which is used to cool the air and some of which is sent out the back of the unit. As such, there will inevitably be leakages. It is recommended you have a way to divert water away from your home and into the garden, such as a pipe or hose. If you don't, this can cause puddles to form which cause rust and decay ...

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 awa...

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...