WHAT DO OUR BUILDING PRE PURCHASE REPORTS COVER
ROOF DEFECTS:
Victorian Building Authority Guidelines
- Rusted roof sheet and flashing.
- Roof sheet lift, roofing nails or screws lifted.
- Broken or cracked roof tiles.
- Moss buildup on roof cladding.
- Hip and ridge capping mortar cracks.
- Roof line unevenness – possible roof frame defects.
- Tree overhang.
- Chimney condition – mortar decay, no capping & cracked brick work.
- Box gutter condition – rust, ponding, debris.
- Valley gutter condition.
- Parapet wall condition.
GUTTERS & DOWN PIPES:
- Gutter rust and Debris.
- Inadequate gutter fall or poorly fixed & ponding.
- Down pipes not connected to storm water.
- Down pipe rust and blockage.
- Down pipe bases not aligned.
- Down pipe clips detached.
FASCIA & EAVES:
- Fascia timber fungal decay and paint deterioration.
- Fascia unevenness.
- Eave paint deterioration.
- Eave detachment.
- Eaves damaged by leaking gutters.
- Possible Asbestos.
WEATHER BOARDS:
- Unevenness – possible frame defects.
- Timber fungal decal and paint deterioration.
- Stop baton rot/detachment.
- Plinth board decay.
- Plinth boards in contact with soil (conducive to termite infestation)
- Inadequate subfloor ventilation or cross flow of air.
- Gapping around window frames and junctions (potential water ingress)
MASONRY CLADDING (BRICK):
- Differential Settlement cracks (major and minor)
- Rising Damp.
- Mortar decay.
- Re-pointed and patched cracks (evidence of past settlement/movement)
- Sill brick cracks and unevenness (common in 70-80’s)
- Inadequate subfloor ventilation.
- Weep holes blocked (if slab dwelling) – conducive to termite infestation.
- Control joints sufficiently sealed.
- Masonry cracking over windows – normally signs of lintel rust.
CEMENT SHEET OR POLYSTYRENE CLADDING:
- Render deterioration.
- Render bubble (damp)
- Render cracking – major and minor)
- Render rust spotting – (normally associated with contaminated sand during render process)
WINDOWS:
- Timber fungal decay – major and minor.
- Cracked window panes.
- Patched window rot.
- Poor seals and putty.
- Sash cords damaged/broken.
- Binding windows.
- Damaged or non-operational window mechanisms.
DOORS:
- Binding or uneven doors – sign of differential settlement.
- Water damaged or deteriorated door timber.
- Non-operational handles and locks.
- Door seals.
- Lintel rust or deterioration – may cause cracks above doors.
SUB FLOOR (MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY INSPECTION):
- Dampness and water ponding.
- Leaking plumbing.
- Leaking bathrooms and laundry – commonly observed.
- Timber decay on flooring, joists and bearers.
- Stump footings rot or cracked concrete stumps.
- Poorly installed stumps – uneven plumb.
- Inadequate or insufficient footings.
- Type of floor coverings.
- Loose or hanging electrical wiring.
- Condition of engaged piers.
- Timber debris and rubbish (conducive to termites)
- Deteriorated or detached ductwork.
DECKS, BALCONIES, CARPORTS, GARAGES & PERGOLAS:
- Balustrade timber fungal decay.
- Balustrade and handrail safety – minimum of 125 mm gaps required to be deemed safe.
- Stairs for stability and timber decay.
- Decking or balcony frame condition – rot, unstable.
- Pergola roof frame rot.
- Post rot.
- Decking timber condition.
- Roof condition.
- Gutter and downpipe condition.
SHEDS AND GARAGES:
- Condition of roof, gutters, downpipes and cladding.
- Slab cracking – major and minor.
- Water ingress and drainage.
- Rising damp – common in garages.
SITE & LAND:
- Drainage – blocked drains.
- Drainage – land or paths should fall away from home.
- Fence palings/rails and post decay.
- Fence leaning – unsafe.
- Fence cracking.
- Pathway cracking and settlement.
- Driveway cracking and settlement.
- Trees – any path or wall cracking possible associated with tree roots.
- Cracking, rot or leaning in Retaining walls.
- Pool gates not self closing.
ROOF FRAME:
- Condition of roof cladding – rust or tile fretting/cracks/gaps.
- Damaged or cracked framing members.
- Leaks.
- Insulation type and condition.
- Inadequate clearance between insulation and downlights – fire hazard.
- Condition of ductwork – deteriorated or detached.
- Unevenness in roof frame.
INTERNALS:
- Ceiling paint deterioration/mould/cracking/sagging.
- Wall cracking – major and minor.
- Rising damp – moisture readings.
- Chimney hearth condition.
- Window decay.
- Binding windows.
- Unevenness in windows – possible footings settlement.
- Cracked window panes.
- Door unevenness/binding/out of square – possible footings settlement.
- Floor unevenness – possible footings problems.
- Floor bounce and sponginess.
- Floor lining condition.
WET AREAS – KITCHEN, BATHROOMS AND LAUNDRY:
- Water Pressure.
- Water hammer/pipe knocking.
- Loose and leaking tap ware and pipes.
- Shower tile grout deterioration.
- Shower tile and screen cracking.
- Toilet operability and leaks.
- Vanity condition & fixing.
- Exhaust fan operability.
- Poor sealing of shower screens.
- Hot water unit type.
- Hot water overflow drained – conducive to termite infestation.
- Shower tap flanges adequately sealed – prevent leaks behind wall.
TERMITE INSPECTION
- A full Pest Inspection which is carried out as per Australian Standard 4349.3 – 2010 Inspection of buildings Part 3 – Timber Pest Inspections.
- Any live or past termite activity.
- Any excessive moisture readings is included in the Building and Pest Inspection Report.
- Any borer damage is assessed and included within the timber pest inspection report.
- Any timber fungal decay or rot.
- Conducive conditions that would attract termites.
- Any structural damage caused by Timber Pests.
- Trees, fences, retaining walls, outbuildings are
