Accurate advice you can rely on
With years of experience performing thorough building and timber pest inspections across Sydney, Doric Property Inspections’ accredited building consultant, is familiar with the typical defects found in older houses or buildings which have been poorly constructed and poorly maintained.
To avoid this, it is advisable to keep maintenance up to date to reduce costs over longer periods which can be significant and often can lead to the occupiers having to vacate the property.
Call us to find out more about our building defect assessments or house defect inspection.
We can assess all types of defects
Doric Property Inspections have years of experience offering building and pest inspections in the greater Sydney area. Following are typical defects found in older homes or buildings which have been poorly constructed and poorly maintained. It is advisable to keep maintenance up to date to reduce costs over longer periods which can be significant and often lead to the occupiers having to vacate the house in some instances.
Defective water proofing
Defective water proofing
The moisture damage/ decay was revealed after removing “drummy tiles from a shower recess of a two storey brick veneer house, the damaged caused was severe damage to the Pyneboard flooring and base of the wall framework. This defect was unable to be determined until the floor and wall tiles were removed, other than the drummy tiles, no other evidence of defective waterproofing were noticeable (even to the ceiling below the bathroom area).
Termite damage
Termite damage
The roof framework in this photograph: was severely damaged requiring further repairs to the roof framework and most likely to the wall framework. The roof members had been repaired in a poor untradesman like manner to sell the house, and would most likely have been purchased without a building and timber pest inspection.
Corroded Arch Bar
Corroded Arch Bar
Typical corroded arch bar to a 1940s style house, resulting in open brick joints, requiring the removal of the brickwork to allow the arch bar to be replaced. The arch bar’s purpose is to support the brickwork over the window opening and will be replaced with a galvanised bar which will be permanent. If these types of defects are left for long periods they will continue to cause cracking to the masonry above the top of the window or door opening and possibly result in dislodged brickwork and damaged roofing or further damage to the upper level should this be identified on a multi storey house or ground floor unit.
Footing Failure
Footing Failure
Significant footing failure to the base of an external wall of a 100 year old house requiring improved drainage and underpinning. This defect is often caused by leaking pipework, run off to the external walls of the building undermining the footings, excavation nearby which has also disturbed the footings or possible tree root damage which would require the tree roots removing prior to carrying out remedial works.
Structural Damage
Structural Damage
Significant structural damage to the exterior of a unit block. Cracking similar to this is often cause by insufficient allowance for expansion of the brickwork (expansion joints are required in long runs of brickwork approximately every 7 metres (20 feet) depending on the type pf brick used). The brickwork will expand and contract throughout the seasons and must have an allowance to adequately move otherwise the walls will crack which may be difficult and will certainly be costly to have rectified.
Wood decay
Wood decay
Severe wood decay was detected to the sub floor of a house, with at least 50% of the depth of the floor joists damaged throughout the house, requiring all floors (floor joists, bearers and floorboards) removing and replacing. The house was purchased without a building or timber pest inspection and the new owners had to vacate the house which was cleared of all furniture whilst the work was carried out.
