What does a building inspector check during their visit?

June 18, 2020

The primary purpose of a building inspector is to check if there are any signs of defects and issues with the property. Whether it is visible or hidden, internal or external, already happened or potentially will happen in the future.

Years of experience inspecting houses in Adelaide enables our building inspectors at Select Building Inspection to know precisely what to examine when it comes to building defects and problems.

So, here are some of the things they will check during their visit:

Contents

1 Roof space and roof exterior
2 Roof leaking or damaged roof plumbing
3 Damaged roof sheets or tiles
4 Roof frame
5 Interior and exterior of your home
6 Internal and external walls
7 Internal and external doors, windows, and frames
8 Cabinets
9 Underfloor, if accessible
10 Damp and leak problems
11 Salt damp
12 Damp Proof Course (DPC)
13 Active water leaks
14 Leaking shower or baths/wet areas
15 Gutter and downpipes
16 Retaining walls
17 Building safety
18 Potential safety hazards
19 Building defects not of a structural nature

Roof space and roof exterior

Roof leaking or damaged roof plumbing

The building inspector will perform a roof inspection to see if there are any problems. Water, one of the most damaging natural things for your property, should be attended to as soon as possible to prevent leaks into the property. Even though roof plumbing is designed to prevent roofs from leaking, without regular maintenance, it may allow water to enter the roof cavity.

Damaged roof sheets or tiles

The qualified building inspector will examine your roof sheet or tiles and quickly spot problems if there are any. Unfortunately, roof maintenance is something that most people easily forget until it starts leaking. This makes roof inspections important for every property.

Roof frame

Older homes are likely to have roof frames that are vulnerable to moisture, bowing and splitting. The professional building inspector will check the roof framing and advise you on what repair work may be required.

Interior and exterior of your home

Internal and external walls

Walls are one of the most crucial structures of your home. But sometimes, the problems with your walls are hidden from view. This is when the building inspector’s experience will come in handy. They will check the condition of your internal and external walls to indicate if there are any significant problems.

Internal and external doors, windows, and frames

The building inspector will check your doors, windows, and frames. It is necessary because the damage on those parts can be an indicator that your house is struggling with more serious damage. For example, drafty windows and doors could be the result of foundation settlement or sinking.

Cabinets

The building inspector will check all of the cabinets in your home, from the bathroom, kitchen, garage, laundry room, to bar and wine cabinets. This inspection is needed to ensure that there is no damage or defects.

Underfloor, if accessible

An underfloor inspection is much more than merely visual checking whether the space is dry and well ventilated or not. It also includes a structural examination to find any defects or other significant problems. The underfloor inspection report will cover the current condition of several key areas such as stumps, decay or rot, cracks and settlement, and lateral movement.

Damp and leak problems

Salt damp

The building inspector will check whether your home has a salt damp issue or not. Although rising salt damp often affects houses in Adelaide, it is a complex case to deal with. It is easily misunderstood and mistreated by regular homeowners. Therefore, you should always rely on an experienced building inspector’s review than taking gratuitous action.

Damp Proof Course (DPC)

The building inspector will check if a damp-proof course has been installed. If a damp-proof course has not been installed this can lead to moisture rising to the walls.

Active water leaks

The next thing a building inspector will check is whether your home has any water leakage problems. If there’s evidence of leakage, the building inspector will use a moisture meter to determine whether the leak is active.

Leaking shower or baths/wet areas

Excess moisture in the shower can be a major issue. This may be related to the shower recess/plumbing in wall cavity leaking or failed waterproofing membrane to the wet area.

Gutter and downpipes

Gutters and downpipes serve to drain water away from your walls, windows, and roof. It is essential to protect your home from dampness. If gutters and downpipes are blocked, stagnant water will damage your property.

Retaining walls

A retaining wall is a protective structure that holds back soil from a building or structure. The building inspector will check if any defects are present and will help prevent your building from the harm.

Building safety

Potential safety hazards

Building inspectors at Select Building Inspections will check potential safety hazards. From physical safety hazards like slippery floors and unsafe staircases to potential issues that may be hiding.

Building defects not of a structural nature

Non-structural building defects are hardly examined and will cost a lot if not immediately treated. Non-structural defects include defects in brickwork, defects in plaster works, and old structures. The building inspector will check signs of non-structural defects and report back if there is any.

Select Building Inspection is here to provide professional building inspectors services to conduct a comprehensive assessment of your property. Call us on 0475 555 039 to schedule a comprehensive consultation with our experts.