Mr Inspector, a qualified Building Inspector conducts professional pre-purchase Building and Pest Inspections in the Heatherton area and surrounds.  The above photograph was taken by Mr Inspector during one of his many building inspections in Heatherton.

This photo was taken by Mr Inspector during a building inspection in Heatherton and although a minor defect in the scheme of things, can lead to further problems if not rectified. Many brick homes have the sub floor vents covered by debris, soil, bark or paths during out building inspections.  This is not a major defect, but prevent adequate cross-ventilation throughout the sub floor.  Cross ventilation reduces damp conditions in the sub floor thus keeping it dry and unattractive to rot and termites.  Remember termites love damp conditions and reducing this factor reduces the risk of a termite infestation.  The same applies for weather board homes - the better the ventilation, the less chance of rot and termites.

Mr Inspector, a qualified Building Inspector conducts professional pre-purchase Building and Pest Inspections in the Cheltenham area and surrounds.  The above photograph was taken by Mr Inspector during one of his many building inspections in Cheltenham.

This is a typically a minor defect commonly found and it is typical to see some deteriorated window mechanisms and frames during our building inspections. Although minor, we still report on these types of defects in order to give you the overall picture of the condition of the home.  Mr Inspector also reports on damaged or loose door handles, latch plates missing off doors and general deterioration of these areas.

Mr Inspector is a qualified building inspector in Mentone and conducts professional building and pest inspections.  The above photograph was taken during a building inspection in Mentone and shows typical window decay.

In older homes we often observe window frame rot and decayed areas that have been patched. In the building inspection industry rot is refereed to as timber fungal decay and is considered a timber pest. Normally this defect is due to lack of maintenance and upkeep with painting left to deteriorate.  Rot is due to water and damp penetration into the timber and also considered a timber pest. During our house inspections we see patched rot that is still soft to touch which means it has not been repaired adequately and in most cases, it is preferable to replace the timber affected. Mr Inspector advises that all aspects of the home need to be inspected before you purchase  including patched areas as window frames that are rotten are quite expensive to replace.

Mr Inspector, a qualified Building Inspector conducts professional pre-purchase Building and Pest Inspections in the Highett area and surrounds.  The above photograph was taken by Mr Inspector during one of his many building inspections in Highett and shows the importance of having an actual qualified building inspector assess your property in Melbourne before you buy.

Mr Inspector often observes gutter rust which is common in older homes.  The cause of rust is water and air - when gutters get blocked the water remains stagnate and over time causes the rust in the gutters and subsequent penetration. Many of our house inspections reveal debris in the gutters and water ponding due to blockages from debris, leaves etc. Depending on the size of the home replacing gutter can be expensive.  Rust is caused by water and air and removing debris so the water can adequately exit the gutters via the down pipes will prevent the rust.   Gutter replacement can range from $1000 to $3000 depending on the size of the home. Mr Inspectors says that overflowing gutters is also the main cause of timber rot to fascia and eave linings so cleaning regularly is important.

Mr Inspector is a qualified building inspector in Melbourne and took the above photograph during one of his building inspections in Sandringham showing timber debris under a home.

When we access the sub floor during the building and pest inspection we often observe timber debris under a home. This includes old builders off-cuts and timber stored by the owner.  When it is in touch with the soil it allows easy access for termites to enter via the ground soil and therefore is a conducive conditions for termite infestations. It is preferable to remove all timber from under the home or if you really want to keep it, place it on shelves so it is not in contact with soil.  This also applies to fire wood in storage boxes up against walls.  Some house inspections Mr Inspector has conducted reveal termites in wood piles. Again, this reiterates the importance of having the sub floor area of any home regularly inspected by a qualified building inspector.

Mr Inspector is a qualified building inspector in Melbourne who conducts building and pest inspections in the Hampton and Bayside areas. The photograph above was taken by Mr Inspector during one of his building inspections in Hampton and shows a leaking pan cone sleeve on the rear of a toilet.

During our house inspections Mr Inspector will always inspect behind the toilet for leaks and poorly fixed toilet pans.  We often see rubber pan cone deterioration and when you flush the toilet it leaks fresh water, not sewer. This is not likely to cause a lot of damage in the short term but over a longer period you may observe rot in you skirting board and after a while, in the floor boards and frame. This is also conducive to termites attacking the home due to the supply of moisture.  Note, it is clean water that is leaking, not sewerage. A plumber should be engaged to replace any leaking or deteriorated pan cones.