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If you plan to perform a building inspection, you should ensure it is done right by a professional. Building inspections should be done when you want to buy or sell a residential building or commercial property. As a building owner, carrying out the inspection helps you understand the actual condition of the building and perform the required repairs. The inspection process helps identify significant issues that need rectification. To get the best results, you need to work with a quality building inspector. During the inspection process, your inspector will check various parts of your building.

What Do Building Inspectors Look For?

As the inspector does the inspection, they focus on certain parts of the building. Their main goal is to ensure that they detect all issues in the building. The inspectors are equipped with the right equipment and apply professional inspection techniques. Here are some of the things that building inspectors check during the inspection.

1. WATER STAINS, MOULD, AND CORROSION

Your building inspector checks the walls for signs of water leaks and moisture penetration. They focus on areas close to baths and showers. These are the areas that are prone to these problems. These are not structural defects, but they can cost you a lot of money to repair if allowed to escalate.

2. CEILINGS

Your ceilings are a crucial part of your building. With time, ceilings are bound to sag or have other damages. The inspector checks if the ceilings have a parachute appearance. They use the right tools to show all the defects and deflections in the ceiling sheets.

3. CABINETS

The inspector also checks your cabinets to find out if there is mildew or mould. A damp smell shows that there are water leaks or rising dampness in your building. Dampness in the cabinets indicates some other issues in the building that need to be checked.

4. WALLS

Building inspection also involves checking the walls for large cracks. Your inspector checks both the external and internal walls to find out if there are cracks. If the building has big cracks greater than 2.00 mm wide, this shows there is a major issue. You should ask your builder to perform instant repairs because if the cracks get larger, the safety of your building is compromised. Ensure that your builder seals the cracks and the cause of the cracks is established to avert such issues again.

5. MOULD IN BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS

The presence of mould in the bathrooms or bedrooms is an indication of moisture problems in your home. Mould can cause allergic health issues and escalate symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems. Your building inspector will carry out a thorough inspection of your bathroom and bedroom. They give recommendations on the proper action to take to avoid the escalation of the problem.

6. INTERNAL WALLS FOR MINOR CRACKS

During a building inspection, the internal walls are checked for minor cracks. The hairline cracks arise as a result of the wrong application of the plastering during the construction process. If minor cracks are found in one part of your home, you can find more in other parts of your house. The cracks can worsen, compromising the strength of your wall.

7. ROOFING SYSTEM

Your roof is a crucial part of the building. If the roof is dysfunctional, it also means that your entire house quality is compromised. The building inspector checks at lines of your roof to find out if they have deflections. The inspection process also involves checking the gutters for signs of damage or rust. Note that your gutters may look good from the ground level. However, when you check them from the top, you may discover corrosion or rust. Your building inspector can have a thorough check for any issue with the gutters and recommend replacement if needed.

8. STORMWATER DRAINS AND DOWNPIPES

During the building inspection process, your professional performs a quick check around your external perimeter. They check whether all the roof downpipes are connected to stormwater so as to pour the water into storm soakwells and not onto the ground. The inspector also checks for signs of flooding or excess water flow around the downpipe bases. If there is such an issue, it shows that the soakwells need to be cleaned out or are not right-sized.

9. DRAIN HOLES ON THE EXTERNAL WALLS

With a multi-story building, you may have small holes below and above the door frames and windows. These holes are spaced 1200mm apart. The holes are essential because they help water to escape from the cavity walls. Without the holes, water can easily penetrate the internal walls leading to costly repairs. Your building inspector checks the external walls and compiles a report on their condition.

What Does A Pest Inspector Look For?

A high-quality pest inspection involves a thorough examination of your home for the presence of pests such as termites, ants, cockroaches, and others. The process also involves looking for signs that indicate pest infestation in your home. Moreover the inspector checks for signs of past pest activities and conditions that increase the risks of pest infestations in the future. During the pest inspection process, more focus is given to the following areas:

  • Roof voids
  • Subfloor
  • All rooms in the house
  • Fences
  • Stumps

Depending on the size of your property, the pest inspection process may take about three hours when done right. Your inspector creates detailed notes and takes photos to include in the inspection report.

Bottom Line

To get the best building inspection results, you are advised to hire the best professionals in your area. You should check the number of years the inspectors have offered the services in your area. In addition, check that they have a good reputation and charge an affordable cost. It is wise for you to take part during the building inspection to be sure that the report presented is accurate. If you plan to buy a building, make sure that all the minor issues detected during the building inspection process are repaired before you close the deal. This will save you the cost of repairing the building after you have purchased the building.

Before you buy. Before you build. Inspect with confidence with Jim's!

Contact the team at Jim's today for a peace of mind of your inspection!

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