As most homebuyers know, finding the right property at the right price can be extremely challenging and time-consuming, and in many cases, homes deemed to be at the correct price are often riddled with defects. While some defects are considered minor and can be addressed quickly and affordably, others such as the presence of asbestos, termite damage, rising damp and black mould can often only be detected by means of a full property inspection.
Detecting Asbestos
- Asbestos is commonly found in homes that were built before the 1980s and it was used in several applications such as:
- Spray-on insulation
- Older linoleum and vinyl flooring
- Some types of corrugated roof sheets
- Eave linings
- Cement sheet cladding
- Backings used on switchboard units or meter panels
This substance is known to cause severe respiratory conditions, especially when fine particles of it become airborne. An experienced property inspector will be able to detect whether any form of asbestos is present in your home, while also advising you whether it will be safe to perform removal or not.
Dealing with Rising Damp
In many cases, you’ll be able to determine quite easily if a home has rising damp issues, with the first tell-tale sign being that of a musty smell inside. In more severe cases, you’ll even see bubbling paint on interior or exterior walls as well. If left unchecked, rising damp will allow black mould to develop, which can become almost impossible to eliminate.
Most homes have been built with a layer of damp proof coursing that is inserted between the foundations and walls to prevent moisture seeping up into walls. However, in the case of older homes, this layer has often degraded badly and there have also been instances where it has not even been installed – even in newer properties. When having a property inspection performed, rising damp will be easy for one of our qualified inspectors to detect.
Termite Terror
Research has revealed that termites cause more damage to homes in Australia than floods, storms and fires each year. These pests feed on wood, meaning that they will target any timber part of your home including roof trusses, floorboards, framework, window frames, decking and virtually anywhere that is humid and damp.
These pests are extremely destructive because they are extremely difficult to detect, which enables them to go about their activities for months or even years in some cases. They usually also only consume the inside of timber products, leaving veneer or varnish intact on the outer, which makes it almost impossible to see when they have been busy.
Regardless of whether a property has asbestos present, has succumbed to rising damp and mould or has been annihilated from the inside out by termites, our qualified and experienced inspectors will be able to detect these issues.
If you would like to learn more about how these issues can turn a dream home into a living nightmare, you can do so here: https://inspectorhawkeye.com.au/blog/. Alternatively, you can contact us to schedule a property inspection right away.
