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East Melbourne homes often combine Victorian-era fabric with modern renovations and tight boundary walls—our inspection helps you spot hidden damp, movement and unsafe alterations before contracts go unconditional.
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Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We check walls, ceilings, cornices and junctions for crack types and patterns, then assess likely causes such as settlement, moisture-related movement or past structural changes. In East Melbourne’s older homes with shared or close boundaries, distinguishing cosmetic cracking from movement that needs engineering advice can save you from costly surprises.
We inspect damp-prone zones including lower wall sections, skirtings, wet areas and subfloor access points where available. We look for bridged damp courses, poor drainage fall, ventilation limitations and signs of ongoing moisture. This is critical in older masonry and terrace-style homes where damp can damage plaster, timbers and finishes over time.
We assess roof coverings, ridge capping, flashings, valleys and gutters for rusting, lifting, blockages and overflow risk. Renovated inner-suburb roofs often include complex junctions and box gutters that fail quietly until ceilings stain. We focus on water entry points that can lead to hidden rot, mould and insulation damage.
Where there is access, we check for ventilation adequacy, moisture, timber decay, termite risk factors, and the condition of bearers, joists and stumps/piers. Older East Melbourne homes can have limited airflow and high moisture under floors, which increases the chance of timber deterioration and uneven floors.
We look for signs of non-compliant or poor-quality alterations such as removed load-bearing walls without visible support, uneven floor transitions, poorly executed wet area waterproofing indicators, and unsafe balustrades or stair geometry. This is especially relevant in East Melbourne where period homes are frequently extended or reconfigured.
We check surface drainage, downpipe discharge points, ponding areas, and whether water is directed away from the building. Tight blocks and landscaped courtyards can hide drainage issues that feed damp into walls and subfloors. Identifying these pathways early helps you estimate rectification work and ongoing maintenance.
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Professional inspections with attention to every detail. Here's a glimpse of our work.
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Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our inspection service.
Yes. We tailor the inspection to the building style and typical defect profile found in East Melbourne, including older brickwork, timber floors, roof junctions and past renovations. We’ll check accessible subfloor/roof spaces where possible, review cracking and damp indicators, and flag items that may need specialist input (for example, structural engineering) before you commit.
Yes. For apartments and townhouses, we inspect the accessible internal areas and any private outdoor spaces, focusing on moisture risks (bathrooms, balconies, window seals), cracking, doors/windows operation and visible safety issues. We also recommend reviewing the owners corporation records for common property items (roofing, façade, waterproofing) that may affect future costs.
Renovations can hide problems such as incomplete flashing at roof tie-ins, poor drainage that drives damp, and altered internal layouts where structural changes may not be obvious. We look for signs like uneven floors, cracking around openings, patched ceilings, inconsistent finishes, and moisture staining. We’ll explain what’s likely minor versus what warrants further investigation.
They can be, particularly in older masonry homes and terraces with limited underfloor ventilation, shaded courtyards and tight side setbacks. We check for visible damp staining, salt deposits, mould risk areas, and conditions that keep moisture trapped—such as bridged damp courses, poor subfloor airflow and drainage that discharges near walls. We then outline practical repair pathways and urgency.
Book as early as you can once you’re seriously considering the property, because auction campaigns move quickly and access windows can be limited. Ideally, arrange the inspection before your final decision so you can factor defects into your bidding limit. If timing is tight, tell us your deadline and we’ll confirm availability and what can be assessed on the day.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchACE Building and Pest Inspections provides clear, buyer-focused reporting that suits East Melbourne’s mix of older homes and modern renovations. Call 0413 163 187 to lock in a pre-purchase inspection before you sign.