Essendon’s mix of older weatherboard homes, brick veneer builds and renovations can hide major defects like subfloor movement, roof leaks and unsafe alterations—issues that often only show up with a targeted defect inspection.
Answer a few quick questions to receive your personalised quote for Essendon
Complete this step to continue
Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We check brickwork, render, internal plaster and junctions for cracking patterns that suggest footing movement, wall separation or lintel issues. In Essendon, this helps distinguish cosmetic cracks from signs of structural stress that may require engineering advice.
We inspect underfloor areas for timber decay, inadequate ventilation, moisture staining, ant activity, and bearer/joist support concerns. This is critical in older Essendon homes where uneven floors and movement can start below the living areas.
We enter accessible roof cavities to look for water entry, mould, sagging members, bracing issues and previous patch repairs. Roof leaks can escalate quickly into major defects by damaging framing and ceilings, especially after repeated Melbourne rain events.
We assess gutters, downpipes, overflow points, falls away from the house, and signs of rising damp or water pooling at the perimeter. Poor stormwater control often drives major defects in walls, subfloors and foundations over time.
We check doors and windows for sticking, racking or misalignment, and review visible lintels and masonry support for deflection or corrosion-related movement. These indicators can point to broader structural issues rather than isolated carpentry problems.
We identify major safety concerns such as unstable structures, unsafe stairs/balconies where visible, damaged wet-area waterproofing indicators, and obvious electrical/plumbing red flags (for example, exposed wiring or signs of persistent leaks). Where specialist compliance testing is required, we recommend the correct next step.
Discover why thousands of property buyers trust us with their most important investment.
Professional inspections with attention to every detail. Here's a glimpse of our work.
Inspection photo 1
Inspection photo 2
Inspection photo 3
Get Major Building Defects as part of a comprehensive inspection package
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our inspection service.
In Essendon we often see movement-related cracking linked to footing or subfloor issues, moisture problems from poor roof drainage, and defects associated with renovations and extensions where old and new structures meet. Roof space leaks, deteriorated timbers, and damp around wet areas can also escalate into major defects if left untreated. An inspection helps identify the cause, not just the visible symptoms.
We assess crack location, width, direction and how they relate to openings, corners and changes in materials. We also look for supporting indicators such as sloping floors, sticking doors, separation at cornices and signs of movement outside. While we don’t provide engineering certification, our findings help you understand the likelihood of structural movement and whether an engineer should be engaged.
We check for visible and accessible red flags that suggest major risk, such as active leaks, water staining, damaged fixtures, unsafe-looking wiring or obvious non-compliant conditions. Full compliance testing for plumbing and electrical systems requires licensed specialist testing, which we can recommend based on what we observe. The goal is to identify defect-level concerns that affect safety and value.
Renovations can introduce problems when load-bearing walls are removed, beams are undersized, or structural connections between the original home and an extension are poorly detailed. We look for movement at junctions, cracking that repeats around new openings, and signs that drainage or roof tie-ins were not done correctly. These are common pathways for major defects in established Essendon streets.
We document the defect clearly, explain why it matters, and outline practical next steps. That may include recommending a structural engineer, roofer, plumber or electrician to quote and confirm the scope of rectification. Where possible, we indicate urgency and likely consequences if the issue is left unresolved, so you can negotiate, plan repairs, or reconsider the purchase based on evidence.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchCall ACE Building and Pest Inspections on 0413 163 187 for a focused major defects assessment that targets Essendon’s common structural, moisture and renovation-related risks.