Loading...
Loading...
Fitzroy’s mix of Victorian terraces, warehouse conversions and renovated weatherboards can hide movement behind new linings, altered walls and ageing roof structures—major defects need to be found before they become costly safety issues.
Answer a few quick questions to receive your personalised quote for Fitzroy
Complete this step to continue
Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We check crack patterns, offsets and step cracking in brickwork, render and internal plaster to separate cosmetic cracking from signs of differential movement, footing issues or failing lintels—important in Fitzroy’s older terraces and altered façades.
Where accessible, we inspect timber subfloors for sagging, bounce, rot, borer activity indicators, and inadequate supports. We also look for uneven stump heights, packing, and moisture conditions that can drive ongoing movement and floor distortion.
We assess ridge and hip lines for sag, examine accessible roof framing for split or undersized members, inadequate bracing, and water staining, and identify structural red flags around skylights, roof penetrations and roof-space alterations.
We look for indicators of removed or modified load-bearing walls, undersupported openings, and DIY/poorly executed structural changes. This is critical in Fitzroy where open-plan renovations and rear extensions are common.
We target areas where leaks and rising damp commonly affect structure—bathrooms, laundries, boxed gutters, parapets, balconies and courtyard walls—checking for swelling, decay, corrosion and long-term water ingress that undermines strength.
We identify visible hazards that often accompany major structural issues, such as compromised balustrades, unstable masonry, unsafe access points, and signs of overloaded electrical or plumbing penetrations through framing that weaken key members.
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 Structural Defects as part of a comprehensive inspection package
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our inspection service.
Cracks are common in Fitzroy, especially in older masonry and homes that have been renovated or extended. We assess crack location, width, direction and whether there’s displacement or step cracking through brick joints. We also look for related signs like sticking doors, sloping floors and roofline changes. If indicators suggest active movement or footing failure, we’ll recommend an engineer review before you commit.
Fresh plaster, new flooring and reconfigured layouts can conceal movement cracks, undersupported openings, decayed subfloor framing, and past water ingress. In Fitzroy, we often see rear additions, removed internal walls and upgraded wet areas; if structural supports weren’t added correctly, problems can escalate over time. Our inspection focuses on the structural ‘tell-tales’ that remain visible in accessible areas despite cosmetic finishes.
Yes. Where roof space access is available and safe, we inspect framing for sagging, splitting, inadequate bracing, water staining and alterations around penetrations such as skylights and exhausts. We also assess roofline straightness from external viewpoints. If we find indicators of structural compromise, we’ll document the risk and outline the next steps, which may include an engineer or builder assessment for repair scope.
Shared walls and tight side access can limit visibility of external masonry and make drainage and maintenance more difficult. Party walls can also transmit movement between attached dwellings, so cracking may not be isolated to one property. On narrow blocks, rear extensions and second-storey additions can introduce new loads that the original structure wasn’t designed for. We look for movement patterns and altered load paths that indicate higher risk.
They can. Persistent leaks and poor drainage can rot timber framing, soften supporting materials, and contribute to settlement or movement. We check likely moisture hotspots such as bathrooms, laundries, balconies, boxed gutters and around penetrations through floors and walls. While we don’t perform destructive testing, we identify visible signs of long-term moisture impact and explain how it may be affecting structural performance and what to investigate next.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchCall ACE Building and Pest Inspections on 0413 163 187 for a Fitzroy-focused assessment that targets serious movement, roof and subfloor failures, and moisture-driven structural damage—so you can act before costs escalate.