Forest Hill’s mix of older brick homes, 70s–90s builds and renovated properties can hide movement, roof leaks and unsafe alterations—especially after wet winters and hot summers.
Answer a few quick questions to receive your personalised quote for Forest Hill
Complete this step to continue
Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We inspect internal and external walls, cornices and ceilings for crack type, width and location, then relate patterns to likely movement sources such as footing settlement, reactive soils or framing issues. This matters because movement-related defects can escalate quickly and are often costly to stabilise.
We assess subfloor ventilation, dampness, ant caps, timber condition and the stability of bearers, joists and stumps. Poor subfloor conditions can lead to uneven floors, structural deflection and ongoing moisture problems that compromise the building’s integrity.
We check roof framing for sagging or modification, inspect roof coverings for damage, and assess flashing, valleys and penetrations where leaks commonly start. In Forest Hill, blocked gutters and overflow during heavy rain can drive water into eaves and wall cavities, creating hidden decay.
For brick homes, we look for stepped cracking, bulging, loose or deteriorated mortar, corroded lintels and missing/failed control joints. These issues can indicate structural distress or water entry points and may affect both safety and long-term maintenance costs.
We inspect bathrooms, laundries and kitchens for waterproofing failure signs, leaking fixtures, poor falls and moisture-related damage around walls and floors. Unaddressed leaks can rot structural timbers, weaken flooring and trigger mould issues that often require invasive repairs.
We identify visible electrical hazards and compliance red flags such as damaged cabling, unsafe DIY work, missing safety switches indicators, and risk areas in roof spaces or switchboards (without invasive testing). This helps you flag urgent safety items for a licensed electrician to investigate before settlement.
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.
They can be. Forest Hill has many homes that have been extended over the years—new rooms, opened-up living areas, or added bathrooms. The risk isn’t the renovation itself, but what’s hidden: altered load paths, removed walls without proper support, mismatched roof drainage, or poor waterproofing. A major defects inspection focuses on visible indicators of structural and safety problems and highlights where an engineer or tradesperson should investigate further.
A major defect is typically an issue that affects structural integrity, safety, or the building’s ability to perform as intended. Examples include significant structural movement, failing roof structure, serious water ingress, unsafe electrical hazards, or major plumbing leaks causing damage. During the inspection, we distinguish between minor maintenance items and defects that may require urgent repair or specialist assessment before you commit to the purchase.
Yes—through observation rather than excavation. We assess symptoms associated with footing performance, such as cracking patterns, uneven floors, sticking doors and windows, separation at joints, and drainage issues around the perimeter. We also review site conditions that can worsen movement, including downpipe discharge points and surface water flow. If indicators suggest footing failure, we’ll recommend the next step, such as an engineer’s assessment.
Common clues include staining at ceilings or cornices, swollen skirting boards, damp odours in enclosed rooms, bubbling paint, and mould around windows or wet areas. Outside, overflowing gutters, downpipes that discharge near the base of walls, and low ground levels against the house can all contribute. Forest Hill’s heavier winter rainfall makes roof drainage performance critical, so we pay close attention to gutters, flashing and water run-off paths.
We assess what’s safely accessible on the day, including external roof condition from ground level and roof space access where available. For higher or steep roofs, we focus on defect indicators—roof line sag, damaged coverings, flashing problems, guttering overflow points and internal leak evidence. If access limits apply, we’ll clearly note them and recommend a roofing specialist where closer inspection is warranted.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchACE Building and Pest Inspections focuses on the defects that change decisions—structural movement, leak sources and safety hazards—so you can buy in Forest Hill with clear facts. Call 0413 163 187.