Loading...
Highett’s mix of older brick homes and newer townhouse builds can hide movement, water ingress and compliance issues—especially where drainage, reactive soils and coastal air accelerate damage.
Answer a few quick questions to receive your personalised quote for Highett
Complete this step to continue
Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We check for step cracking in brickwork, distorted door frames, uneven floors and separation at joins to identify signs of footing movement. In Highett homes, these patterns can point to drainage-related soil changes or long-term settlement that may require engineering advice.
We examine accessible roof space, trusses/rafters, sarking, flashings, valleys and roof penetrations to flag major defects that can lead to recurring water ingress. This is critical where past patch repairs or aged tiles/metal sheeting are masking ongoing leak paths.
For homes with subfloor access, we check ventilation, moisture signs, stumps/bearers/joists and evidence of timber decay. Persistent damp subfloors can undermine structural components and increase the likelihood of major rectification work.
We assess wall straightness, bulging, cracking around openings, and signs of lintel failure above windows and doors. This helps identify major masonry issues that can affect structural stability and lead to costly rebuilding if left untreated.
We look for indicators of shower and balcony waterproofing failure such as swollen skirting, moisture staining, drummy tiles and cracking at junctions. In multi-level townhouses and renovated bathrooms, these defects can cause concealed damage to framing and floors.
We visually identify high-risk electrical and plumbing defects such as unsafe DIY wiring, inadequate bonding/earthing indicators, leaking pipework, poor hot water installations and stormwater connections that threaten the building fabric. Where specialist testing is required, we recommend the right licensed trades for confirmation.
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 Highett, we often see movement-related cracking, moisture problems linked to poor site drainage, and roof leaks from ageing coverings or failed flashings. Renovated homes can also show waterproofing failures in bathrooms or balconies, plus non-compliant alterations that create safety hazards. Our inspection focuses on defects that materially affect structural integrity, liveability, and repair cost.
Yes. Highett has a mix of newer townhouse developments and older unit blocks, and major defects can sit in roofs, balconies, common walls, or stormwater systems. We assess the accessible parts of the dwelling and note building-wide red flags that may require further investigation through owners corporation records, strata reports, or specialist assessments (such as structural engineering).
We look for evidence of footing or foundation issues through visible indicators such as cracking patterns, level changes, gaps at joins, and subfloor conditions where accessible. While we don’t excavate or perform engineering calculations, our job is to identify warning signs of major structural concerns and recommend the appropriate next step—often a structural engineer—when the risk is elevated.
They can be. Changed landscaping, paved areas, and altered downpipe connections can redirect water toward the building, keeping subfloors damp and contributing to movement or timber deterioration. During the inspection we look at site falls, drainage cues, moisture staining and subfloor ventilation to identify conditions that commonly drive major defects, then outline practical rectification pathways.
Use the findings to make a clear decision: request the seller rectifies the issue, negotiate the price to reflect realistic repair costs, or step away if the risk is unacceptable. We’ll explain what the defect means, how urgent it is, and which specialist should confirm scope and pricing. This helps you avoid relying on guesswork when timelines are tight.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchACE Building and Pest Inspections (Ringwood) provides defect-focused inspections that prioritise structural risk, water ingress and safety hazards—call 0485 857 077 to organise an inspection for your Highett property.