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Kew’s mix of heritage homes and renovated extensions can hide serious structural movement, damp damage and roof faults behind fresh finishes—especially on sloping blocks and near mature trees.
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We examine walls, ceilings, cornices and external masonry for cracking patterns, stepped cracks, racking and distortion. This helps distinguish cosmetic settlement from movement that may indicate footing issues, wall tie failure, or structural load changes from renovations.
Where accessible, we check subfloor ventilation, dampness, timber condition and support systems (bearers, joists, stumps). In Kew homes with older underfloor spaces, persistent moisture can accelerate timber decay, cause uneven floors, and contribute to mould and indoor air quality issues.
We inspect roof framing for sagging, spread, cracked members and poor alterations, then assess coverings, flashings, valleys, gutters and penetrations. This targets major defect sources such as active leaks, concealed water damage, and roof defects that can escalate during heavy rain and wind.
We look for rising damp indicators, failed waterproofing at wet areas, poor surface drainage, and seepage points around retaining walls and lower-level rooms. Identifying the moisture source matters because repeated wetting can damage structural timbers, plaster and masonry, not just finishes.
We assess visible safety risks including unstable balustrades, non-compliant stair geometry, loose handrails and deteriorated external structures. These are common defect areas in older and renovated Kew homes and can create immediate safety and liability concerns.
Without performing invasive testing, we identify visible indicators of unsafe or non-compliant work—such as aged switchboards, DIY wiring signs, unprotected cabling, active leaks, poor pipe supports, and past water damage around fixtures. We then advise what specialist compliance checks should be arranged.
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Get Major Building Defects as part of a comprehensive inspection package
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our inspection service.
In Kew we often see defects linked to older construction and later renovations—cracking from movement, moisture issues under floors, roof leaks around flashings and valleys, and deterioration of external elements like balconies and stairs. Another common issue is poor integration where an extension meets an original structure, creating uneven floors, cracking, or water entry points that aren’t obvious during a quick walkthrough.
We assess crack location, width, direction, repetition and associated signs such as sticking doors, sloping floors or distorted frames. That lets us indicate whether a crack is likely cosmetic, a symptom of movement, or related to moisture and material failure. Where signs point to structural concern, we’ll explain why and recommend the right next step, such as a structural engineer assessment for confirmation.
Yes. Renovations can introduce major defects when loads change or waterproofing and flashing details are rushed. We check junctions between old and new areas, roof tie-ins, wet area leakage indicators, and signs of movement at openings and corners. The goal is to identify defects that may be concealed by new paint, plaster or flooring and to flag any areas needing specialist verification.
Sloping sites can increase drainage challenges and place extra demand on retaining walls, subfloor ventilation and stormwater management. Mature trees can influence ground moisture levels and contribute to movement, which may show up as stepped cracking in masonry or uneven floors. During the inspection we look for movement indicators, drainage shortcomings and moisture entry points that commonly worsen on sloped blocks and landscaped properties.
We need access to all rooms, the exterior perimeter, and any available roof space and subfloor entry points. Clear access to the switchboard, wet areas, garage and any balconies or decks also helps. If parts of the property are locked, stored floor-to-ceiling, or the roof/subfloor access is blocked, we’ll note limitations and explain how that may affect defect certainty and what follow-up access is worth arranging.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchCall ACE Building and Pest Inspections on 0413 163 187 to identify serious structural, moisture and safety defects before they become expensive surprises in your Kew property.