Loading...
Loading...
Newmarket homes often include older weatherboards and renovated brick dwellings where subfloor moisture, restumping age, and past alterations can hide serious structural movement.
Answer a few quick questions to receive your personalised quote for Newmarket
Complete this step to continue
Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We inspect for evidence of settlement, heave, and differential movement through floor levels, external wall alignment, and cracking patterns. This matters because footing movement can distort the structure, jam doors/windows, and lead to progressive damage if drainage and soil conditions aren’t addressed.
Where accessible, we check stumps, piers, bearers and joists for rotation, decay, inadequate packing, and corrosion of supports. In older Newmarket homes, restumping history and subfloor ventilation can be critical—failure here commonly causes sloping floors and cracking above.
We look for signs that structural walls have been altered or weakened, including unsupported openings, deflecting lintels, and cracking radiating from corners of windows/doors. This is especially important where open-plan renovations may have removed or modified internal supports.
We assess accessible roof framing for sagging ridgelines, spread at wall plates, undersized or cut members, and evidence of past repairs. Roof structural issues can telegraph into ceiling cracking, wall separation, and long-term water entry if the roof shape has distorted.
We identify conditions that can drive major defects—persistent dampness, poor drainage fall, inadequate ventilation, and leaks that can rot timber or corrode steel. Structural damage is often the end result; finding the moisture source helps prevent repeat failure after repairs.
We note visible indicators of non-compliant structural work such as questionable bracing, inadequate tie-downs, and unsafe alterations that can compromise stability. While a building surveyor certifies compliance, these red flags help you prioritise further checks before committing.
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.
In Newmarket, we often see movement-related issues such as sloping floors from subfloor support problems, stepped cracking to masonry, and distortion around openings where lintels or framing have deflected. Older homes can also show timber decay from long-term moisture, especially where subfloor ventilation is poor or wet areas have leaked. Renovations may introduce structural concerns where internal walls were removed or extensions were tied into the original building.
Yes. We assess crack location, width, direction, and whether it’s consistent with differential movement, lintel deflection, or shrinkage/thermal effects. We also look for supporting indicators such as uneven floors, sticking doors, and separation at cornices or skirtings. While we don’t provide engineering design, we can explain why a crack is likely minor or why it warrants a structural engineer for confirmation and repair recommendations.
We check for visible red flags that can create structural or safety consequences, such as leaking services that cause timber rot, wet subfloors, or ceiling damage. Full plumbing and electrical compliance requires specialist testing and certification, which is outside a visual structural inspection. If we see signs suggesting non-compliant or unsafe work, we’ll document it and recommend the right follow-up trades or specialists before you proceed.
Renovations can change load paths, especially if walls have been removed for open-plan layouts or larger openings were created without adequate beams or posts. Extensions can settle differently to the original home, causing cracking where the old and new structures meet. We focus on junction points, altered openings, roof framing changes, and signs of inadequate support so you can decide whether an engineer’s assessment or further invasive checks are needed.
If a major defect is identified, the next step is usually to engage a structural engineer or an experienced builder to confirm the cause and provide a repair scope and estimate. We’ll point you to the specific areas of concern (for example, failing stumps, roof spread, or compromised lintels) and note any contributing factors like moisture or drainage. This helps you make an informed purchase decision and negotiate appropriately.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchACE Building and Pest Inspections focuses on structural risks that can change the true cost of a Newmarket property—call 0413 163 187 to schedule your inspection and discuss any concerns about movement, cracking, or renovations.