Five Common Building Defects to Watch For

If you’re considering renting or purchasing a building, you should always have it inspected first. However, there are some specific things to look for when you’re walking through the building for the first time. These include:

Condensation

Look for condensation between windows and signs of damp under the windows. This could indicate that you have a condensation issue, which could end up causing the growth of mould and other damp problems.

Mould

If the original homeowners were careful to clean up the mould, it may be difficult to notice without a closer inspection. Check dark, dank areas for potential mould growth and look for discolouration on the walls or floor.

Bathrooms and basements are particularly likely to show signs of mould. Since this can cause severe health issues, depending on the type of mould, it’s essential that you avoid letting this problem get too far.

Water Damage

Signs of water damage can tell you quite a bit about a home. If there are signs of damp on the floors or lower walls, there may be an issue with rising damp in the home. If the water marks are coming from above, you may have an issue with the roof or with leaking pipes, depending on where the water seems to be coming from. Leaking pipes may also leave some wet spots on the walls, right where the pipes are placed.

Structural Movement

You should also watch for any signs that the structure has not remained stable over the years since it was built. You may notice cracks in the walls or foundation, or distortion in the floor or walls, showing that the structure has shifted over time. There’s a difference between a poorly built floor, which tilts to one side, and a structurally damaged floor, which tends to show unevenness over the entire floor, or sudden drops near the side of the room.

Sound

A very common issue is sound penetration from the exterior. If your new building is too noisy, it could cause a number of issues and many people will not wish to live in a building where noise from outside can get in easily. This may be due to the construction of the walls, or it could be due to single pane windows allowing all sounds to reach the interior of the building.

While most of these problems can be solved, you never want to invest in a building without knowing what you’ll have to fix. A company like Simon Levy can help you determine all potential issues so you go into the sale with your eyes open. You want to know exactly what to expect when purchasing a new home.