The Most Common Building Defects to Watch For

Whether you’re considering buying a property or have already bought it, you should be aware of any shortcomings it has. This gives you a better idea of how to proceed with repairs and renovations and is helpful in determining whether the structure is worth saving or not. A Building Defect Diagnosis report will give you all the information you need and you can decide how to proceed.

Wondering what sorts of problems are commonly found in these types of surveys? We’ve put together some of the most frequently seen issues.

Cracks in Walls

A crack along a wall can appear quite alarming but it isn’t necessarily as scary as it looks. In fact, in many cases, the cracks are non-structural cracks and they’re not dangerous and pose no threat to the structure itself.

Non-structural cracks are usually hairline cracks that can run in any direction. They may appear on walls that have no structural importance.

Structural cracks, however, are potentially dangerous to the building and will require repair. These often appear on a load-bearing wall and may run over a beam or other structural elements. Cracks that run diagonally from the corner of a window frame or door can also be serious. These usually indicate that the door or window has shifted either up or down.

You’ll also find structural cracks are long, wider cracks along a wall. If you notice rust stains showing up along the cracks, that is usually an indication the situation is more serious than it may appear at first.

When the cracks affect the structure of the building, you need to inspect the foundation for potential issues. Often, cracks will appear because the ground has shifted and this causes the concrete to lift or drop and causes many potential structural problems. Just patching the wall won’t fix it, so you’ll need to look into underpinning the foundation and solidifying it.

Roof Problems

The roof is an essential part of any building, so if it isn’t in great condition, you know the rest of the building will also be lacking. The inspection will look at the roof inside and out, noting things such as missing shingles, mould or algae, curling shingles or cracked tiles. All of these indicate the roof will require replacing very soon. Inside, the report will determine if there are any structural abnormalities in the attic or signs of water damage.

Poor Level of Workmanship

This is often obvious without a building defect diagnosis, but it’s still worth having one done to catch anything you may have missed on your own walkthrough. The condition of the building will be determined by the type of workmanship and if it was poor, then you may not trust the building much.

Fortunately, you can often remedy poor workmanship, particularly if it occurred mainly in one area. You will need to hire someone who knows how to do things correctly and who can repair the areas that were poorly done. You should be able to trust the structure by the time they are finished.

Termites and Other Pests

Termites are a pretty serious pest, but there are plenty of other ones to worry about including mice, rats, and hornets. However, termites will destroy your home and may already be well on the way to doing just that. A damage report will note if there are any pests to be seen in the home, particularly termites.

Since these creatures often hide away, the inspector will need to look at some of the more hidden wooden beams and pillars that are in the home. These are frequently in the basement or boiler room and may be easily noticed by the piles of wood crumbs on the floor or around the area.

You’ll need to think long and hard before you make the decision to take on a building with this type of problem, but if you have the right contractors on your side, you may be able to handle it.

Moisture Problems

Water is pervasive and tends to get in even when you think you’re safe. Unfortunately, when not sorted in time, water can create some serious damage. Water issues can come from many directions, including:

Roof leaks: This will present itself as wet marks on the ceiling and running down the walls.

Pipe leaks: Wet areas on the floor, buckled floorboards, and moisture creeping up the walls from the floor are usually signs that a pipe is broken or leaking. This will need to be fixed immediately.

Gaps around windows: If you see water trails running down from the windows, this could be either condensation from poorly insulated windows or it may be rain coming through gaps under the windows.

Moisture issues are quite dangerous because the moisture can get inside the walls where you can’t see the full extent of the damage. It could be minimal, or it could be that you have dry rot in your beams and structural walls. If this occurs, you could see the collapse of the entire building.

Sometimes, the water will simply cause simple defects such as wallpaper peeling or paint flaking off the walls. You may notice that the floor is buckling, particularly if it is made of wood. This is another indication of moisture in the floors, which could be a broken pipe.

Even if the structure is still sound, moisture and darkness tend to be a bad combination that results in mould. If there is mould inside the walls, you may not realise it for some time but it can really affect your health and that of your family.

Not only will you need to repair the cause of the water damage but you will also need to repair the damage caused by that water, which may be far more extensive than you can imagine.

Structural Movement

You definitely want to know if the building you’re considering purchasing is structurally unsound. If there has been movement in the soil, this will affect the structural integrity of the building. Any time something like this occurs, it can seriously damage the home and shift how the entire structure sits on the foundation. It may be quite dangerous to live in a home like this.

Movement in the building may occur for a few reasons. First, there could be a tremor that shifted things, though this is rare. More commonly, the soil beneath the foundation has settled or sunken in one area, which shifts the foundation.

Another possibility is if water has gotten under the foundation, it can wash out the soil or compact it. This causes the foundation to sink in some parts by cracking and moving. This in turn can affect the entire house and cause cracks in the walls.

You’ll notice cracked tiles in the floors of a home that has shifted like this. The floors may also be uneven, so that if water spills, it runs into a corner. Older homes tend to be a little uneven, but you’ll want to ensure that it isn’t the foundation causing the issues found in the defect diagnosis report.

What Happens After the Report?

Once you have the building defect report in your hands, you need to decide what to do next. In most cases, the report will cover suggested repairs but if the situation was too complex and required removing walls, floorboards, or plaster, you’ll need to hire someone else and do a deeper investigation.

It is essential that you know exactly what you are facing when purchasing a home. While the problems may not dissuade you from purchasing, it’s always better to know ahead of time what the hidden issues are. If you find too many, then it may be a good idea to look elsewhere. After all, the diagnosis report is based on non-invasive examinations, so there may be even more under the surface that you have yet to discover.

Now you have to decide if it’s worth repairing all the issues that have been uncovered. It can be useful to get a quote from a contractor at this point, which will let you know more or less the amount of money you’ll have to spend just to get the building up to proper standards. The inspector should be able to refer you to a good repair person or contractor who can handle the repairs for you.

Are you looking for someone to do a building defect diagnosis for you? Contact Simon Levy today for a quote on your project.