Termite collars in the wrong place on a Clyde North slab
Why the position of a termite collar on a conduit matters, and why it can only be checked before the concrete goes in.
Guides 
All guides
Slack speed bracing in a Clyde North roof frame
Roof speed bracing only works when it is straight and tight. What we found at a Clyde North frame inspection and why it matters in wind.
Missing window flashings at lock-up in Clyde North
Why brick veneer homes need flashings at every window, and why lock-up is the last time to check them.
A balustrade bolted through a balcony hob in Clyde North
Fixing a balustrade down through the top of a balcony hob puts holes in the waterproofing. What we found at a Clyde North handover.
What the drone sees on a Clyde North roof at handover
Cracked tiles, unfinished capping and damaged flashings are invisible from the driveway. Why we fly the roof at every Clyde North handover.
Water stops that stop short at Clyde North door thresholds
A water stop angle that does not meet the wall flashing leaves a gap at the most exposed point of a wet area or external door.
Tracing a leak to the gaps around a window
How a defect investigation separates a window frame leak from a roof or wall leak, with examples from homes in the south-east.
Cracks at plaster corners: shrinkage or movement?
Not every crack in a new house matters. How we decide whether corner cracking in a Clyde North home needs an engineer.
When roof water is the real cause of a ceiling stain
Gutters without fall, blocked spreaders and open ridge pointing: how roof drainage faults turn into ceiling and eaves damage.
Movement cracking when buying in the south-east
How we assess cracks in brickwork and plaster on a pre-purchase inspection, and what they mean for a buyer.
Timber floors in wet areas on a resale home
Floating timber floors run through laundries and bathrooms look modern and fail predictably. What a pre-purchase inspection records.
Leaning retaining walls on a pre-purchase inspection
Timber sleeper walls rot and lean. Why a retaining wall out of plumb is a safety item on a buyer's report.
Garden beds against the wall and the termite risk they create
Mulch and soil built up against brickwork hide the slab edge and give termites a covered path. What a building and pest inspection records.
Your meter box should hold a termite notice: here is why
What a termite management notice records, why it matters when buying, and what it means when one is missing.
Damp subfloors and why pests love them
Low vents, poor drainage and debris under suspended floors create the conditions termites and rot need.
Exhaust fans that vent into the roof
Victoria's ventilation standard for rentals, and why a fan ducted into the roof space is a problem even when it works.
Mould and damp in a Clyde North rental
What the mould and damp standard asks of a landlord, and how we tell condensation from a building defect.
Windows, latches and weatherproofing in a Victorian rental
Two standards meet at the window: it must latch, and the house must be weatherproof. What fails most often.