Welcome to Northern Building Inspection Consultants Northern Building Inspection Consultants offer specialist, professional Building and Termite Inspection Services, Pre-Purchase Building Inspections and Pre-Purchase Pest Inspections by independent qualified engineers-members of the Institute of Engineers in Cairns and Far North Queensland. Structural Problems Including: Structural Cracking and Movement to: Roof Structure: Concrete roof slabs Wall Structure: Masonry; external render & stucco; internal solid plaster; internal lath and plaster, plaster sheet & plasterboard Floor Structure: Reinforced concrete construction Deformation of: Roof Structure: Roof framing & roofing Wall Structure: Framed & masonry construction Floor Structure: Suspended concrete slabs, suspended timber ground floors, timber upper floors, stairways Dampness in: Wall Structure: Ceilings, internal walls, external walls Floor Structure: Suspended floors, slab-on-ground construction Structural Timber Pest Damage in: Roof wall & floor structures caused by chemical delignification, fungal decay, woodborers, and termites Back to top... Conditions Conducive To Structural Damage Including: Defective Plumbing & Defective Roof Plumbing & Flashings including: Non-existent rainwater goods incl. flashings, gutters & down-pipes Lack of general storm-water drainage Faulty, decayed or lack of parapet/chimney flashings Cracked or decayed roof cladding Inadequate pitch / lap of roof cladding / no sarking Faulty / decayed vent / flue flashings Decayed ridge cappings, gutters & down-pipes Defective/Bridge Damp Proof Course including: Non-existent damp-proof course in masonry walls Failed / defective damp-proof course Bridged damp-proof course by: earth, mulch, path, floor, rendering, re-pointing, & additions Shoddy Work including: Construction which is obviously unsatisfactory / even dangerous Construction which has been built without regard to any recognised standard Repairs to the building structure of a superficial / makeshift nature Materials unsuitable for the purpose for which they were intended Back to top... Significant Defects In Secondary & Finishing Elements Including: Internal: Ceilings and cornices for sagging, nails popping, defective lining, cracking, damp damage Internal wall finishes (load bearing and non-load bearing walls) for bulging, nails popping, out of plumb, cracking / crazing, loss of adhesion, blowing & pitting, cracked glass blocks / glazed partitions Floor finishes (e.g. polished wood, terrazzo, ceramic tiles or slates, but not a floor covering) for surface cracking / crazing, cracking at doorways, lifting, damp damage Floor coverings (linoleum, cork, carpet etc) for wear & tear, lifting, damp damage Paintwork for blistering, flaking, cracking, peeling, mould growth Windows/window elements for grazing putty, failed glazing seals, broken glass, sash operation, sash fittings & hardware, water staining, rotting wooden frames, corroded metal frames Door/door elements for defective door hardware, damaged doors, binding doors, loose / badly fitting doors, corroded / rotted frames Fly-screens for fixing, damaged frames, damaged screens Architraves/skirtings for fixing, damp damage Fireplaces/chimneys for broken / missing grates or inserts, damaged timber/stone surrounds, damaged hearth tiles, smoke stains on fireplace openings, water stains on chimney breast Kitchen bench tops for lifting, damage, water damage Kitchen cupboards for fixing, fitting / operation of doors, drawers & hardware, water damage Kitchen pantry for defective doors & shelves Kitchen tiles for cracking, being drummy / loose, missing / cracked grouting / sealant Kitchen paintwork for blistering, flaking, cracking, peeling or mould growth Kitchen sink / taps for leaking trap & waste pipe, damage, operation, incomplete assembly, leaking traps Bathroom floor finish for imperviousness, grade to floor waste, water damage Bathroom wall sheeting for fixing, watertight joining, damage Bathroom tiles for cracking, being drummy, fixing, missing or cracked grouting / sealant Bathroom paintwork for blistering, flaking, cracking, peeling, mould growth WC cistern and Bidet for cracking, leaking, fixing Taps for operation, leaking, incomplete assembly Bath and Spa for being adequately sealed and properly recessed at junction with wall, damage Shower for screen, leakage, leaks & water damage around cracks & shower rose, broken glass Vanity for water damage, fixing, leaking trap & waste pipe Washbasin for fixing, cracking, leaking trap & waste pipe Laundry floor finish for imperviousness, grade to floor waste, water damage Laundry wall sheeting for fixing, watertight joining, damage Laundry tiles for cracking, being drummy, fixing, grouting & sealant Laundry paintwork for blistering, flaking, cracking, peeling, mould growth Laundry washtubs/taps for leaking trap & waste pipe, operation, corrosion of cabinet, incomplete assembly, leaking taps External: Masonry walls ( incl. face brickwork, block work, external render or stucco) for bricks fretting & spalling, mortar eroding, blocked / obstructed weep holes, cracking brickwork, corrosion of embedded steel, arch bars or lintels & associated cracking, movement, crazing & surface cracking, sheet spalling. External cladding for wind damage, rotted weatherboards, warping/ splitting and corrosion Damp-proof course / flashing for fixing, damage, corrosion, being loose, dislodged / deteriorated Windows / window elements for gaps to wall structure, sealing to junction between frame and wall, state of glazing putty, weathering, rotted timber, corrosion Door Steps for damage, cracking, thresholds cracked due to bad bedding practice Slab floor finishes (balconies and patios) for damage, lifting and cracking Paintwork for effect of lack of painting on water tightness of external walls & parapets, blistering, flaking, cracking, peeling Chimneys for lack of chimney support, continuity & intactness within roof space, intactness above roof line, missing chimney pots / cowls, dislodgement or deterioration of flashings, mortar erosion, metal flue corrosion External joinery (e.g. barge boards, gable ends etc) for fixing, badly weathered or rotted timbers • Garage doors for fixing, badly weathered or rotted timbers, corrosion, damage Underside of roofing for corrosion, deterioration, water tightness Roofing for corrosion, secureness of fixing screws, lifting, damage, water tightness, pointing, state of ridge tiles, shell ends, barge tiles Skylights for leaking, damage Valleys for fixing, corrosion Flashings for being loose, dislodged or deteriorated, damage Rainwater goods (including gutters, downpipes, and rainwater tanks) for fixing, damage, corrosion Eaves Linings for fixing, damage Roof insulation for fixing, damage Roof sarking for fixing, damage Vermin proofing / bird proofing (mesh and plates) for fixing, damage, corrosion Termite shields for fixing, damage, corrosion Small retaining walls (non-structural) for cracking, movement, tilting Paths and paving for cracking, breaks, evenness Driveways for cracking, breaks, evenness Stairs and handrails for corrosion, rotted timber, safety Steps for cracking, breaks, evenness, safety Fences for fixing, being plumb, cracking & movement, badly weathered or rotted palings, corrosion, damage Site drainage for defective piping, possible drainage problems if the inspection is conducted during a prolonged dry spell Please refer to our website at www.nbic.com.au for a full description of our services. 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