Short, plain-English guides for home owners, buyers and body corporates in South East Queensland. What the standards require, what goes wrong, how a real investigation works, and what to do when someone says no.
Guides, and growing
A shower leak usually starts under the tiles, not in the grout. This guide covers where shower leaks tend to come from, how the cause is found without pulling the bathroom apart, and why a regrout or reseal often does not stop it.
A musty smell in a basement, a downstairs room or a dark cupboard is a sign that something is staying damp. Here is what the smell can point towards, the clues worth noting, and why covering it up is not the same as finding the cause.
AS 3740, AS 4654, the National Construction Code and the QBCC time limits — what each one covers, why it matters when something leaks, and the questions to ask a builder.
Three problems that all look like "damp wall" and need completely different fixes. The patterns that separate them, and why guessing wrong is expensive.
Balconies leak through the membrane, the falls and the drainage, not the tiles. What is under a tiled balcony, where it fails, and why regrouting rarely lasts.
Thermal imaging, moisture mapping, controlled water testing and the report: what each step does, what it cannot do, and what you should get at the end.
Fresh paint, new grout and a locked-up bathroom can all hide the most expensive defect in the house. What to look for at an inspection, and when to bring in someone who measures.
Warranty periods, the QBCC complaint process, what an independent report changes, and when a dispute ends up at QCAT. Here is a translated map of the road ahead.
Reading about it is a start. If water is getting in and nobody can say where from, an independent investigation gives you findings you can act on.
Initial phone consultation to understand your situation
Site inspection using thermal imaging technology
Comprehensive report with findings & diagnostic insights
Investigation & identification only. We don't perform rectification work.