Some of the most consequential findings in a building inspection happen outside the house, at ground level. How a site sheds water — or fails to — influences almost everything else: slab and footing performance, subfloor moisture, timber pest risk and the condition of finishes inside.
What we look at
A building inspection to AS 4349.1 includes the site within 30 metres of the building, within the property boundary. In practice, on a South-East Queensland block that means observing:
- Surface falls — does the ground slope towards or away from the house?
- Gutters, downpipes and where they discharge
- Garden beds, paths and paving built up against external walls
- Retaining walls and their drainage behaviour
- Signs of ponding, erosion or persistent damp at the time of inspection
Why it matters so much here
Gold Coast storms deliver enormous volumes of water in short bursts. A site that drains poorly keeps the soil against the building wet for long periods — and persistent moisture is the single most common conducive condition for termite activity we observe, as well as a driver of subfloor and slab-edge issues.
The good news: many drainage findings are practical, fixable maintenance items. The report sets out what we observed with photos, so you can prioritise — and where something needs a plumber, drainer or engineer, the report says so plainly.