Common Floor Problems: Essentials for House Inspections | House Inspections Melbourne
Picture this: You go to view a home and everything looks great. You’re especially impressed by the beautiful hardwood flooring throughout the interior. That is, until you’re living there and walk down the hall late at night to grab a glass of water… and hear a squeak. Squeaky floors are one of many common floor problems found in houses and now you have to deal with it. Not ideal, am I right?
A floor is the foundation of our homes, workplaces and essentially every building. They can be made out of timber, marble, cork, bamboo, carpet, tiles and more. There are many different floor types and they can definitely add atmosphere to any interior. However, even the best looking floors can be hiding faults that might not be obvious to the untrained eye. Being aware of the many faults in flooring is essential when looking to purchase a home. Without sound flooring, the integrity of the entire building could be at risk.
It’s important to realise that floor damage is not always visible. Often floors look good on the outside. Unfortunately, serious damage is often hidden underneath. Many flooring issues can be eliminated before they even start! All issues can be avoided if the building is designed and constructed by professionals.
It’s crucial to organise building inspections before buying any property as they can save you a lot of trouble and money. At House Inspections Melbourne, we provide a professional special purpose defect inspection service. This service specialises in establishing faults such as floor damage in commercial and residential buildings.
We’ve created a list of the most common floor problems we find in our day-to-day work. So without further adieu, here are the common floor problems that can be uncovered during building inspections!
Uneven Floors
Uneven floors can happen even to the best buildings out there. With time, many building foundations sink in due to the soil moisture or the terrain type that the building has been constructed on. There also could be different reasons, such as extreme environmental events like floods or heavy rainfall. Another reason for uneven flooring is a mistake made during the construction phase. This can be in the form of a foundation or a structure that didn’t settle properly.
Uneven floors in a building can point towards structural damage. If the issue is not addressed, it can lead to major structural problems and safety hazards in the future. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check if a property you’re thinking of buying or renting is experiencing this issue. This is especially important as uneven floors can often be hidden by refurbishments. Hiring a professional building inspections service will help you with assessing the extent of the issue.
Sinking Floors
Sinking floors are a common issue in older buildings, especially in Australian homes. Some houses can be beautifully refurbished and look almost brand new. However, even if a property looks good at the first sight, its floors might be in a bad condition. Therefore, we suggest a pre purchase building inspection as a cautionary measure when looking for a house. An inspection is especially important if you suspect the property is older.
The most common cause for sagging floors is age. Over time, moisture and water weaken the main structural foundations and causes the floors to subside. It is especially concerning if the dwelling doesnt have adequate supporting stumps. This is often a case with older properties. Another cause may be an infestation of timber pests (termites), that basically eat the timber work from inside out. It’s a good idea to book a timber pest inspection if your property has sinking floors because the damage might be caused by termites. In this case, an urgent intervention and pest control measures are needed.
Squeaky Floors
Squeaky floors are a common occurrence in old properties. While they are often joked about, they are truly no joke! Squeaky floors might be a sign of property damage and therefore should not be ignored. The most common cause for squeaky floors is unsecured sub-floor structure. It can be fixed, and some people even use DIY techniques to fix squeaky floors in their homes. With that being said, we strongly recommend booking a professional house inspection to asses the damage. A professional eye will be able to help you assess just how urgent fixing the squeaking flooring in your soon-to-be property is.
Solutions
Apart from the common floor problems listed above, there are many other issues you may face with the flooring and foundations in your property. We always recommend organising building inspections whenever you’re thinking of buying a property. An inspection is also recommended if you realise that your current home is facing floor and/or other damage. This will help you establish the real extent of the problem and decide what steps you should take. If you book a professional building inspection service, you’ll also receive advice on how to prevent and/or deal with the damage in your property.
House Inspections Melbourne is a professional building inspections company in Melbourne. We specialise in services such as special purpose defect inspection. Our dedicated and experienced team will be able to help you assess the damage in your property, both residential and commercial. We are skilled in looking for floor faults, as well as other structural damage.
Contact us today for a free quote and consultation. We will help you find the best solution to your situation and discuss the ways we can help you.
