Original wet area waterproofing
Waterproofing standards and practices changed considerably after the 1980s. Showers and bathrooms from that era frequently rely on a membrane that has exceeded its service life, with visible indicators appearing as drummy tiles, swollen skirting in adjoining rooms or staining on the ceiling below.
Roofing, sarking and fixings
Original roof sheets, valley irons and fixings are commonly at or past their expected life. Near the coast, corrosion accelerates noticeably. Sarking that has torn or deteriorated reduces the roof's ability to manage condensation.
Windows, doors and seals
Aluminium window seals harden and fail, allowing water to track inside the frame. Sliding door tracks wear and hold water. These present as damp patches in unexpected places rather than as obvious leaks.
Movement and drainage
Footing performance on reactive clay often shows by this age as stepped cracking, particularly where stormwater has discharged near the footings for decades. The drainage defect is usually the cause and the cracking is the symptom.
What this means for a buyer
None of these are reasons not to buy. They are reasons to know, budget and negotiate. The value of an inspection on a home of this era is that it separates the items that need attention now from those that can wait.
Written by Accurate Building Inspections. This article is general information about property inspection in NSW and is not a building inspection, pest inspection, engineering assessment or legal advice. A visual inspection cannot guarantee the absence of concealed defects.