As you climb the property ladder you may end up moving from home to home until you finally settle in your dream property. Based on averages of how often homeowners move, nine years in the same home is considered normal in the current property market. That is the reality for most new homeowners \u2013 unless, of course, your house wasn\u2019t built to last the distance in the first place!<\/p>\n
If you find your place is riddled with defects \u2013 you have our commiserations! You\u2019re stuck with an investment that is likely disintegrating around you.\u00a0 You can\u2019t live in it or rent it out, and there is no way you can sell it in its current state.<\/p>\n
The design, materials, and quality of workmanship all factor into whether a house will stand the test of time. A house that is not built to last is a financial burden for the homeowner.<\/p>\n
There are a number of factors which can affect the structural lifespan of a building.\u00a0 Obviously, proven building design and structural integrity needs good foundations and strong, stable, load-bearing walls. The foundations support the entire structure, with load-bearing structures supporting the roof and any additional storeys on the building.\u00a0 If any of these key elements don\u2019t continue to provide adequate support, eventually the building will move and walls will crack under the stress of the weight, causing windows and doors to warp, floors to sag and bounce \u2013 potentially the structure could fail and collapse \u2013 which is why it is so important to have a building inspection done prior to purchase, or as a staged inspection during construction.<\/p>\n
If you purchase a house and the seller has compromised load-bearing structures or foundations, you are left with a property that is essentially a ticking time bomb.\u00a0 Disintegration can occur slowly over a number of years, or a load-bearing wall may suddenly slump under the weight of the tiers above, if foundations give way. In any case, the dangers of compromised load-bearing structure should not be ignored.<\/p>\n
A house without strong foundations will not stand. In the construction industry, soil type and location are vitally important to the structural integrity of the build. The builder needs to consider whether the house is supported by its foundations \u2013 stumps may sink, or a concrete slab may subside and crack. Failure to conduct appropriate soil tests to assess the suitability of the ground can \u2013 and often does \u2013 result in catastrophic structural failure.<\/p>\n
There are various materials on which foundations can be built, including soil, stone, clay, chalk, gravel and sand. Each must be assessed to ensure it is strong enough to support foundations, and that there is sufficient drainage. A house will not last long if the design and construction of its foundations are flawed or the surrounding ground is eroded away due to poor drainage.<\/p>\n
Land fall and ground level heights are key considerations in both existing houses and those under construction. Ensuring that all site water drains downhill away from the building is vital to retain the integrity of the foundations.\u00a0 You may need to consider any pooling water or run-off and the likelihood of this water seeping or penetrating into the walls or under the house to its foundations. Without adequate waterproofing, a house is susceptible to structural damage and flooding. Drainage around your house and waterproofing measures for walls are two ways to ensure your lower walls, foundations and underground structures, such as garages or storage cellars, aren\u2019t submerged in water, or damaged by moisture penetration.<\/p>\n
Even with the best laid plans, a house may not be built to last. The materials used and the standard of workmanship during the construction of a house are an important aspect of its lifespan. Substandard materials will significantly influence how long a house will last. If the workmanship is shoddy and the house is not properly inspected, don\u2019t expect this to necessarily live up to your high expectations.<\/p>\n
Defects are not easy to detect with an untrained eye, especially once construction of a house is complete. The best way to eliminate the possibility of defects in a house is to have staged inspections<\/a> done during construction, or order a Pre-Purchase Inspection<\/a> before you sign on the dotted line when buying a property.<\/p>\n Houspect has a range of Building Inspection options – suitable for your every need \u2013 to help you assess whether your chosen house is built to last and will be your \u2018forever\u2019 home!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As you climb the property ladder you may end up moving from home to home until you finally settle in your dream property. Based on averages of how often homeowners move, nine years in the same home is considered normal in the current property market. That is the reality for most new homeowners \u2013 unless,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":1525,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[15,230],"class_list":["post-1527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-construction","tag-professional-building-inspectors","tag-built-to-last","category-159","description-off"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n