Knocking Down Internal Walls Home designs have changed! We have moved from lots of little rooms in older style homes to big open plan living areas with few internal walls in newer homes. So if you own an older home, how hard can it be to simply knock down and removing internal walls? Knocking down…
WA Government issues warning on pool gate hinges in WA homes The WA Government has recently issued a further warning to WA property owners in relation to pool gates and the protrusion of gate hinges which may provide footholds or handholds to children attempting to climb into the pool area. 1 What are we talking about? …
Pre Purchase Building Inspections – Moisture Ingress and Structural Defects Moisture can enter a residential property through a myriad of different sources; the question in relation to pre purchase building inspections is will it ever amount to a major structural defect? The answer is likely to be no. Keeping the habitable areas of a residential…
Safety alert affects four open-flued gas heaters The WA Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety has issued a warning in relation to Consumers in relation to certain open-flued gas heaters. Their note below is replicated in full here for Houspect WA clients and partners. A national safety alert has been issued for four open-flued…
Residual Current Devices (RCD’s) in WA – How many do you need? Important 1 January 2019 Regulatory Changes WA Why In Western Australia, the Energy Regulations 1947 were amended in 2009 (which rely on Australian Standard ASNZS 3000)to require that when a residential property is transferred, leased or hired, the owner must ensure that a minimum…
Patios are a key part of outdoor living in WA and hence a feature of most WA residential properties. Some patios are grandiose affairs costing tens of thousands of dollars and some are very economical structures. Whatever the structure, there are some key issues to consider when buying a residential property in WA. 1 What…
The WA Government has recently issued a Safety Alert in relation to the use of high pressure water cleaning of asbestos fibre cement products. 1 What are We Talking About? Asbestos products were widely used throughout the WA construction industry pre 1983 and it is best to assume that any property constructed prior to this…
Often WA external strata carparks are covered in asphalt and are a large visual component of the strata kerbside appeal. Maintaining the carpark not only enhances the visual appeal of the strata complex but also is important to extend the life of the asphalt and structure of the carpark. 1 What are We Talking About?…
The WA Government has issued a reminder to WA property owners in regard the important maintenance of domestic hot water heaters. Some quick checks and routine maintenance could have prevented the explosion of a storage water heater outside a home in Perth’s north in 2018, according to Building and Energy inspectors who attended the site.…
The WA Government has advised that people with Vulcan Heritage or Pyrox Heritage gas heaters in their homes need to get them checked by a qualified gas fitter immediately. Laboratory tests show that under certain conditions the heaters produce too much carbon monoxide. Particularly if homes have poor ventilation and bathroom exhaust fans or kitchen…