Wet areas
These wet areas of the house are the most expensive areas of the home (per square metre) to build. All have one common enemy – water leaks. Leaks are common and are usually caused by leaking pipes and waterproofing failures. Leaks cause damage that can be very costly to rectify if they go unnoticed or are not repaired promptly. Fixing a leaking shower could cost $20 or $10,000, depending upon the circumstances.
Kitchens
Let’s now take a look at what you need to inspect in a kitchen. First, check the operation of cupboard and pantry doors and catches. Are all the handles present? Sometimes adjustments of doors can be done with a screwdriver. Next, inspect the kick-board at the base of the cupboards and inside the cupboards under the sink for water damage. Check wall tiles for loose, bulging walls and missing grout.
You’ll need to look at the appliances too. Test the oven, cook-top, range hood, Insinkerator, and water filter (as required) to make sure they all work. Remember to switch them off afterward. If the appliances are new it’s a good idea to register the warranty expiry dates in inndox.
The range hood grease filters should be cleaned every 2 months with hot soapy water and then rinsed, dried, and re-installed.
Look at the benchtops for burn marks, stains, cracks and water damage. Check that drawers all operate smoothly and have handles. If the sink is made of thick plastic, it may be stained. These stains are usually permanent. I recommend replacing these blemished sinks with a new stainless steel sink. Check to see that water drains out of the sink quickly enough. Sometimes the sink waste becomes blocked with fatty waste, if this happens use a drain-clearing product from your local hardware or call a Plumber.
Bathrooms
Now, onto the bathrooms. Inspect the bath for chips, rust marks, peeling paint, and cracks. Baths should not flex when you push on the sides. If it is a freestanding bath, it should not move around on the floor when pushed. Claw-foot baths should be placed onto rubber stoppers on a tiled floor that is completely waterproof.
When you are inspecting a bathroom, run the shower for at least 10 minutes and check for water penetration to adjoining areas. Look for evidence of water damage around the shower recess. Your building inspector will use a moisture meter for this aspect of the inspection.
A shower base should have a fall of 1:60 (1cm of fall every 60cm length) to the floor drain to allow water to flow out.
Check the shower for broken soap-holders. Inspect the tiles of the shower for any cracks or missing tiles and bulging sections which are often difficult to see, so look closely. Missing silicone and grout will also need replacing.
See if the showerhead is leaking or damaged and make sure they are the water-efficient type.
The last thing to check on the shower is the operation of the shower door and screen. Note again if there are any leaks that need fixing or cracked glass that needs replacing.
As well as the shower and the bath, you need to inspect vanities for water damage and toilets and basins for cracks and leaks. Cracked porcelain should be replaced by a Plumber. Don’t forget to keep the details of the Plumber and their invoice in inndox for future reference.
Is your shower leaking?
Grab some toilet paper or a plastic bag and place it over the shower waste. Run the shower until water is about 2cm deep in the base of the shower. Come back in 10 minutes and look for leaks. Tiled shower bases in older properties are the most likely to leak. Unfortunately, the entire shower may need to be demolished and replaced by a Builder.
Don’t forget to remove the wet paper or bag before you leave.
When a shower is found to be leaking, some real estate agents like to recommend that the shower be ‘re-grouted and resealed’. This method involves removing the grout and installing a ‘masonry sealant’. The ‘leaking shower’ repair company will usually offer a 12-year product warranty. The cost of this repair is generally around $880. The advice I have received from a tiling expert is that this repair is a temporary solution. If the waterproof membrane is cracked and leaking, then the entire shower needs to be demolished and rebuilt with a new waterproof membrane. The cost for this professional rebuild could be $5,000 or more for an average size and quality shower recess.
Laundries
Check for dripping taps or spouts. Look under the tub for leaks or rust damage. Make sure there are both hot and cold taps for the washing machine. If you have an extra-large washing machine, then check it will fit in the space provided.
Look at the condition of the joinery (the cupboards and benches). Especially look for water damage.
Is there room for a dryer? If so, is there a power point for the dryer? A laundry should be a room that has adequate natural or mechanical ventilation.
Clothes dryers last on average 8 to 12 years. Although I have seen some pushing 30 years old and still going strong. Regular cleaning of ducts and lint filter can help to prolong the life of the dryer. If the Dryer is new remember to set a warranty expiry alert into inndox.
Toilets
Don’t forget to check the toilets around the house. Flush the toilets and check for leaks. Especially look at the back of the toilet as that is where you will see most leaks. Check for a cracked pan, lid or cistern. Cracked components should be replaced. Make sure that the toilet is secured to the floor by giving it a light push with your foot to the side.
Is the toilet a dual-flush type, (i.e. has it got a flush and half-flush button)? A dual-flush type is water efficient.
Like laundries, toilets should be in a room that has adequate natural or mechanical ventilation.