Why Builder Experience Matters in a Building Inspection Not all building inspections are the same. While most inspections follow the same standard, the experience of the person carrying it out makes a huge difference to what gets identified — and what gets missed. As an ex-builder and registered building inspector, I don’t just look at whether something exists. I look at how it was built, why it was built that way, and what’s likely to fail over time. --- The Difference Betwe

What Does a Building Inspection Really Tell You? (And what it can’t tell you) Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make — yet many buyers aren’t fully sure what a building inspection actually covers, or how to use the report properly. As a qualifiedbuilder turned building inspector, I see this confusion all the time. This article breaks it down in plain English so you know exactly what a building inspection can (and can’t) do for you.

When the Bath Gets Priority Over the House 🛁🏠 I inspected a house today where the bath waste clearly won the argument with the floor joist. To make room for the plumbing, an entire section of floor joist had been cut out. The solution? A true DIY masterpiece: A short off-cut of timber Sitting on a cinder block laid on its side (the weakest way to use it) Carefully “packed” with broken asbestos base cladding for that extra touch of danger If you’re wondering whether any of t

AI Overview Google reviews for bookabuilder.co.nz are positive, with the business highlighting several 5-star reviews for its property inspection services, praising the thoroughness, reliability, and professionalism of its inspectors . For example, one review mentions the inspector provided a detailed report and went "above and beyond" to assist them. Reviews frequently mention that bookabuilder.co.nz is a great choice for those needing a building inspection to buy property

🪵🐛 Spotting Borer Before It Becomes Your Problem This photo is from a house I inspected this week. At first glance it just looks like a bit of dirty timber… but look closer and you’ll see tiny pin-sized holes and frass (fine dust) around the base. That’s borer — a timber borer that loves to quietly chew away at subfloor framing while no one’s looking. Most people never notice it until the damage is well advanced… but I pick it up during a standard pre-purchase inspection. W

🔎 What You Can’t See… I Can! Using Thermal Imaging to Reveal Hidden Issues in Your Home 🏠✨ Here’s a cool example from an inspection this week 👇 This is a thermal image of a tiled floor – and those bright lines you see are the underfloor heating pipes. Completely invisible to the naked eye, but crystal clear with a thermal camera. Thermal imaging is one of the tools I use during my inspections to help find things you simply can’t see, such as: 🔥 Heating pipe locations 💧 H

Rusted Joist Hangers on a Deck – Why It Matters (and What I Found This Week) This week I inspected a home where several of the deck joist hangers had completely rusted out. The photo above shows one of the worst examples — the metal hanger has corroded to the point that it’s no longer doing its job, and the timber around it was also starting to deteriorate. Joist hangers are the brackets that hold deck joists in place. They’re a critical structural component because they supp

🪟 When “new build” doesn’t mean “no problems” 😅 You’d think a brand-new house would be flawless… but today I inspected a new build and found a non-opening window installed upside down 🙃 Yes — the drainage slots are now at the top! Not ideal when it rains… unless the plan was to water the insulation 💦 Just another reminder why even new homes need a proper inspection — building mistakes happen more often than you’d think. If you’re buying new (or near-new), get it checked p

How Thermal Imaging Helps Detect Hidden Moisture When you book a building inspection, most of the problems I look for are hidden behind walls, ceilings, and floors. You can’t always see early signs of dampness, leaks, or missing insulation with the naked eye. That’s why I use thermal imaging cameras as part of my inspection process. These tools don’t just take photos — they show heat patterns across a surface, helping me spot areas that may need further investigation. --- Wha

Understanding Trotec Moisture Meter Readings in Your Building Report When you open your property inspection report, you may notice photos of a handheld device pressed against walls with a digital number on the screen. This device is a Trotec non-invasive moisture meter, and those photos are included to give you confidence in what was tested and how the results looked on site. But what do those numbers actually mean? Let’s break it down. --- What the Trotec Moisture Meter Does

Understanding Your Protimeter SurveyMaster Readings When you get a building inspection, you’ll often see photos of a meter pressed against walls or floors with numbers flashing up on the screen. One of the more popular types is the Protimeter SurveyMaster, it helps us check for moisture levels without damaging the surface. ⚠️ Important: Every brand of moisture meter works a little differently. The numbers below apply only to the Protimeter SurveyMaster in non-invasive mode –

The Complete Home-Buying Team: Finance, Legal, and Building Inspections Buying a home isn’t just about finding the right property — it’s about making sure every part of the process is handled properly. From securing finance, to checking the property’s condition, to making sure the contract protects you — you need the right experts by your side. That’s why I’ve teamed up with two professionals I trust: Luke Grbin – Mortgage Adviser , and Action Lawyers – Property Specialists .

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🛠️ Borer Damage Found Under a NZ Home – A Real-World Example Posted by Alex | Book a Builder NZ | www.bookabuilder.co.nz Date:...

🚨 New house, rusty roof ! You’d be surprised how often I find rust damage on brand new homes – before anyone has even moved in. The...

When it comes to securing a home loan, navigating the world of lenders, interest rates, and paperwork can feel overwhelming. Whether...