Water at the wall is the invitation
Downpipes, grading and open penetrations.
In short: The conducive conditions recorded on Austral jobs around Catherine Field.
What a timber pest inspection is
It runs under AS 4349.3, and it reports what evidence of timber pests is present and what conditions are inviting them. It treats nothing and it never certifies that a property has no timber pests.
Downpipes
Recorded on the first floor only at one Austral lock-up, and not installed to the ground floor at another job's fixing stage. Both put a roof's worth of water beside the building whenever it rains.
Grading
Recorded as still required at lock-up and again at fixing stage. Ground that does not run away holds water against the wall through every season.
Penetrations
Service penetrations to be sealed and caulked, recorded at lock-up and again at fixing stage. Each one is a concealed route through the external wall.
Why they are grouped
Because they all do the same thing. They keep water at the building or let something through it, and both are what the standard means by a conducive condition.
Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Catherine Field. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
