Mould is a major threat to your home, health and overall quality of life. You should take proactive steps to prevent mould from growing in your home before it becomes too large a problem.

Mould has been known to cause health issues of all types, including a weakened immune system, allergies, severe asthma, nausea and lung disease.

It is also a major eyesore to any home and can bring down the value of your home considerably if you’re looking to sell it.

Thus, we have put together this guide to help you prevent a mould infestation in your home.

Mould is both dangerous to your home and an eye sore to look at.

1)     Prevent moisture build up

Mould needs moisture and humidity to survive. As such, the first thing you should do is to prevent the build up of moisture.

You can do this by first finding all places where mould builds up – do you have pipes that leak? Do you have a basement prone to flooding? Is there condensation around windows? Are your gutters clogged?

Fixing leaky pipes, unclogging gutters and making an effort to dry the wet areas around your home will do much to stop mould from growing

2)     Improve airflow

Mould thrives in areas with poor airflow – basements, rooms without windows and the like.

Without proper airflow, mould can grow on the floor, on windows and on the ceiling.

To improve airflow, keep windows and doors open as much as possible. You can also use fans to circulate air throughout the home.

By allowing fresh air to enter and move about your home, you are actively making your home cooler and making it harder for mould to grow

3)     Monitor humidity

Humidity can occur in the summertime and it is deeply unpleasant – the hot, damp conditions make us sweaty and uncomfortable.

Reducing humidity involves improving airflow and eliminating moisture. However, you should also consider using air conditioning or buying a dehumidifier for your home.

Make sure to keep your AC and dehumidifiers clean, or else they themselves will begin to produce moisture.

4)     Stop mould growing on plants

Plants need to be kept watered, so they naturally attract moisture. Thus, plants will regularly attract mould.

You should reduce the risk of mould on your plants by allowing soil to dry before watering it again. Consider adding a sprinkle of Taheebo tea, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar or baking soda to your soil, which act as natural anti-fungal agents.

Your house plants are another place where mould can grow. Monitor these plants closely and take steps to prevent mould growth.

5)     Be careful of bugs

Where mould occurs, pests generally follow – this is because many breeds of bugs thrive under the same type of conditions mould does.

Dedant Building and Pest Inspections can assess both the existence of bugs and mould on and in your property.

Give us a call on 07 3807 0122 or contact us on website to find out more.

Your pre-purchase building inspection is so important to get right, as it allows you to make note of faults you might not have otherwise seen. At Dedant, have 3 pre-purchase building inspection steps that we follow, to ensure we do the job right.

By knowing these faults, you can make an informed decision about purchasing a new house. Because buying a home is so expensive, you’ll want to make a careful decision about the final purchase.

With this knowledge, you may wish to negotiate down the price or compel the seller to fix it. Alternately, you may choose not to buy the house at all.

At Dedant Building and Pest Inspection, we conduct a comprehensive inspection that looks at structural issues, moisture issues and pests.

These three things can all have a major impact on a house you’re looking to buy.

Looks like a perfect home, right? Well maybe not. A pre-purchase inspection can reveal hidden flaws.

Looks like a perfect home, right? Well maybe not. A pre-purchase inspection can reveal hidden flaws.

1)     Structural issues

The first of our building inspection steps is to examine structural issues.

Structural issues are examined and found through a visual inspection of the home and surrounding area, provided they are able to access it.

These structural issues that can influence the safety and price of the home include a damaged roof, cracks in the walls, uneven floors, timber rot, rust stains, distorted windows etc.

Even minor problems can become major concerns very quickly. It is vital that you know as early as possible where these issues are.

2)     Moisture

Dedant conducts moisture detection using Ultrascan.

While a pre-purchase building inspection does not directly look at plumbing, scanning for moisture can reveal a lot about the quality of the plumbing. If moisture is detected, this could be a sign of a problem.

Common plumbing and drainage problems include leaking pipes, blocked gutters and defective showers.

Also, moisture can come from other sources, like from cooking in the kitchen or inadequate ventilation.

Furthermore, areas where moisture is likely to build up, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are inspected for any potential damage.

An example of rust.

3)      Pests

Dedant scans for pests using Infrared Thermal Imaging. This technology allows us to see termites and other pests that might be crawling inside your walls or otherwise hidden.

These pests can cause long-term damage to your home and even threaten your health. Certain pests can carry diseases.

If any pests are found, we will let you know the best treatment to get rid of them. Dedant offers a general pest treatment which treats spiders, cockroaches, silverfish, ants and wasps.

Furthermore, Dedant can install a chemical barrier to protect your home from termites.

Though these, and any other pest control services, are a separate service and not included in the cost.

If you’d like to inquire about a Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection, call Dedant on 07 3807 0122 or contact us on our website.

Getting advice on a building and pest inspection in Brisbane can be difficult. It is difficult to know what questions to ask.

Consequently, we have created a list of 5 questions for to ask a pest inspector over the phone, to help you find the a dedicated professional.

1) “What are your qualifications?”

You never want a trades-person who is not qualified. Dodgy tradies are a real problem and you should always be on the lookout.

One of the easiest ways to determine a legitimate pest inspector from a fake is to ask for their qualifications.

All building inspectors must have completed their Residential Building Inspectors Course. Prior to completing this, they will have already had 5+ years of experience.

Furthermore, only a licenced Pest Controller can conduct an inspection. These licenses come from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).

Only once you’ve verified an inspector has all these things should you continue.

2) “What is involved in the inspection process?”

The process can vary significantly depending on the service you seek. It is important to know exactly what steps are involved in the inspection process.

For example, Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection involves a visual inspection for structural defects, moisture detection and a thermal imaging scan.

Inspectors will then tell you what will be inspected – the interior, roof space, exterior, sub floor and roof exterior, as well as structures within certain bounds of the property.

Thermal imaging, sometimes used in building inspections.

3) “What is the cost and how is this determined?”

Knowing how cost is determined can help you get a fair price for the service.

For example, Dedant Building and Pest Inspections start charging $350 for a Pre-Purchase Building and Pest Inspection.

However, this can vary depending on the size of the property.

4) “What will happen after the inspection?”

The specifics of what will occur after an inspection is completed will vary from contractor to contractor.

However, you can be sure to receive a report on the status of your home.

This report will contain the findings of the inspectors. Quality reports, like those provided by Dedant, will contain photographs and a summary for quick reference.

Make sure your property is accessible and free from obstructions before pest inspectors come.

5) “What can I do to prepare my home?”

You should also ask what you can do to prepare your home for the inspection.

Generally, you will be asked to remove any obstructions to the home to allow inspectors to easily access it. Also, you should ensure distractions such as pets are kept away.

However, every inspection is different and you should always ensure you make the process as easy for inspectors as possible.

Contact us today

If you are looking for a Building and Pest Inspection in Brisbane, look no further than Dedant Building and Pest Inspections.

Dedant offers a range of services conducted by fully licensed and experienced professionals. See our website for more information.

For more information call us on 07 3807 0122.