In short: A house built to a bushfire attack level depends on small details. In Winter Valley, on Ballarat's western edge, several of them had not been finished.
The house
In December 2025 we carried out a defect investigation on a BAL rated home in Winter Valley, west of the city in the City of Ballarat. The owner's worries were water and draughts. Walking the outside, a pattern showed up quickly.
Gaps that should be sealed
Sealant was missing at multiple external wall junctions, around door perimeters and where services pass through the walls. Each gap can let in moisture and cold air. On a house built under AS 3959, they are also openings an ember could reach.
Inside the roof
In some sections of the roof, the fire resistant sarking or blanket a BAL rated roof calls for was not there. The rest of the roof was covered, which is why the gaps stood out.
What the owner did next
The report listed every location with photos and the requirement each item fell short of, ready to send to the builder. Most of it is straightforward work; it just has to be done before the next fire season.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Ballarat. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
