Roof sheets, downpipes and stormwater at handover
Debris on a new roof, sheets overhanging the gutter, loose downpipes and a broken stormwater pipe: the drainage items a pre-handover inspection catches.
In short: A new roof can look perfect and still be set up to fail: swarf and debris left on the sheets, overhangs that throw water past the gutter and downpipes not fixed to the wall.
Debris left behind
Offcuts, screws and grit left on a metal roof hold moisture and can mark or corrode the coating. We note it so the builder clears it before handover.
Overhang into the gutter
Roof sheets are meant to finish within a set distance over the gutter. On one Bacchus Marsh handover the sheets overhung by more than 65mm, enough for heavy rain to shoot over the gutter.
Fixings and washers
Roof screws that are overdriven or have damaged rubber washers can leak. We check what is visible and report the ones that are not sitting right.
Downpipes and drains
Downpipes not secured to the wall, air conditioner drains running onto the ground and a broken stormwater pipe were all recorded on the same type of inspection. Water that is not taken away ends up against the slab.
Why this matters on Ballarat ground
Ballarat's wettest months are in winter, when evaporation is low. Water dumped at the edge of a new slab has nowhere quick to go, and wet ground at the footing is how movement and damp problems start.
After the report
The builder fixes the list, and a reinspection confirms it. Keep the report: it is useful again if an item reappears during the warranty period.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Ballarat. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
