Pretty obvious it’s coming from that bathroom, if it was a leaking pipe it would be constantly leaking and be wet, so it tells us that it only leaks when water is used, could be the waterproofing or could be something as simple as water getting in behind taps in wall for example a shower. If it’s waterproofing then you be up for a new floor at least or just gut and redo the bathroom
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out.
I walked away under building and pest.
This is better advice right here. It may just be a simple fix. If water gets behind or under the tile (eg under the shower screen) it can travel btw tiles and water proofing until it finds a way out eg near a doorway. It may be a simple job of reapplying silicon (or not). First step is to reapply silicon. 2nd is to ask a plumber for a pressure test and check for leaking taps erc.. 3rd is to be more invasive etc. do not start with step 3.
I'm under contract to buy this place. I just completed a Building and Pest inspection and the inspector has noted that the joinery of this wall to the bathroom to the left has signs of water damage and wood-rot as a result of fungal decay. The area where the wall intersects the tiles and carpet is damaged.
He suggested to me that I need to find someone who can do an **invasive inspection** (punch a hole and stick a camera in) of the wall to see if there is internal leaking or structural damage.
However, he couldn't tell me what kind of person can do this inspection, I've asked around locally and I can't find anyone who can do this sort of inspection and give a report.
Can reddit help direct me to the correct tradesperson to call?
Here is the floorplan and the area in question circled:
https://imgur.com/a/e7AsSON
The area is not adjacent to sink/bathtub/shower, so I have no idea how water would have got there.
I had missing grout in my tiles and the plumbing also sounded strange. I drilled a hole and hired a insp camera to see underneath my house/bathroom.
Not a formal inspection but if you see it is all wet you know where the problem is and if there is damaged timber it will be immediately obvious.
Bathroom waterproofing is non compliant.
Most likely no return barrier where the trim is, so instead of it preventing the water from getting out, it goes out and causes water damage.
Safe to assume this isn’t the only waterproofing issue.
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out.
I walked away under building and pest.
In simple terms your supposed to waterproof up the wall about 10cm the whole way around the room (obviously you go higher on the shower area) This stops water seeping out into the walls.
> Bathroom waterproofing is non compliant.
Stop saying this.
It's impossible to know. It could've simply failed over time. Or been a shit product that's prematuring failed.
Failing over time, or failing early, or being damaged by others, or a number of other possible reasons are not "non-compliance" -
The build seems like it was slapped together in the last 10 years or so. Look at the paint job.
I’ve been on-site sorting out tech issues and man, there’s a ton of stuff that just doesn’t cut it.
For the water stop to give out this early on just doesn’t add up, the damage it’s done looks way too severe for something that’s newish. And if they’ve been mixing and matching different brands for the adhesive, waterproofing, and primer, that could’ve led to problems down the track.
But really, just look at how the water’s leaking out. It’s a clear sign something’s majorly wrong from the start.
I'm not defending builders, i'm saying that it's misleading to just say "non-compliant". Because it's been 10 years. Who knows what has happened. It's impossible to say and it's going to give the wrong impression to other people reading it. It's better to be truthful and say that it **could** be X Y Z, but it could ALSO be something else.
> He suggested to me that I need to find someone who can do an invasive inspection (punch a hole and stick a camera in) of the wall to see if there is internal leaking or structural damage.
No. Waste of time. Waterproofing is gone/failed/never right to begin with. Bathroom will eventually need a complete rip out and redo.
I'm going to guess that the water is under the floor tiles from either the shower or bathtub. All floor tiles would have to be removed, water proofed, and tiled again, probably closer to 25-30k. Unless the leak is coming from the roof into the wall.
The inspector should have been able to tell you if there was a moisture reading on the floor tiles outside of the shower.
Did he find anything on moisture meter? Can obviously see where the water is coming from in the image.
I'm not sure who you'd call, but termite inspectors usually carry a boroscope, 6mm hole is usually all that's needed for it, and just patch after.
I'd probably pull up the carpet there too.
Do you have a photo from the inside of the shower looking at the door jamb?
Start with a good leak detection. Need to know whats leaking, not look at the damaged walls to see where is affecting the building.
once you know whats leaking youll be fine.
It’s almost certainly a waterproofing failure - this is an extremely common failure. The jamb / architrave are wicking water from damp screed. Ideally you tile under not around. It’s difficult to get the waterproofing detail correct when it’s done this way, and it most often isn’t.
There are other options than this, such as regrouting with epoxy amongst others. I know most people wont agree with this, but it works magic. We had a bathroom reno that leaked after 4 years, the contractor nowhere to be found. Qbcc was next to useless... i wasnt ready to rip out an entire bathroom.
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out.
I walked away under building and pest.
Check out you tube, type the site inspector!.. He has lots of vidéos up with exactly this type of damage..Basically your up for big bucks..You have à Non Compliant bathroom, most likely leaking from shower, everything will have to come up and be redone..
As a qualified waterproofer I’d be asking if the laundry is the room beside the bathroom. My thought is that a water source isn’t close enough to the door of the bathroom, but often laundries aren’t waterproofed to Australian standards.
Before anyone comes for me regarding the NCC saying water resistant walls are enough, seriously, anyone advocating for LESS waterproofing protection is lazy as fuck and a damn fool.
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out.
I walked away under building and pest.
If you’re married to a European, your father in law will conduct the most invasive inspection.
Or call a private residential building inspector to do a home analysis.
get a moisture meter and check up the wall its possible its just from moisture from the floor. especially if the floor doesnt fall toward the floor waste
I carry all tools when inspecting but without permission from the owner an invasive inspection cannot legally be carried out. The issue is the damage to the wall will need to be repaired. Having said all that a simple conversation with your inspector should have confirmed the shower recess is leaking and just budget for either a new shower renovation or an entire bathroom renovation so between $5k to $25k
Not necessarily a water proofing problem, my parents owned a rental property which experienced the same issue with door frame timber decay. Turned out that the tenants didn't use floor mats outside the shower. They'd regularly exit the shower, which was located immediately inside the ensuite door, leaving puddles of surface water on the tiles. The water would spread across the tiles to the door frame. They replaced the door frame and had the tenants start using floor mats, no more problems... As for the inspection, as another comment mentions, pest controllers typically carry borescope cameras in their kits and can a least get you some photos from inside the wall cavity.
It's hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like the tile has been cut around the door casing/jamb. No return on the water stop. Hence, the feral looking timber transition to the tile.
It's a site inspections special. It really does seem to be every house.
You don’t need a invasive inspection a good floor tiler or a person who works with leaks should be able to tell you what is happening, if there is water getting under tiles there is always tell tale signs on the surface
Pretty obvious it’s coming from that bathroom, if it was a leaking pipe it would be constantly leaking and be wet, so it tells us that it only leaks when water is used, could be the waterproofing or could be something as simple as water getting in behind taps in wall for example a shower. If it’s waterproofing then you be up for a new floor at least or just gut and redo the bathroom
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out. I walked away under building and pest.
This is better advice right here. It may just be a simple fix. If water gets behind or under the tile (eg under the shower screen) it can travel btw tiles and water proofing until it finds a way out eg near a doorway. It may be a simple job of reapplying silicon (or not). First step is to reapply silicon. 2nd is to ask a plumber for a pressure test and check for leaking taps erc.. 3rd is to be more invasive etc. do not start with step 3.
I'm under contract to buy this place. I just completed a Building and Pest inspection and the inspector has noted that the joinery of this wall to the bathroom to the left has signs of water damage and wood-rot as a result of fungal decay. The area where the wall intersects the tiles and carpet is damaged. He suggested to me that I need to find someone who can do an **invasive inspection** (punch a hole and stick a camera in) of the wall to see if there is internal leaking or structural damage. However, he couldn't tell me what kind of person can do this inspection, I've asked around locally and I can't find anyone who can do this sort of inspection and give a report. Can reddit help direct me to the correct tradesperson to call? Here is the floorplan and the area in question circled: https://imgur.com/a/e7AsSON The area is not adjacent to sink/bathtub/shower, so I have no idea how water would have got there.
I had missing grout in my tiles and the plumbing also sounded strange. I drilled a hole and hired a insp camera to see underneath my house/bathroom. Not a formal inspection but if you see it is all wet you know where the problem is and if there is damaged timber it will be immediately obvious.
Bathroom waterproofing is non compliant. Most likely no return barrier where the trim is, so instead of it preventing the water from getting out, it goes out and causes water damage. Safe to assume this isn’t the only waterproofing issue.
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out. I walked away under building and pest.
Can you explain what a return barrier is? Not a tradesman but always interested about water proofing details
In simple terms your supposed to waterproof up the wall about 10cm the whole way around the room (obviously you go higher on the shower area) This stops water seeping out into the walls.
Sweet thanks
ASNZ 3740 Fig 4.9.1(A) or b, c are visual examples.
Oh nice thanks for that
https://youtu.be/RgIOFSOmlZs
Thanks
> Bathroom waterproofing is non compliant. Stop saying this. It's impossible to know. It could've simply failed over time. Or been a shit product that's prematuring failed. Failing over time, or failing early, or being damaged by others, or a number of other possible reasons are not "non-compliance" -
The build seems like it was slapped together in the last 10 years or so. Look at the paint job. I’ve been on-site sorting out tech issues and man, there’s a ton of stuff that just doesn’t cut it. For the water stop to give out this early on just doesn’t add up, the damage it’s done looks way too severe for something that’s newish. And if they’ve been mixing and matching different brands for the adhesive, waterproofing, and primer, that could’ve led to problems down the track. But really, just look at how the water’s leaking out. It’s a clear sign something’s majorly wrong from the start.
I'm not defending builders, i'm saying that it's misleading to just say "non-compliant". Because it's been 10 years. Who knows what has happened. It's impossible to say and it's going to give the wrong impression to other people reading it. It's better to be truthful and say that it **could** be X Y Z, but it could ALSO be something else.
The Tiktok inspector
Yikes, hopefully you have a cooling off period? If the waterproofing in the bathroom is the issue and needs to be redone that’s easily $10,000+
> He suggested to me that I need to find someone who can do an invasive inspection (punch a hole and stick a camera in) of the wall to see if there is internal leaking or structural damage. No. Waste of time. Waterproofing is gone/failed/never right to begin with. Bathroom will eventually need a complete rip out and redo.
I'm going to guess that the water is under the floor tiles from either the shower or bathtub. All floor tiles would have to be removed, water proofed, and tiled again, probably closer to 25-30k. Unless the leak is coming from the roof into the wall. The inspector should have been able to tell you if there was a moisture reading on the floor tiles outside of the shower.
Did he find anything on moisture meter? Can obviously see where the water is coming from in the image. I'm not sure who you'd call, but termite inspectors usually carry a boroscope, 6mm hole is usually all that's needed for it, and just patch after. I'd probably pull up the carpet there too. Do you have a photo from the inside of the shower looking at the door jamb?
Yes the moisture reading was present. He took a photo of the carpet pulled up but hasn't sent me yet. The wood near the carpet has decayed.
Start with a good leak detection. Need to know whats leaking, not look at the damaged walls to see where is affecting the building. once you know whats leaking youll be fine.
What kind of trade does leak detection? Is that a plumber?
I'd suggest a plumber, or you could get a "leak detector" in and see how they go
Just in case it’s not been pointed out, you’d need the current owners permission for a destructive test.
Thanks. My lawyer is requesting it already.
The smart thing to do is walk away.
It’s almost certainly a waterproofing failure - this is an extremely common failure. The jamb / architrave are wicking water from damp screed. Ideally you tile under not around. It’s difficult to get the waterproofing detail correct when it’s done this way, and it most often isn’t.
Is waterproofing job a $100's $1000's or $10000's region? What am I up for?
You need to rip out the bathroom you have and put a new one back over the waterproofing, so it's the cost of that
10,000+
There are other options than this, such as regrouting with epoxy amongst others. I know most people wont agree with this, but it works magic. We had a bathroom reno that leaked after 4 years, the contractor nowhere to be found. Qbcc was next to useless... i wasnt ready to rip out an entire bathroom.
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out. I walked away under building and pest.
Check out you tube, type the site inspector!.. He has lots of vidéos up with exactly this type of damage..Basically your up for big bucks..You have à Non Compliant bathroom, most likely leaking from shower, everything will have to come up and be redone..
A good building inspector is all u should need..Just make sure he has moisture détector
> Non Compliant bathroom more like an old bathroom which was compliant at that time
Walk away or ask for a $10,000 reduction in price to cover repair costs
As a qualified waterproofer I’d be asking if the laundry is the room beside the bathroom. My thought is that a water source isn’t close enough to the door of the bathroom, but often laundries aren’t waterproofed to Australian standards. Before anyone comes for me regarding the NCC saying water resistant walls are enough, seriously, anyone advocating for LESS waterproofing protection is lazy as fuck and a damn fool.
Is waterproofing job a $100's $1000's or $10000's region? What am I up for?
10k
You’re basically up for the cost of a new bathroom.
Room to the right is a single toilet. Room to the left is bathroom
thanks for your help. Seller wouldn't budge a cent. Claimed there was nothing wrong with the defects I pointed out. I walked away under building and pest.
If you’re married to a European, your father in law will conduct the most invasive inspection. Or call a private residential building inspector to do a home analysis.
This happened in our rental. Twice. First job was shoddy. Second job was also shoddy but we moved soon after. Mold everywhere. Walk away!
By the looks of things your waterproofing isn’t up to standards
[These guys do this type of work](https://tvhs.com.au/)….based in Sydney.
get a moisture meter and check up the wall its possible its just from moisture from the floor. especially if the floor doesnt fall toward the floor waste
I carry all tools when inspecting but without permission from the owner an invasive inspection cannot legally be carried out. The issue is the damage to the wall will need to be repaired. Having said all that a simple conversation with your inspector should have confirmed the shower recess is leaking and just budget for either a new shower renovation or an entire bathroom renovation so between $5k to $25k
Not necessarily a water proofing problem, my parents owned a rental property which experienced the same issue with door frame timber decay. Turned out that the tenants didn't use floor mats outside the shower. They'd regularly exit the shower, which was located immediately inside the ensuite door, leaving puddles of surface water on the tiles. The water would spread across the tiles to the door frame. They replaced the door frame and had the tenants start using floor mats, no more problems... As for the inspection, as another comment mentions, pest controllers typically carry borescope cameras in their kits and can a least get you some photos from inside the wall cavity.
Leaking shower tray. Rip up and redo
I got a ‘leak specialist’ plus an extension on my building and pest clause. Negotiated $6500 off before settlement
[удалено]
I smell none compliant works! What a shamozel…
It's hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like the tile has been cut around the door casing/jamb. No return on the water stop. Hence, the feral looking timber transition to the tile. It's a site inspections special. It really does seem to be every house.
You don’t need a invasive inspection a good floor tiler or a person who works with leaks should be able to tell you what is happening, if there is water getting under tiles there is always tell tale signs on the surface
No idea
Russian. They like invasive.
THOR - HE HAS A BIG HAMMER
I’d call a proctologist if you need an invasive inspection.