Our fees are based on the services required. We provide you a quote prior to the inspection and/or report being written up.

We inspect various types of properties and structures, including:

• Residential properties

• Commercial properties

• Owners corporations

• Single apartments and apartment blocks

• Fibreglass, concrete and vinyl-liner in-ground pools

A forensic engineering inspection is conducted by a structural engineer and typically focuses on the causes of damage, recommendations for repair and recommendations to prevent the damage from reoccurring. The structural engineer may use a variety of tools and testing equipment and draw on their knowledge and experience of methods of construction and soil properties to form their conclusions.

Our engineers can forensically inspect residential and commercial buildings, and other structures such as pools, water tanks and pergolas.

After a forensic engineering inspection has taken place, our engineers provide you with a comprehensive structural investigation report.

The difference is simple, our inspections are conducted by structural engineers. Our engineers inspect cracks and settlement in structures, which can be indicative of serious structural problems. Additionally, they can determine the causes of damage, provide repair recommendations (a scope of works report) for you and/or your builder, and provide advice on how to prevent structural damage from reoccurring.

On the other hand, a building inspector can inspect buildings using their experience in construction, knowledge of building codes and standards and pick up on cosmetic damages. However, building inspectors will not be able to advise you on issues related to cracking and movement, nor will they be able to advise if the building is structural sound.

We send through our reports within 10 business days of the inspection.

Get in touch with us as soon as you can to discuss your concerns and book in a forensic structural inspection. We will then provide you a comprehensive report that details cause of damage, recommended remedial works and further advice on how to prevent the damage from reoccurring.

In most cases, yes. A floor level survey is an essential tool to indicate if differential footing movement has occurred and if so, the extent of movement.

This service is a standard inclusion of our forensic engineering inspections and included in the cost

Absolutely! We offer ongoing service to all clients as we understand that the issues may not end after the inspection and report is completed. Some clients require ongoing assistance and expert advice in relation to AFCA claims, VCAT claims and any other situation they may pursue further. Get in contact today to discuss our options and pricing for ongoing expert opinion and support services.

VCAT and other legal systems require expert witness reports. These reports require a certain format and are generally more in-depth.

Our VCAT reports are compliant with PNVCAT2 - this is a practice note that is applied to any evidence and any reports prepared for VCAT by an expert witness.

We can prepare an expert witness report after reviewing information and the history leading up to the structural issue/s you’re experiencing.

The inspection, depending on the complexity of the home and damage(s), should take roughly 1.5-2 hours.

Building inspectors use their experience within construction and knowledge of building practices to advise if houses have been built to current Australian building standards and codes. However, building inspectors predominantly focus on what we refer to as “cosmetic damage”; they will not be able to advise if the house you’re looking at is structurally sound or will have structural issues in the future.

On the other hand, structural engineers assess the structural integrity of the home. Issues such as cracks in walls, cracks in masonry and paving, sagging ceiling plaster, leaks and unlevel flooring can be signs of serious structural problems.

The pre-purchase inspection report provided to you by our engineers will allow you to see the home through the eyes of an engineer and understand the structural soundness of the home before signing into a contract. This is an ideal option for those seeking to purchase an established home.

The short answer would be, yes! Whether this is your potential forever home or an investment property, it is important to know if what you are buying into is structurally sound or if will have structural issues in the future.

Too often we have clients contacting us to conduct inspections after the purchase has gone through, which most of the time identifies costly repairs at their expense.

A pre-purchase structural inspection provides you peace of mind, as you will be able to know the condition of the home before you make a major commitment.

Once we complete your pre-purchase inspection, we aim to have the report available to you within 1 business day.

Our reports are very detailed and easy to read. We pride ourselves on high quality report writing. Our reports provide you with essential information so that you can make informed decisions.

The most common indicators of a leak in your home or on your property are:

• a noticeable increase in the cost of your water bill,

• visible water leak/pooling outside your home,

• out of square doors,

• noticeable movement of floors over short periods of time,

• water leaking internally from walls/ceilings when it rains and

• mould on walls/ceilings.

An undetected leak can affect the structural integrity of your property. If you notice any signs indicative of a leak, get in touch to book in a leak detection.

We use non-invasive methods of inspection to find the cause of your leaks with no disturbance to your everyday life. We conduct a visual inspection, a CCTV inspection, a pressure gauge inspection and use ultrasonic acoustics to find the location of a leak underground. Our inspections can detect and pinpoint broken pipes or tree root/debris interference.

Our job is to ensure we find the leak. In rare circumstances, we may not be able to find the location of a leak. This can be due to ports/pipes being clogged with tree roots or debris, making it a challenge to inspect the entire system. Once cleared, another inspection would be required to inspect the rest of the pipe(s).

We will provide a report detailing where the leaks are, and recommendations for repair. Any plumbing repairs can be completed by Arbiter Group’s technician should you wish to engage their services.