The brace that was cut to fit a duct
A structural element, removed by somebody who needed the space.
Guides 
All guides
Finding the vapour barrier gap far too late
Recorded at frame stage, weeks after the pour.
Uncapped pipes and the blockage nobody expects
Two minutes of work, deferred until it becomes a plumber's callout.
Measuring a crack instead of describing it
Category 2 at one to five millimetres says something. Major does not.
What the roof space remembers
Below the ceiling a leak gets painted over. Above it, the stain stays.
Stairs, decks and the timber that ages fastest
Outdoor timber is the first thing on a house to go, and the last thing anyone budgets for.
The termite barrier your landscaper built over
Every bridged barrier was created by somebody trying to improve the place.
When the termite management notice cannot be found
Unknown is not the same as untreated, and it is not the same as safe.
Why nobody can guarantee a house is termite free
The honest answer is also the useful one.
The heating duct that was never connected
A room that will not warm up, and a cause nobody can see.
Dented roof sheeting and the drone that finds it
Damage that happens during construction and is invisible from the ground.
Booking the handover inspection with time to spare
The date you pick decides whether the list gets fixed or just acknowledged.
When is a defect actually a defect
Most disputes are not about what is there. The fight is over whether it falls inside an allowance.
Is it settlement, or is it still moving
The question that decides whether cracking is a repair or a problem.
Failed sealant and the water path behind it
The cheapest material on the building, protecting the most expensive junctions.
Cracking and structural soundness in older Craigieburn rentals
Structural soundness is one of the 15 Victorian rental standards. How cracking in an older Craigieburn house is judged, and when it needs an engineer.
Bathroom, toilet and laundry standards in a Craigieburn rental
Three of the 15 Victorian rental standards cover wet areas. What a Craigieburn bathroom, toilet and laundry need, and the moisture problems that sit behind them.
When a Craigieburn rental falls short: what renters can do
If a Victorian rental does not meet the minimum standards, renters have options. What they are, and why Craigieburn owners are better off checking first.