Buying a property is a major financial decision. But hidden problems like water leaks and structural issues can turn a dream home into a costly nightmare. Many people rely on building inspections to find issues. However visual inspections can miss issues hidden behind walls, under floors, or in ceilings.
This is why savvy building inspectors use FLIR thermal cameras to find issues that are invisible to the naked eye. This technology provides a more complete picture of a property’s condition. It also gives buyers essential information before they commit to a purchase.
Key Takeaways
- Thermal imaging inspections give buyers critical information
- Thermal cameras reveal hidden moisture that visual inspections cannot detect
Pre Purchase Building Inspections
Anthony Baldwin from Top Tier Building Inspections is one of the new generation who uses a FLIR thermal camera for independent building assessments.
Anthony’s expertise is in high demand with inspections across Queensland and down the NSW Central Coast. His top services include pre-purchase building and pest inspections, and new build stage inspections from pre-slab through to handover.
“My focus is delivering thorough, easy-to-understand reports so clients can make informed decisions when buying, building, or renovating.
“The buying, building, and renovating process can be stressful and daunting at times. People deserve peace of mind throughout that process, and I always aim to provide that to the best of my ability.”
Thermal Imaging Inspections
Anthony use a FLIR E5 Pro thermal camera during inspections to identify temperature variations that can indicate moisture intrusion, water leaks, or missing insulation.
Thermal imaging allows him to detect issues that aren’t visible to the naked eye, particularly behind walls, ceilings, and wet areas. It also helps confirm elevated moisture readings detected with my Tramex moisture meter.
“Using the FLIR e5 Pro and my other tools allows me to carry out a more thorough and reliable inspection.”
New Build Inspections
Anthony says that newly built homes are susceptible to hidden water leaks. In a recent pre-purchase inspection, his FLIR thermal camera detected a large temperature anomaly within a bedroom wall. Anthony then found significant moisture behind the wall lining that was caused by a concealed plumbing leak.
Wet areas in a home are a major focus for Anthony during building inspections. During this bathroom inspection, Anthony found water leaks and water migrating from the shower all the way to the ensuite entrance.
And in a builder’s warranty inspection, his thermal camera detected a temperature anomaly at the threshold between a bedroom and bathroom. Although the surfaces appeared normal, further testing of the shower area confirmed moisture migration, with water travelling beneath the bedroom carpet.
Invasive Termite Building Inspections
Water leaks from showers, roofs, air-conditioners and other water sources can attract termites. This is because termites need moisture to survive and they target pooling water on damp wood and high-humidity zones in your home.
In this building inspection Anthony found extensive termite damage. The structural beam had been severely damaged by termites and could fail at any time.
Missing Insulation Inspection
In another inspection, thermal imaging helped identify excessive heat in the ceiling. Further investigation in the roof space confirmed the insulation was not evenly laid and was missing in some sections.
Mould Build Up
Long term leaks can also damage brick work. Moisture and mould found behind this wall cavity wasn’t visible until salt started seeping out of the external wall.
Finding and repairing these issues early means saving the home buyer from costly, future damage.
Spot Fixing Water Leaks
Anthony said that a rising concern is spot fixing in new build homes where tilers utilise an incorrect technique to apply the tile adhesive.
Spot tiling is where small blobs of adhesive are applied to the corners and centre of a tile. However, the adhesive needs to be applied evenly across the back of the tile.
When poor quality spot fixing is identified in bathroom inspections the builder often has to rectify the whole bathroom. This means removing all the tiles, stripping out the water proofing, and starting the job from scratch.
Advanced Thermal Imaging
These thermal images show spot fixing issues captured by Anthony using a FLIR e86 thermal camera on loan from GTEK Infrared.
The e86 features a greater thermal sensitivity, or Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference. Higher sensitivity NETD thermal cameras offer clearer detection of objects that have a similar temperature to background objects.
The Cost of Not Inspecting
Identifying these structural and workmanship issues before the purchase is finalised allows the buyer time to organise trades quotes and negotiate a lower price with the seller.
If these issues remain undetected, they can continue to cause deterioration over time, significantly increasing the severity of the damage. This often results in more extensive and expensive repairs once the problem eventually becomes visible.
When leaks go unnoticed damp walls and hidden mould don’t just cost you money, they can affect your health.
