Blogs

What is Thermal Imaging? Thеrmоgrарhу оr thеrmаl imаging is commonly used in thе identification оf mоiѕturе and wаtеr ingress within buildings. Uѕеd alongside аnоthеr inѕtrumеnt – a mоiѕturе mеtеr – a thеrmоgrарhеr (the person performing thermal imaging) саn verify the extent of any thеrmаl аnоmаlу thаt mау indiсаtе the presence of moisture оr water ingress […]

Owning a property has always been the Australian dream but purсhаѕing a рrореrtу аlwауѕ ѕееmѕ like a major and laborious task to dо. Finding the right property that fitѕ within your budgеt аnd suits уоur requirements iѕn’t асtuаllу ѕо diffiсult if you know what to look for. Onе needs tо сhесk if thе сurrеnt mаrkеt iѕ in […]

The sight of cracking can put fear into a buyer’s heart. Yet most properties will exhibit cracking at some point in their lives as materials age and settle to accommodate changes in the building’s environment, especially if the builder has not allowed for this by installing expansion or control joints. Often cracking is inconsequential, affecting […]

Most of us will purchase our home upon the condition of a satisfactory property inspection report. Engaging a qualified professional to inspect what will probably be the biggest purchase we will ever make in our lives is strongly advisable. However, while the focus tends to be on the building inspection component, often another key inspection tends […]

Living in Queensland is beautiful one day, paradise the next. But there is a down side to all the high humidity and rainfall of tropical Queensland with its regular flooding and that’s water damage to our homes. Water may look benign but apart from structural defects, water is one of the major concerns of a […]

What is a handover report?  A handover inspection takes places when a home reaches the final completion, or is ready for handover, meaning all of the building work is complete. With the handover report being issued it is now ‘suitable for habitation’. The home has power, water and is weatherproof. At ABIS we provide a comprehensive handover […]

Imagine if you could live mortgage free. According to Heather Shearer of The Conversation (November 5, 2015), Australian families are doing just that by building tiny homes on wheels that measure just 10 square metres or 7m long by 2½m wide… for less than $40,000. From students to professionals and retirees, a growing number of […]

The race is on to build 3D printed houses a breakthrough, which will have significant consequences for housing affordability, customisation and the environment. Already, a Chinese company, WinSun claims to have printed 10 houses in 24 hours for just $US5,000 ($AU6,494) each, using a 3D printer that applies a mixture of ground construction and industrial […]

The world’s most destructive termite species, Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus) and Asian subterranean termites (Coptotermes gestroi), were previously thought by scientists to be prevented from interbreeding due to their distinct, separate swarming seasons. However, with climate change and human activity, they have recently been observed to swarm simultaneously in South Florida. Research published by […]

Nowadays a Building and Pest Inspection has become almost a prerequisite to buying a home. This is wise considering the enormity of your financial decision.  That’s why a detailed, independent Building and Pest Inspection Report is an important information tool to assist you in your decision making. But what separates a good report from a […]

You’ve just signed your contract and you’re flushed with the excitement of purchasing the home of your dreams. However, did you know that safety hazards may be lurking within your dream home? Every year a significant number of people are seriously injured in their family home. Amazingly, many of these accidents could have been prevented […]

On July 15 2015, a new Residential Building Contract will come into effect in Queensland. According to the QBCC and Master Builders Queensland, it will incorporate a number of changes: For work priced at more than $3,300 there will now be 2 levels of contract: Level 1 where the contract price is less than $20,000 Level […]