Water stains after handover: tracing leaks in Strathtulloh homes
A ceiling stain or damp wall in a new home has a cause. How we trace it and what we usually find.
In short: A water stain in a nearly new house is a symptom. Finding the source means following the water back along its path.
Start with the stain
Where a stain appears and when, after rain or after a shower, narrows the cause. We photograph it and take moisture readings to see how far the damp extends.
Roof and flashings
Cut sarking, a cracked tile or a poorly finished flashing junction can let water into the roof space. We have recorded each of these on Strathtulloh homes.
Gutters
Leaking gutter joints and gutters set outside the drip edge send water onto fascias and walls instead of into the downpipe.
Wet areas
Failed grout and silicone, or a membrane fault from construction, let shower water into walls and floors next door.
Thermal imaging
A thermal camera shows temperature differences where moisture sits behind a surface, helping us map damp without opening walls.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Strathtulloh. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
