Terms and Conditions for Weathertightness Inspections.

Terms and Conditions

Please take the time to read Property Reports Limited (PRL) terms and conditions before you confirm your booking or before you make your final decision. 

This is a visual non-invasive inspection only. The report should not be seen as an all-encompassing report dealing with a building from every aspect. Rather it should be seen as a reasonable attempt to identify any significant defects.  It is always recommended you seek permission to carry out invasive tests if you have specific concerns about any area for any reason. Please read what we DO & DON’T cover. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please call 021 02286402.

Confirmation of a booking or making your final decision based on this report is acceptance of our terms.

 1.       Access to report and payment.  
Payment is required on receipt of report.  When the report is complete you will be sent an invoice which must be settled prior to release of the report. The quickest way to receive the report is to txt or email settlement and the report will be released at the earliest opportunity. If you have an account payment are required by the due date.  Late payments may incur extra costs and fees may be applicable.

2.       Reports cannot be transferred to a third party without permission from Property Reports ltd or its agents until the terms and conditions have been agreed upon and the report has been paid for. If transferred to a third party after three months extra costs will be incurred including a reinspection to assess that no alterations or damage has occurred since the report was written.

3.       The Risks and methodology for carrying out moisture   checks

a.        PRL reports are based on the condition at the time of that visit/inspection. As part of the Pre-Purchase Inspection, a moisture check will be carried out.  The client must accept the only true way of assessing moisture levels of the external frame is to pull both the external cladding and internal linings off. PRL use approved technologies (Department of Building and Housing) to assist in finding moisture over 18% but these may still not find all areas. For example, areas that are hidden, concealed, or obstructed by floor coverings, furniture storage, or delicate items on the day of the survey, or areas that already have brown rot with moisture levels less than 18%. In the interests of both parties to prevent future litigation, concealed areas should be reduced to a minimum. Where PR identifies areas that require further investigation A Special Purpose Property Report (SPPR) to invasively check the area will be recommended. The degree of invasiveness will be recommended on a case-by-case basis.  There can be innocent reasons why test results may provide similar results to moisture. The client understands that work carried out as a result of invasive tests may subsequently turn out to be innocent and further, the client accepts that PRL will not be responsible for areas later to be found defective because they were concealed at the time of the inspection and are now not. Finally, non-invasive tests do not locate dry timber that is degraded or has brown or dry rot. 

b.        PRL undertakes to minimize the cost of carrying out moisture inspections by breaking down the survey into three parts. The first step is an internal/external non-invasive check. This is the most common report and, in many cases, all that’s needed.  If there are areas of concern PRL recommends a SPPR for Invasively testing the areas be carried out. This requires drilling into the timbers to ascertain timber hardness, the colour of shavings, and moisture content. It will recommend the most likely cause and what is required to do to fix it.  A Post Remedial Report is the final part and includes a description of the work carried out, who did it, the works are compliant, and the areas have passed their moisture test.

c.         Note:  A final Post Remedial Report can only be provided if Property Reports sights the remedial work carried out before it is enclosed and is signed off by the appropriately qualified personnel.

d.        Access:  PR moisture reports will cover as much free wall space, windows, and doorways as is visually and practically possible. PR however will not be moving beds, wardrobes, heavy furniture, or delicate items.

4.       Moisture Reports:

A moisture report from Property Reports Ltd is not a weathertightness report. The report's purpose is to seek out any significant moisture levels within the external frame only.

  Before you engage us, you must consider what we do and not cover.

What won’t be covered or detected?

1         Areas that may have degraded timbers but are now dry unless there are visual signs i.e. degraded or stained skirting, bulging walls, or stained ceilings. In this case, we would recommend a special report.

2         Areas that may have degraded timbers and may be wet or dry and have – in any way -been hidden from us.

3         . Areas in wet zones such as but are not limited to bathrooms which may not have been used for some time, but which are harbouring brown or dry rot.

4         Flashings,

5         Research of council records

What will be covered?

5.       Identify and assess all known risk areas. These are typically the corners of the windows lintel bottom plate and surrounding areas. The highest reading in each room will be recorded. Any elevated areas will be recorded in paragraph 13 and all rooms are in Appendix A

6.       Externally:  For fibre cement and EIFS claddings assess the areas above from the outside using non-invasive means

7.       Assess the ceilings and out-of-reach areas with thermal imagery recording any anomalies.

8.       Assess all wet areas with particular emphasis on shower corners.

9.       Produce a report and recommendation for a Special Purpose Property Report to invasively test the areas if required.

   Weathertightness Reports

Property Reports Ltd will take all reasonable care to locate and identify areas of significant issue or significant maintenance.

Weathertightness Inspections include a non-invasive moisture survey of the external frame.  They will be carried out by persons who have completed the BOINZ E2 Weathertightness course, 

Before you engage Property Reports you must consider what is and is not covered

What a Weathertightness Report will not cover

1.        Comments on the detail of the actual flashing arrangement used on the property.

2.        Where a deck is enclosed, we will not comment on what the height of the return membrane might be.

3.        Whether or not the flashings were IAW with the plans.

4.        Areas where dry or brown rot exists brown rot may not be detected by non-invasive methods because it will live in areas with a moisture content acceptable to the Building Code ie, less than 18%.

5.        The client also accepts that Property Reports is not responsible for any of the following which occur after the survey.:

6.        Any alterations and additions.

7.        Any earth movement.

8.        Failure of any one component because it's exceeded its expected life.

9.        Failure to report issues as they arise.

What a Weathertightness report will cover:

10.    Condition of the roof, ridge valley, and any penetration flashings or fixings.

11.    The cladding for cracks and quality of paint.

12.    Any areas that may inhibit the flow of surface water over the walls and joinery,

13.    Any flashing arrangements that have failed or are likely to prevent the deflection of water from its intended route.

14.    The guttering. The ability for water to drain away from the building.

15.    Areas that might delay the drying process.

16.    Joinery. How they are sealed and if it appears flashings have been installed.

17.    Decks: How it's installed at a wall and the inherent risks of failure if not installed properly, Deck membranes,

18.    Roof wall junctions

19.    If control joints and inter-story flashing are installed.

20.    Ground Clearances