This Mount Gravatt East Home Shows That The Subfloor Is Important, But It's Not Immune To Problems

 by Gavin Godfrey

29 Dec 2021

A home is much more than a ramshackle arrangement of walls left standing above the dirt. The foundations of any home stretch below the earth, but that means you need to be aware of any issues that might be brewing out of sight. There are a plethora of critical problems that could arise from subfloor issues, and unless you know what to look for, you would have no idea you had a problem until the damage was well-and-truly done. Fortunately for this home in Mount Gravatt East, our team showed up just in time to help.

The subfloor may be an important part of your home's foundation, but the amount of problems the subfloor can encounter has left it a notorious part of the home. Generally speaking, the subfloor needs to be kept absolutely dry and clear of any and all debris that may be able to house any unwanted guests, including both vermin and timber pests. If the subfloor isn't well-ventilated, the home can fall victim to fungal growth to structural timbers, and can cause warping and cupping in any timber floors present.

This Mount Gravatt East home, unfortunately, didn't seem overly concerned by said fungal growth, as the subfloor vents were covered by significant amounts of soil, severely limiting the airflow underneath the home. With the subfloor being positioned below ground level on two sides of the home, ground and surface water were able to enter the space beneath the home, which, combined with the lack of airflow, presented a serious issue. Not only can the moisture cause foundational issues, but it also provides incredibly conducive conditions for two types of timber pests, both fungal growth and termites.

Overall, we found that the home would need significant improvements to the landscaping and drainage to prevent any further damage, let alone account for the damage already present. We gathered our findings and presented them to our client, who was left with the difficult decision of attempting to push for the repair costs to be accounted for during settlement, or simply moving on to another property, and we wish them luck regardless of which decision they make.

The subfloor of a home is an incredibly important element of the property's construction, though it can run into a wide variety of common issues. Thankfully, if you want to be certain that the subfloor of any home you'd like to buy has been well-maintained, you can rely on Ironside Building, Pest, & Pool Inspections for help. Reach out to our team today on 0416 291 179 to organise your building inspection in Brisbane today.

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