Complete Building and Pest Inspections

18/10/2026

North Queensland is classified as Wind Region C (cyclonic). Any patio, carport, or shed erected without engineering certification and council approvals is a serious structural and insurance liability.

DIY additions often use incorrect batten gauges, undersized posts, or inadequate footings that will not withstand cyclone-grade uplift forces. If severe weather destroys an uncertified structure, your insurer can legally deny the entire claim based on non-compliant construction.

Detecting unapproved structures prior to settlement forces the seller to either provide retrospective council approvals (Form 21) or cover the cost of professional certification and tie-down upgrades. Miss it during the inspection, and the cost to engineer, upgrade, or demolish the structure falls entirely on you.

Complete Building & Pest Inspections provide reports to help you make informed decisions in property purchasing.

14/10/2026

!!URGENT!!

Goodmorning Everyone,

If you have received an email from us this morning please do not open or click any links. It seems our email has been hacked and has sent out emails to everyone that we have ever communicated with. We are working on fixing this asap and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you have any concerns or questions, please call myself (kelly) or Michael Mountney on 0499987588

Complete Team

06/10/2026

6 months after moving into your property, this is the last thing you want to see.

Whilst there are factors that lead to this that are out of your control, there are a lot that can be picked up and rectified before you move in and the problem becomes yours.

This can be the result of poor subfloor ventilation, plumbing or roof leaks, unserviced A/C, or the previous owners simply painting over prior to sale.

Cleaning it up is only a temporary fix.

Identifying and fixing the root cause will eliminate a lot of time and money in constant repairs and cleaning.

22/09/2026

Freshly renovated, but what is the paint actually covering?

To double down on this, the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) notes that home renovations, patio additions, and landscaping alterations are among the leading causes of termite barrier failures.

Plus, structural timber damage is frequently concealed behind new plasterboard or fresh paint before a sale. A basic visual glance isn't enough to confirm structural integrity.

While there are quick signs of a potential infestation, using thermal imaging and moisture detection tools is the most reliable way to spot active subfloor activity and hidden structural damage.

06/09/2026

Brand-new light switches on the wall don't mean the wiring behind them is up to code.

It is still surprisingly common to find older Vulcanised Indian Rubber (VIR) or early PVC wiring that crumbles when touched. Paired with switchboards that lack modern RCD safety switches across all lighting circuits, overloaded wires become a direct fire hazard.

It's great to see so many renovated homes on the streets of Townsville, but a lot are renovated to make a profit, and sellers are not required to disclose non-compliance pre-sale.

Auditing switchboard and wiring integrity before settlement avoids unexpected rewiring costs right after you move in.

Complete Building & Pest Inspections provide reports to help you make informed decisions in property purchasing.

03/08/2026

When buying a house, having a solar system should be a bonus.

With the solar boom, plenty of providers capitalised on federal rebates available to homeowners. As a result, many subcontractor installations may not have been completed to code.

If an installer mounts aluminium racking or stainless steel bolts directly against a galvanised or Colorbond metal roof without non-conductive rubber isolation washers, a process called a galvanic reaction occurs.

This, along with distorted corrugated iron, broken tiles, and incorrect sealing, should be inspected before major long-term damage becomes apparent.

Complete Building & Pest Inspections provide reports to help you make informed decisions in property purchasing.

31/07/2026

Today we say goodbye to our wonderful Cameron after 5 years of being apart of our team and family. Over the past 5 years your hard work and commitment to us has made a lasting impact and we will miss you dearly.
As you begin your next chapter, we wish you every success and happiness in whatever path you may choose in life. Thankyou for everything you have done , it has been a pleasure working alongside you cam. You and ellie will always hold a special place in our family and team. We wish you all the best and please don't be a stranger (Michael won't cope) haha
From your Complete family ❤️

14/07/2026

Non-compliant cyclone rods were widely available on the market, potentially affecting thousands of houses built, extended, or renovated from 2012 until the QBCC discovered the systemic issue during product audits and issued their formal industry warning in October/November 2016.

The issue predominantly lay with a cheap option on the market that didn't meet the minimum zinc protective coating necessary for corrosion resistance in our tropical conditions.

Because builders and DIY renovators throughout the mid-2010s were buying their materials off the shelf from mainstream hardware chains, any home built, extended, or re-roofed in North Queensland during that era could easily have these non-compliant rods buried inside the walls.

Complete Building & Pest Inspections provide reports to help you make informed decisions in property purchasing.

08/07/2026

Compared to other states, the QBCC does a great job of holding builders accountable. However, just because you're buying a house built in the past 15 years doesn't mean it is free of defects and areas of non-compliance.

During the housing boom of the mid-2000s and 2010s, a lot of poor workmanship managed to slip through the cracks, with waterproofing being a common defect that still shows up today.

Poorly installed membranes or incorrect processes used by underqualified subcontractors can lead to major issues. These range from wood rot within the walls and internal structure of the property to tile and slab damage.

While a home may look modern and clean, a thermal heat scan can detect hidden leaks and save you from major financial heartache post-purchase.

Complete Building & Pest Inspections provide reports to help you make informed decisions in property purchasing.

29/06/2026

Many areas across Townsville sit on highly reactive clay soils.

These soils act like a sponge, swelling massively during the summer monsoon wet season and shrinking drastically during the prolonged dry winter. This continuous shifting can lead to movement within a property, ultimately causing severe structural damage.

While these issues can easily be cosmetically masked before a sale, fixing the actual root cause of the problem is often as difficult as it is costly.

Discovering structural damage due to soil movement doesn't mean the seller is legally obligated to fix it. However, it provides monumental leverage during contract negotiations, ensuring you, the buyer, are fully aware of the future costs of rectification before signing on the dotted line.

Complete Building & Pest Inspections provide reports to help you make informed decisions in property purchasing.