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Building inspector on a pre-purchase inspection reported as attached and advised this is normal for a house over 10 years old and nothing to stress about or of any immediate concern.
I am thinking I rather sort this out now but I do not understand the scope of work or cost estimates from best to worse case scenario.
What am I looking at? What should I do? and please give me rough cost estimates for best and worst scenarios.
I am in WA.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jatdipasand. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about home repairs.
A high moisture reading just outside the shower recess is quite common in homes over 10 years old and isn’t necessarily a sign of serious damage. It usually indicates that some moisture has travelled slightly beyond the waterproofed area, often due to minor grout deterioration or ageing waterproof membrane. Since there’s no visible damage such as cracked tiles, soft walls, mould, or bubbling paint, it’s generally not an urgent issue. The best approach is to monitor the area over time to see if the readings change, and in the meantime, consider regrouting and resealing the shower area to improve protection. Regrouting and sealing might cost around $300–$600 for a small shower if handled by a tiler, depending on the size and condition. If the issue progresses and waterproofing fails, the worst-case scenario would involve removing the tiles, re-waterproofing, and retiling the base, which could cost between $2,000 and $4,500, depending on tile choice and extent of work.
As for drummy tiles on the balcony, this means some tiles have debonded slightly from the substrate, creating a hollow sound when tapped. In older balconies, this is often due to thermal expansion, minor movement, or water ingress over time. If the tiles are still firmly in place and not cracked or lifting, it’s typically more cosmetic than structural. Monitoring and spot repairs are often enough. Repairing a few loose tiles might cost a few hundred dollars, while full balcony retile and waterproofing could range from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on size and accessibility. In short, both findings are relatively normal for a property of that age, but addressing them early through sealing and monitoring is a smart preventative step.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
