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Lalor has one of the most unusual origins of any Melbourne suburb. It began in 1946 as a co-operative of returned servicemen who pooled their money to build affordable homes, laid out as a garden suburb by town planner Saxel Tuxen. Many of the streets are still named after Second World War leaders. From a few hundred residents in the early 1950s, Lalor grew into a suburb of around 20,000 people. That history means many Lalor homes are now 50 to 75 years old, and building inspections in Lalor often focus on how well those postwar houses have aged.
Authority Building Inspections carries out pre-purchase building inspections and building and pest inspections throughout Lalor 3075, as well as construction stage inspections for the new townhouses and rebuilds going up across the suburb.
What we look for in Lalor homes
Postwar houses, 1950s to 1970s
A large share of Lalor’s housing is postwar weatherboard and brick veneer, typically on timber or concrete stumps with a suspended timber floor. These homes are solidly built, but age catches up with them. The issues we find most often are:
- Stump and subfloor problems: deteriorated or sunken stumps, uneven floors, poor subfloor ventilation and damp soil under the house
- Timber decay in weatherboards, window frames, verandah posts and floor framing under bathrooms and laundries
- Termite damage. Older timber-framed homes with established gardens and mature trees are prime targets, and old damage is often hidden behind linings
- Roof wear: tired terracotta or concrete tiles, rusted valleys and gutters, and undersized or blocked downpipes
- Asbestos-containing materials, which are common in homes of this era in eaves, wet area linings and sheds. We flag suspected material so you can arrange testing before you renovate
- DIY renovations and additions that may not have been built to standard, such as sunrooms, enclosed verandahs and removed walls
New townhouses and knockdown rebuilds
Lalor’s large original blocks, close to Lalor and Thomastown stations, have made it popular for subdivision. Many older houses have been replaced by two or three townhouses. In these newer builds we commonly find waterproofing defects, poor drainage between dwellings, cracking at slab and brickwork junctions, and finishing defects at handover.
Our building inspection services in Lalor
Pre-purchase building inspections
Our pre-purchase building inspection follows Australian Standard AS 4349.1 and includes the roof space and the subfloor wherever access allows. For older Lalor homes on stumps, the subfloor is often where the most important findings are. You’ll get a clear, photo-backed report, guaranteed within 4 hours.
Building and pest inspections
For a timber-framed postwar home we strongly recommend a combined building and pest inspection. It checks for live termites, previous damage and the conditions that attract them, such as timber in contact with soil, leaking taps and poor drainage.
Construction stage and PCI inspections
Building townhouses or a new home on your Lalor block? Our stage inspections and practical completion inspections make sure the work is right before each payment.
Why Lalor buyers choose Authority
- Registered Master Inspector with more than 20 years’ experience, including older homes and renovations
- We get under the house wherever access allows, not just a quick look through the access hatch
- Free thermal imaging and moisture testing to find hidden leaks
- Reports guaranteed within 4 hours, and $60 off a second pre-purchase inspection
- Your inspector is happy to go through the report with you by phone
We also inspect in nearby Epping, Mill Park, Reservoir, Thomastown and Bundoora.
Lalor building inspection FAQs
Is it worth inspecting an older Lalor home I plan to knock down?
If you’re only buying for the land, a full building report may not be needed. It’s still worth checking for asbestos and site issues that affect demolition costs. Call us and we’ll suggest the right type of inspection.
Will you inspect the subfloor?
Yes, wherever there’s safe access. If access is limited or blocked, we’ll note it in the report so you know what couldn’t be seen.
How quickly can I get the report?
Within 4 hours of the inspection, guaranteed. A 4-hour turnaround is available if you’re up against an auction or a cooling-off deadline.
Book a building inspection in Lalor
Call 1800 75 25 85 or request a free quote online. Tell us the address, the type of inspection and when you need the report, and we’ll confirm a time, usually the same or next day. Inspections are carried out by a Registered Master Inspector with 20+ years in the building industry, thermal imaging is included free, and you can call your inspector after reading the report to talk through anything that’s unclear.