Rod Took Building Inspections

So people are asking me how can I prepare my house for a cyclone:

1. **Secure the Roof**: Ensure the roof is in good condition and fix any loose tiles or roofs sheets.

2. **Clear the Yard**: Remove or secure outdoor furniture, decorations, and any loose items that could become projectiles in high winds.

3. **Check Gutters and Drains**: Ensure gutters and downpipes and surface drains are clear of debris to prevent water buildup and potential flooding.

4. **Trim Trees and Shrubs**: Prune back any weak branches or trees that could fall on the house.

5. **Secure Loose Structures**: check slab and frame tie down connections to sheds, carports, and other structures that could be damaged or cause damage.

6. **Review Insurance Policies**: Make sure insurance coverage is up-to-date and understand what is covered in the event of cyclone damage.

7. **Prepare an Emergency Kit**: Include essentials like water, food, medications, flashlights, gas, fuel, batteries, and important documents.

8. **Develop an Evacuation Plan**: Know the local evacuation routes and have a plan in place for where to go if evacuation becomes necessary.

9. **Install Surge Protection**: Protect electrical appliances and systems with surge protectors to prevent damage from power surges.

By taking these steps, you can help minimize damage and ensure your safety during a cyclone.

This is definitely one of the reasons you need a good building inspection when you buy a property, especially if it’s older Queenslander style home , this defect can be found
Coronial case into this type of defect is very clear on how these accidents happen, and remedy to fix is all so easy.

This is the type of prehistoric joist-to-bearer connection that can lead to sudden and unexpected floor collapse if not rectified immediately. The joist can pull out of the bearer slowly over the years and if not repaired NOW the depth the joist is secured into the bearer can diminish with catastrophic consequences. The connection can unzip leading to total and sudden collapse of the floor system.
From the Ascot Deck Collapse coronial enquiryhttps://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/86885/cif-spencer-al-20100628.pdf
The general public and the building industry need to be aware of this particular method of construction in older properties, particularly the potential for joists to become disengaged from bearers and collapse in the same manner that occurred in this instance as a result of little or no bearing of the joists into the bearers.
*** Builders, building inspectors, engineers and architects should ALWAYS be on the lookout for this type of detail and should always flag it to homeowners as needing repair under their duty of care.
More from the coronial enquiry:
Mr Duignan said if a joist was pulling right out he would have expected to have seen it. The evidence of all witnesses asked was that in this case to tell how far a joist was engaged in the bearer would have involved pulling up part of the flooring deck which would have been relatively invasive and expensive.
The evidence of all witnesses asked was that extra securing for the joists in bearers could have involved a number of processes although the evidence is that most of those would be relatively inexpensive.
I formed the impression that Mr Duignan was a competent professional builder experienced in renovating old Queenslanders. He would expect to come across problems from time to time given the vintage of the construction.
I accept that if he had found a problem that required attention he would have fixed it or brought it to the attention of the owners. If he had seen or witnessed a problem with the balcony support he would have sought to do something about it. I accept he had not.

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