Building & Pest Inspections in Como
Como stretches along the southern bank of the Swan and Canning Rivers — a large, established suburb where 1950s–1970s brick-and-tile homes sit on Bassendean Sand with a naturally high water table influenced by the river systems on two sides. The suburb's housing stock is predominantly post-war family homes built during Perth's suburban expansion, with significant infill development from the 1980s onwards and a growing apartment precinct near Canning Bridge driven by the 2020s activity centre planning.
Como's inspection profile is defined by its age and its water. The 1950s–1970s housing stock carries Perth's full catalogue of era-specific defects — concrete roof tile failure, fretting mortar, corroded wall ties, and high asbestos prevalence. The river proximity adds moisture-related complications including rising damp in ground-floor rooms, sub-floor moisture accumulation, and elevated termite risk from the river foreshore vegetation corridors.
What We Look For in Como Properties
1960s–1970s Brick-and-Tile Structural Assessment
Como's dominant housing type is the 1960s–1970s double-brick-and-tile home — typically three-to-four bedrooms on a quarter-acre block with a carport, rear patio, and established garden. After 50–60 years, these homes exhibit predictable deterioration patterns. Concrete roof tiles from this era are at their failure point — the factory glaze has worn off, tiles absorb winter rain, and the additional water weight causes pine roof trusses to sag. Our inspectors check for sagging ridge lines, broken tiles, and evidence of interior ceiling staining from roof leaks. Fretting mortar — where the cement between bricks degrades and crumbles — is widespread in Como's 1960s–1970s stock, compromising both structural integrity and weather sealing.
Wall Tie Corrosion
Homes built in Como between 1960 and 1985 commonly used mild steel wall ties — metal strips that connect the inner and outer leaves of double-brick cavity walls. In Perth's climate, these ties corrode over time, eventually losing their structural connection. The early signs are horizontal cracking in mortar joints at regular intervals (matching the tie spacing). Advanced wall tie failure can lead to the outer leaf of brickwork becoming unstable. Our inspectors check for the characteristic horizontal cracking pattern and assess the extent of wall tie corrosion, particularly on south-facing walls where moisture exposure is greatest.
Asbestos-Containing Materials
Como's 1950s–1970s housing stock has high asbestos prevalence. Common locations include eaves and soffit linings (Hardiflex/Super Six), internal wet area walls (behind tiles in bathrooms and laundries), external fencing, garden sheds, and vinyl floor tile adhesive. While our building inspections are not asbestos testing services, we identify materials that are likely to contain asbestos based on their age, appearance, and location. We note these in our reports so buyers can arrange specialist testing before renovation or demolition.
River Proximity Moisture Issues
Properties near the Canning River foreshore — along Robert Street, Thelma Street, and the streets bordering Collier Park Golf Course — sit on land with a naturally high water table. Rising damp affects ground-floor rooms, with efflorescence (white salt deposits) visible on internal walls and dampness in floor slabs. Sub-floor spaces in older homes near the river can be perpetually damp, accelerating timber deterioration and creating conditions conducive to both termite activity and mould growth. Our inspectors use moisture meters to map moisture distribution and assess whether the levels indicate a manageable condition or a significant remediation need.
Precincts We Service
- Canning Bridge Precinct — new apartment development, strata assessments, high-density mixed-use buildings
- Como Beach / Waterford Triangle — 1960s–1970s brick-and-tile homes, river proximity, high water table, termite risk from foreshore
- Manning Road Corridor — established family homes, concrete tile roof failures, wall tie corrosion in 1970s stock
- Collier Park Edge — properties bordering the golf course, extreme termite pressure from irrigated turf and mature trees
- Curtin University Precinct — high rental percentage, deferred maintenance, villa and triplex infill stock
Practical Completion Inspections (PCI) in Como
Como's Canning Bridge activity centre precinct is generating significant new apartment and townhouse development as density codes increase around the transit hub. New builds in this precinct sit on high water table land — making waterproofing and drainage critical construction elements that need verification at handover. Our practical completion inspections check that waterproofing membranes are correctly installed in wet areas and balconies, that site drainage directs water away from foundations, and that the building envelope is sealed against Perth's winter rain. PCI inspections start from $465.
Pest Control in Como
Como's pest environment is dominated by its river-edge position and the vast Collier Park Golf Course reserve. The irrigated fairways, mature trees, and water features of Collier Park create ideal Coptotermes acinaciformis habitat — and properties bordering the golf course along Clydesdale Street and Preston Point Road sit directly within the foraging range of termite colonies harboured in the course's large eucalyptus trees. The Canning River foreshore vegetation adds a second termite corridor on the suburb's eastern boundary.
General pest pressure is also significant in Como. The established gardens and mature tree canopy support year-round spider populations — Redbacks in garden sheds and sub-floor spaces, Black House spiders under eaves and in window frames. Cockroach populations are persistent in the older housing stock, particularly in properties with aging terracotta drainage that provides harbourage. Rats and mice are active along the river corridor and the Collier Park boundary, accessing roof spaces through gaps in eaves and tile roofing. Our pest control services start from $189, with annual termite inspections from $189 — essential for any Como property near Collier Park or the river foreshore.
