Building & Pest Inspections in Alkimos & Eglinton
Alkimos and Eglinton represent the leading edge of Perth's northern coastal expansion. Brand-new homes in master-planned estates like Shorehaven, Trinity, and Amberton Beach. These properties have zero asbestos risk and minimal heritage concerns, but they carry a different set of challenges. COVID-era trade shortages, extreme coastal exposure, and the rapid pace of construction in these estates mean that even homes less than three years old can have significant defects.
What We Look For in Alkimos & Eglinton Properties
COVID-Era Construction Defects (2020–2023)
The government HomeBuilder and WA BOOST grants created an unprecedented demand for new construction across Perth. Alkimos and Eglinton were at the epicentre of this boom. Critical trade shortages led to rushed brickwork, missing wall ties, no weep holes, improperly installed DPC (Damp Proof Course), and roof trusses resting on internal non-load-bearing walls. These are not cosmetic issues. They're structural defects that affect the long-term integrity of the home.
Marine-Grade Hardware Compliance
Alkimos and Eglinton sit on Quindalup Dunes. Coastal limestone sand that creates a highly corrosive environment for steel. Homes this close to the ocean should have marine-grade stainless steel hardware for roof tie-downs, structural connections, and balcony fixings. Our inspections check whether the correct hardware grade was used, as standard galvanised fixings will corrode prematurely in this environment. Potentially within 5–10 years.
Coastal Wind & BAL Compliance
Properties on the bush edges of Alkimos and Eglinton may carry Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings. BAL-rated homes require specific construction materials. Spark-proof mesh, ember-proof roof ventilators, toughened glass, and non-combustible decking. Unauthorised modifications or additions that don't meet BAL requirements can create compliance and insurance issues.
Site Drainage on New Estates
New estates are built on freshly graded sand pads that haven't fully settled. Paving and landscaping installed by the builder may not adequately direct water away from the slab edge. Our inspectors check the fall direction of all paved surfaces and identify areas where water could pool against the foundation.
Precincts We Service
- Shorehaven. Premium coastal estate, marine-grade hardware checks, COVID-era build defects in newer stages
- Trinity. Large family home estate, typical volume-build quality, site drainage assessments
- Amberton Beach. Beachside development, extreme salt exposure on ocean-facing properties
- Eglinton. Next frontier north of Alkimos, similar coastal exposure and construction-era risks
Practical Completion Inspections (PCI) in Alkimos
Alkimos and Eglinton are at the epicentre of Perth's new-build boom, with estates like Shorehaven, Trinity, and Amberton Beach delivering hundreds of homes each year. Many of these properties were contracted during the COVID-era HomeBuilder grant period (2020–2023), when critical trade shortages led to elevated defect rates across Perth's northern corridor. Missing brick wall ties, improperly installed Damp Proof Course, poor brickwork alignment, and roof trusses bearing on non-load-bearing walls are defects we regularly identify in PCI reports for this area.
A practical completion inspection before your final handover gives you documented evidence of defects that the builder must rectify under the Home Building Contracts Act. Our PCI reports start from $465 and include thermal imaging to detect moisture trapped behind freshly painted plasterboard. A common issue in new coastal builds where construction moisture hasn't fully dried out before handover.
Pest Control in Alkimos
New estates in Alkimos and Eglinton face a predictable wave of pest activity as the surrounding landscape is disturbed by ongoing construction. Ants are the most common early pest in new builds. Argentine ants and coastal brown ants exploit the loose sand around freshly laid slabs and paving. Cockroaches follow as landscaping matures and garden beds create harbourage against the home. On the bush edges of these estates, subterranean termites from retained vegetation can forage into new homes within the first few years of construction, particularly where garden beds or mulch have been placed against slab edges.
Our pest control services cover general pest treatments from $189, with combo packages available for multiple pest types. For new Alkimos homes, we recommend an initial perimeter treatment after landscaping is complete, followed by annual termite inspections to monitor for subterranean activity from adjacent bush corridors.
