Deciding what to buy

Building age and construction type

What common Australian construction eras and systems typically mean for maintenance and risk — a starting point for what to check, not a diagnosis.

Why building era matters

A property's construction era shapes what you're likely to find — not as a diagnosis (age alone doesn't tell you a specific property's actual condition), but as a starting point for what to check. Different eras used different construction systems, materials and standards, and each carries typical strengths and typical risks.

Common Australian construction types

Brick veneer — a timber frame with a single external brick layer; common from the mid-20th century onward. Double brick — two structural brick layers; common in older established suburbs, generally very durable but harder and more expensive to extend or reconfigure. Weatherboard — timber cladding on a timber frame; common in older and coastal areas, needs regular exterior maintenance. Lightweight cladding — various systems used more recently on multi-storey buildings; some cladding products used historically on apartment towers have had documented fire-safety issues that required remediation — worth asking about directly for any multi-storey apartment purchase.

Era-typical risks worth asking about

Asbestos-containing materials in properties built or renovated before the mid-1980s (common in eaves, older bathrooms and some flooring); outdated wiring and insulation in older established homes; "concrete cancer" (reinforcement corrosion causing cracking, staining or spalling) in older concrete-framed buildings, especially in coastal or salt-exposed locations, where a specialist structural assessment is standard practice if signs are visible; and, for older apartment buildings, ageing lifts, waterproofing and fire systems that may be approaching major, expensive works. None of these are certainties for any given property — they're era-typical questions worth actively asking, not assuming either way.

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Practical checklist

Assessing a property by construction era

• Identify the property's likely construction era and system before inspection
• Ask directly about asbestos-containing materials for pre-mid-1980s properties
• For older concrete-framed buildings or coastal properties, watch for signs of concrete cancer (rust staining, cracking, bulging) and get a specialist assessment if present
• For multi-storey apartments, ask about cladding type and any remediation history
• Use era-typical risks to focus your building inspection, not to skip it

Questions for a professional

• Given this property's likely construction era, what would you specifically check during inspection?

Official resources

• Consumer Affairs Victoria: building and renovating