Schofields Building
Inspections

A downpipe that was never connected

Years of roof water, discharging at the base of a wall.

Schofields 2762 · 19 March 2026

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In short: Stormwater not connected on a Schofields property.

What we found

A downpipe on a Schofields property that had never been connected to the stormwater system.

What that means in practice

Every rain event for the life of the house has emptied a section of roof directly at the base of a wall.

Why it matters more on clay

The Cumberland Plain soils here swell and shrink with moisture. Concentrating water at one point of the footing produces movement at that point and nowhere else, and differential movement is what cracks walls.

What it costs to fix

Very little. Connecting a downpipe is an afternoon for a plumber.

What it may already have cost

That depends on how long it has been that way, which is why the report reads it alongside any cracking found.

Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Schofields. Licensed building practitioners.

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FAQ

Questions Schofields owners ask about this

Would I spot it myself?

Sometimes, by following the downpipe down and seeing where it ends. It is worth doing on any inspection walkthrough.

Would you record that as a defect or as upkeep?

On an established property it is a defect in the drainage system rather than upkeep, and it is cheap to remedy.

Does it connect to cracking?

It can. The report reads the two together rather than listing them separately without comment.

What else should I check?

Where the other downpipes go, and whether the ground falls away from the building.

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