Schofields Building
Inspections

Reading a stain under a kitchen cabinet

It records where water has been, not necessarily where it is.

Schofields 2762 · 5 March 2026

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In short: Four staining records on one Schofields property.

What we found

Staining recorded four times on a single Schofields pre-purchase inspection: twice under kitchen cabinetry and twice elsewhere, alongside evidence of leaking and a tap dripping.

What a stain actually is

A record. It tells you water has been there. It does not tell you whether it still is, and those are very different properties at the same asking price.

How we go further

Moisture readings, the condition of the surrounding material and the position of nearby fixtures, so the report reaches for the source rather than noting the mark.

Why under cabinetry

Because it is the hardest place for an owner to look and the easiest place for a slow leak to sit for years.

What it should change

Your questions before contracts, and possibly your offer, depending on what the source turns out to be.

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

Can you always tell if it is active?

Not always. Where the evidence is inconclusive the report says so rather than guessing either way.

Is a repaired leak still worth reporting?

Yes, because it records history. A property with a repaired leak and a property that has never leaked are not the same.

Does staining mean structural damage?

Usually not on its own. It means investigate, not panic.

Would the agent know?

Possibly not. Vendors are not always aware of what sits under a kickboard.

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