Behind the Walls: What We’ve Learned from Hidden Defects — and What It’s Costing Aussie Homeowners

From the outside, everything looks fine.
A freshly renovated apartment.
Sleek tiles, modern lighting, maybe even new appliances.

But what happens when the paint starts to bubble, the ceiling gets a damp patch, or your toddler develops a cough that won’t go away?

That’s when people call us.
And more often than not, what we find behind the walls tells a very different story.

It’s not just about the building — it’s about the people stuck in the middle.

Over the years, we've uncovered the same patterns again and again:

• Waterproofing failures causing slow leaks and hidden mould

• Rusted steel and failing concrete behind brand-new cladding

• Balconies that don’t drain properly, causing water ingress into living spaces

• And worst of all — a total lack of accountability from the people who built or signed off on it

The result?

Hard-working families, first-home buyers, retirees — all left footing the bill for mistakes they didn’t make.

“We had no idea. We were completely blindsided.”

That’s what Jake and Lucy told The Guardian this month after buying into a Sydney apartment block. Weeks later, they were hit with a $100,000 special levy. The building had hidden structural issues, and urgent remediation was non-negotiable. Jake now works two jobs and pays off the levy at $10,000 a month.
(Source)

Josh and Emily in Kellyville Ridge were told their strata fees would be around $600 per quarter. They rose to $3,500 after defects were found, including combustible cladding.
Unable to afford the increase, they’ve now been forced to sell their first home.
(Source)

This isn’t rare.
This is becoming normal.

What’s the cost of these hidden defects?

• Financial: Surprise strata levies. Massive renovation costs. Lost savings.

• Emotional: Stress, arguments, fear. Feeling trapped in a toxic environment.

• Health: Living with mould, dampness, and poor ventilation can impact everything from asthma to mental wellbeing.

• Displacement: For many, it means packing up their lives and walking away — not by choice, but because they simply can’t keep up with the costs.

And the kicker?
These issues were almost always avoidable.

What We’ve Learned at Projex Pro

We've been called in to fix what others covered up. And here’s what that’s taught us:

✅ The surface doesn’t tell the whole story.
We always inspect deeply — even if it means cutting into walls or digging deeper during quoting.

✅ Documentation is your best friend.
We photograph, report, and communicate clearly with every client — because knowledge is protection.

✅ There’s no such thing as a “cheap fix.”
Quick patch jobs always cost more in the end. We don’t band-aid — we solve.

✅ Real care is rare, but it matters.
We’re builders, but we’re also parents, partners, homeowners. We know what it means to protect your space.

Proactive, not reactive.

The building industry is under pressure. The cracks — literal and figurative — are showing.

At Projex Pro, we’re not here to sugarcoat.
We’re here to show up, dig in, and fix it properly — not just for now, but for the long run.

If you're buying, renovating, or managing a property and you're not sure what’s hiding behind your walls — don't waitfor it to become a six-figure problem.

Let’s talk.
Learn more about our approach.