NEW HOMES STAGE INSPECTIONS

New Homes Stage Inspections

Inspect First services all suburbs of Melbourne
New Homes Inspection Reports
For your peace of mind, Inspect First offers building inspections at various stages of the building or renovation process, from foundation trenches to hand over. This is a vital tool in ensuring that quality standards are maintained and that potentially expensive faults are rectified in time. This can translate into huge savings for the homeowner and the building contractor / developer.

Any reputable builder will welcome this service and cooperate fully with our inspectors to schedule timeous inspections at the following key stages :
New Homes Inspection Reports
For your peace of mind, Inspect First offers building inspections at various stages of the building or renovation process, from foundation trenches to hand over. This is a vital tool in ensuring that quality standards are maintained and that potentially expensive faults are rectified in time. This can translate into huge savings for the homeowner and the building contractor / developer.

Any reputable builder will welcome this service and cooperate fully with our inspectors to schedule timeous inspections at the following key stages :
Pre Pour Inspection
The foundation phase of any new build is critical to the structural integrity of your new home. An inspection at this stage will identify any potential problems, and allow these to be rectified before the concrete pour takes place. Errors in the construction of the floor slab can lead to major structural problems, sometimes only being revealed a few years after completion.

The time between your builder starting on site, to when the slab is ready to be checked is often only a matter of a week, keeping in mind that delays can occur due to unavoidable environmental factors such as rain or excessive heat. By involving us from the outset, progress can be closely monitored ensuring we can be on site to conduct this critical inspection prior to the pour taking place.
Pre Pour Inspection
The foundation phase of any new build is critical to the structural integrity of your new home. An inspection at this stage will identify any potential problems, and allow these to be rectified before the concrete pour takes place. Errors in the construction of the floor slab can lead to major structural problems, sometimes only being revealed a few years after completion.

The time between your builder starting on site, to when the slab is ready to be checked is often only a matter of a week, keeping in mind that delays can occur due to unavoidable environmental factors such as rain or excessive heat. By involving us from the outset, progress can be closely monitored ensuring we can be on site to conduct this critical inspection prior to the pour taking place.
Frame Inspection
The Frame inspection is conducted once the wall and roof frame has been fully completed. However, on double storey homes, the garage or other lower roof areas do not necessarily need to be complete to reach frame stage.

All house frames must comply with the relevant Australian Standard, AS 1684 – Residential Timber-Framed Construction, as well as the NCC, and the engineer’s drawings. With so many areas a frame can be defective, it is extremely important to have it thoroughly and properly checked.

A Frame Inspection is strongly recommended for your own peace of mind and is imperative for ensuring that the building frame structure is sound and meets design requirements.
Frame Inspection
The Frame inspection is conducted once the wall and roof frame has been fully completed. However, on double storey homes, the garage or other lower roof areas do not necessarily need to be complete to reach frame stage.

All house frames must comply with the relevant Australian Standard, AS 1684 – Residential Timber-Framed Construction, as well as the NCC, and the engineer’s drawings. With so many areas a frame can be defective, it is extremely important to have it thoroughly and properly checked.

A Frame Inspection is strongly recommended for your own peace of mind and is imperative for ensuring that the building frame structure is sound and meets design requirements.
Pre Plaster | Lock Up 
This should take place prior to the installation of plasterboard which is the inspector’s last opportunity to check the walls and roof frame before they are covered.
Although your builder may have rectified any defects identified in the frame inspection, further damage often happens when plumbers, electricians, heating and other contractors install their wires and piping. Damage to the structure can also happen when your carpenter is called to prepare (or straighten) the walls and ceilings. An inspection prior to plastering will uncover any of these issues so that they can be rectified and not become a problem at a later stage.

Some of the items reviewed during this inspection are:
  • Compliance with the Building Code of wall frames to ensure they are plumb and straight, as well as the correct installation of the bracing
  • Correct installation of window frames
  • Correct Installation of guttering, fascia and eaves
  • Roofline and tile installation
  • Correct installation in accordance with manufacture’s guidelines of all shower bases
  • Baths checked for proper support
  • Ducting for WC exhaust fans correctly installed
  • Correctly flashed timber door sills
Any brickwork which has been installed at this stage is checked for:
  • Alignment and level.
  • Proper placement of articulation joints, flashings and weep holes.
  • Correct clearances between the windows and the brick sills.
  • Correct bearing of the brick walls onto the concrete slab.
  • Cavities checked to ensure no build-up of excessive mortar.
  • A simple strength test is carried out on the mortar, with further testing recommended if required
Pre Plaster | Lock Up 
This should take place prior to the installation of plasterboard which is the inspector’s last opportunity to check the walls and roof frame before they are covered.
Although your builder may have rectified any defects identified in the frame inspection, further damage often happens when plumbers, electricians, heating and other contractors install their wires and piping. Damage to the structure can also happen when your carpenter is called to prepare (or straighten) the walls and ceilings. An inspection prior to plastering will uncover any of these issues so that they can be rectified and not become a problem at a later stage.

Some of the items reviewed during this inspection are:
  • Compliance with the Building Code of wall frames to ensure they are plumb and straight, as well as the correct installation of the bracing
  • Correct installation of window frames
  • Correct Installation of guttering, fascia and eaves
  • Roofline and tile installation
  • Correct installation in accordance with manufacture’s guidelines of all shower bases
  • Baths checked for proper support
  • Ducting for WC exhaust fans correctly installed
  • Correctly flashed timber door sills
Any brickwork which has been installed at this stage is checked for:
  • Alignment and level.
  • Proper placement of articulation joints, flashings and weep holes.
  • Correct clearances between the windows and the brick sills.
  • Correct bearing of the brick walls onto the concrete slab.
  • Cavities checked to ensure no build-up of excessive mortar.
  • A simple strength test is carried out on the mortar, with further testing recommended if required
Pre Paint | Fixing
Although the Pre-Paint and Fixing stages are separate stages of the build, they usually coincide in time, providing our inspectors with a final opportunity to inspect the structure prior to painting and tiling.

The fixing stage is reached when the doors and timber trims (architraves and skirting boards) are fitted, and the joinery has been installed (kitchen, vanity and internal stairs etc). It is important to understand that this is the stage when you will normally be required to pay the last building progress payment prior to completion.

This is when we can check whether the plaster and cornicing are straight, whether window and door frames are out of parallel, walls out of square, and whether there are any waterproofing defects. This is also normally the first opportunity to inspect the newly-completed brickwork and any external cladding.

Correct waterproofing is particularly important to ensure bathrooms, balconies and shower areas are resistant to water ingress, and to protect the sub-structure from leaks and rot. This is normally done using a paint-on type membrane, which forms a water-resistant layer. The NCC (National Construction Code) requires that all wet areas be waterproofed in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard, AS 3740 – Waterproofing of Domestic Wet Areas, whereas balconies in accordance with AS 4654 – Waterproofing Membranes For External Above-Ground Use.
Pre Paint | Fixing
Although the Pre-Paint and Fixing stages are separate stages of the build, they usually coincide in time, providing our inspectors with a final opportunity to inspect the structure prior to painting and tiling.

The fixing stage is reached when the doors and timber trims (architraves and skirting boards) are fitted, and the joinery has been installed (kitchen, vanity and internal stairs etc). It is important to understand that this is the stage when you will normally be required to pay the last building progress payment prior to completion.

This is when we can check whether the plaster and cornicing are straight, whether window and door frames are out of parallel, walls out of square, and whether there are any waterproofing defects. This is also normally the first opportunity to inspect the newly-completed brickwork and any external cladding.

Correct waterproofing is particularly important to ensure bathrooms, balconies and shower areas are resistant to water ingress, and to protect the sub-structure from leaks and rot. This is normally done using a paint-on type membrane, which forms a water-resistant layer. The NCC (National Construction Code) requires that all wet areas be waterproofed in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard, AS 3740 – Waterproofing of Domestic Wet Areas, whereas balconies in accordance with AS 4654 – Waterproofing Membranes For External Above-Ground Use.
Final Inspection
Under the Domestic Building Contract Act, before a builder can demand any completion payment, they must ensure that all work has been completed and all contracted work has also been completed in accordance with all relevant standards.

The builder will request a final inspection when they deems the project to have reached practical completion. The project may not necessarily be 100% complete, and may not even have a Certificate of Occupancy (known as ‘C of O’).

This is your final opportunity to provide your builder with a defect list for rectification before final settlement and hand over of keys.

This very important stage is when you are strongly advised to call for a professional inspection by one of our highly qualified inspectors to ensure everything is built to the NCC’s (National Construction Code), the numerous relevant Australian Standards, and manufacturers’ guidelines.
Final Inspection
Under the Domestic Building Contract Act, before a builder can demand any completion payment, they must ensure that all work has been completed and all contracted work has also been completed in accordance with all relevant standards.

The builder will request a final inspection when they deems the project to have reached practical completion. The project may not necessarily be 100% complete, and may not even have a Certificate of Occupancy (known as ‘C of O’).

This is your final opportunity to provide your builder with a defect list for rectification before final settlement and hand over of keys.

This very important stage is when you are strongly advised to call for a professional inspection by one of our highly qualified inspectors to ensure everything is built to the NCC’s (National Construction Code), the numerous relevant Australian Standards, and manufacturers’ guidelines.
Post Hand-over Inspection
Before the expiry of your 120 day Maintenance Period we recommend an inspection to establish any defects which may have been revealed after occupation. Some problems will only become apparent once the new structure is occupied and subjected to daily use and weather conditions.

This inspection covers all points covered in the pre handover inspections with the obvious exclusion of those caused by reasonable wear and tear brought about through occupation.
Post Hand-over Inspection
Before the expiry of your 120 day Maintenance Period we recommend an inspection to establish any defects which may have been revealed after occupation. Some problems will only become apparent once the new structure is occupied and subjected to daily use and weather conditions.

This inspection covers all points covered in the pre handover inspections with the obvious exclusion of those caused by reasonable wear and tear brought about through occupation.
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