New Home Inspections

Building A New House ; WE OFFER COMPREHENSIVE DETAILED NEW HOME BUILDING INSPECTION AT EACH STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION OF YOUR NEW HOME. THE INSPECTION IS PERFORMED BY HIGHLY SKILLED INDUSTRY TRAINED BUILDING INSPECTORS.

WE ARE INDUSTRY ACCREDITED BUILDING INSPECTION EXPERTS PERFORMING BUILDING INSPECTIONS THROUGHOUT MELBOURNE AND SURROUNDING SUBURBS. 

Independent Qualified Registered Building Inspector performing New Home building Inspections.

New House Inspection performed in accordance with Australian Standards and in accordance with the Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2015  published by the Victorian Building Authority .

We are the Industry Accredited New Home Inspection experts.

At Inspect Direct we take pride in providing the best most comprehensive detailed New Home Building Inspections.

We provide quality control new home inspections at each stage of construction within Melbourne and all suburbs.

Have your new home inspected at the following stages of construction;

• Pre Concrete Pour Slab  Inspection (Inspection once all reinforcement steel is complete)
• Frame State Inspection (During the frame inspection we also check the completed concrete floor slab)
• Pre Plaster / Lock-up Inspection (The wall frame is reinspected after the electrician and plumber rough in and install services - all installed services are also inspected)
• Fixing & Waterproofing Inspection
• Pre-Handover & Pre Settlement Inspection (PCI - Practical Completion Inspection)

Before you start building, take control of the build of your new home instead of leaving it to chance. When building a new home, you automatically assume that everything will be built to correct standards and specifications. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Ensure the building is built to exact standards and exact specifications. Allow Inspect Direct to help you achieve your dream.

We offer inspections from the start of construction to completion of construction.

By having quality assurance staged house inspections, you can identify problems before it is too late and your builder signs off. We help to ensure that things are repaired or replaced prior to completion or while the building is still within the warranty period, so the value of your home is not diminished.

Quality control house inspections can be performed at all stages of construction and even in between stages if you are concerned with the quality of the build or are having problems with the builder.

Critical stages that we recommend performing inspections are at the following stages; stage 2, stage 3, stage 4, & stage 6 from the list below.

1.0 Contract Stage - An explanation of common contract terms with explanation of client and builder obligations.

2.0 Base Stage; - (this is made up of two stages each conducted & charged as seperate inspections)-

2A: Pre - Concrete Inspection : Inspection of slab preparation which includes; waffle pod / sand installation, steel reinforcement placement, Polythene waterproof membrane placement, pipe penetrations, formwork / shutter installation, general overall preparation prior to concrete poor.

2B: Post Concrete Inspection: After concrete footings are poured, or after stumps, piers and columns are installed, or the concrete floor slab has been poured and is completed.

This inspection is carried out after the polyethylene vapour barrier, void formers (pods or sand), steel reinforcement and the perimeter boxing have all been installed to identify any undersized materials, omissions or poor building practices. We ensure everything has been set up in compliance with the approved engineers design and drawings, the BCA, the relevant Australian Standard AS 2870 Slab & Footing Construction and good building practices.

Some of the items checked during this inspection are:

- Steel reinforcement dimension and placement

- Steel reinforcement support

- Steel reinforcement clearances to exposed slab edge, boxing, vapour barrier and service pipe penetrations

- Steel reinforcement is secured and tied at lap and splices

- Termite protection barrier installation, where needed

- Vapor barrier rips, tears, and completeness

- Boxing

- Step-downs

- Formwork & boxing defining the perimeter of the concrete slab and the steel reinforcements proximity to the formwork

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.

3.0 Frame Stage; - When the floor frame, wall frame, and roof frame are complete; The future performance of the building will depend on the builder getting the frame correct in accordance with building regulations & Australian Standards. Have this stage thoroughly checked & documentedwith a comprehensive detailed report written & detailing all faults identifying & clearly stating the particular regulation or Australian standard that the fault contravenes so that the builder has no excuses.

This inspection is carried out after the frame has been completed.

Some of the items checked during this inspection are:

The inspection of the concrete slab for any exposed steel around its perimeter, any blow-out along its edges that will potentially block the cavity width, as well as for any bottom plate overhang which if not rectified will allow rotation of the walls bottom plates. The finish of the concrete is also checked for excessive cracking and dusting.

Floor levels are also inspected across each storey (whenever clear and wherever possible).

The inspection of the constructed wall frames for their compliance with the building code, their plumb and the correct installation of their bracing.

The inspection of the roof truss installation and bracing.

We also systematically go through the approved engineering design to ensure that the built structure is compliant whenever these have been supplied to us.

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.

4.0 Lock Up stage / Pre Plaster;   - (this can occur either concurrently with external cladding or at completion of external cladding)-

4.1: Pre Plaster inspection can occur concurrently / at the same time as brickwork / external cladding is being installed depending on the construction process adopted by the builder.

4.2: When external walls are complete, and all windows and doors are installed, roof coverings are fixed, and the flooring is installed. This inspection is performed just before plaster installation ensuring that all services such as electricity cables & plumbing pipes have been properly installed. This inspection also rechecks the timber / steel frame for any faults that have not been rectified or have occurred resulting from other trades.

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

This inspection is carried out just prior to the plastering of the walls and ceilings. After the plumbers, electricians, heating, cooling and other contractors are finished with the installation of their pipe work and cabling, and after the carpenters have finished straightening the walls, hanging the external doors and fitting the shower bases and baths.

This inspection will pick up the alterations and modifications that have been made to the structure of your new home since the frame was originally inspected. This is very important because most of the above-mentioned trades will cut, check into or drill through any framing members that they need to, to get their service in, regardless of its importance. The carpenters will plane back the edged of the studs to straighten the walls. Often reducing them to below the minimum design size required. It is common for some of the diagonal bracings to be removed to allow for the installation of baths and other fixtures.

The building is prepared ready for installation of plaster - this is one of the most important stage because it is the last chance to recheck the timber frame. Any mistakes at this stage will adversely affect the buildings future performance.

5.0 Pre Paint / Fixing Stage with Water proofing applied within wet areas; - When timber skirting, timber architraves, and joinery units are installed and the house is ready for paint.

One of the most important building elements that we check at fixing stage is the installation / application of water proof membrane to wet areas such as bathrooms & Ensuite.

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.

6.0 Final Inspection; 

When the house is complete ready for Handover also referred to as:

Pre-handover Inspection;

Pre-settlement Inspection;

PCI;  

When the home is presented to you deemed to have reached practical completion by the builder. This stage is commonly known as practical completion. Builders term for this stage is PCI inspection / pre handover inspection. This inspection is designed to identify any structural defects & any cosmetic defects looking at all parts of the building including checking the roof space for; insulation, electrical installation, & services installation.

The practical/handover stage is reached when the building under construction is basically ready for handover, including: full electrical fit-out, full plumbing fit-out, all tiling fully completed, shower screen fitted, final fitting and fixtures installed ( towel rails, TP holders, door stoppers, catches, etc) ceiling insulation, internal paint work, appliances and white goods, pergola's, fences, external concrete or pavements, rainwater tank, finishing of retaining walls, landscaping, site drainage, letter box, external paintwork, carpets, blinds, all items connected and are operational, all within the confines of the contract agreement. Only after these stages have been reached is the building ready for a handover inspection.

The inspection looks at all of the building, inside & out.

> Click here to read more about what we inspect <

7.0 Maintenance Period; - A final inspection just before the maintenance or defect liability period expires which is typically 3-6 months after completion. During this period it is important to identify any faults or defects that have become apparent or that have occurred during the course of the first few months of you living within the building. Generally within this period the building settles resulting in cracking, damage, & possible deformations in parts of the building that requires the builder to rectify under his / her contractual obligations. Things like leaking showers, leaking pipes or leaking roofs also need attention.

These house inspections are performed in accordance with current Australian standards and current standards and tolerances as outlined by the Victorian Building Commission. The inspection is a visual inspection of the property as presented by the builder.

If you wish to proceed with the quality control inspections there is an access authority form which you will find in the document downloads section of this web page for you & the builder to sign. If you have trouble downloading the form or the builder refuses to sign the form, please let us know. 

Please Note:

This report will note incomplete and, or defective work in reference to Australian Standards, The Guide to Standards and Tolerances published by the Victorian Building Authority, or similar in each state or territory. All comprehensive inspections are performed with photographic records of faults to prevent builders claiming repair if repairs are not performed.

Australian standards, building regulations, Guides to Standards & Tolerances are quoted within the report so that the builder has no excuses.

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Follow this link to the VBA Guide to Mandatory Inspections during the construction of a new Building