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New Home Inspections

Whether you are building your dream home on the coast or considering an investment property in Melbourne's CBD, it is highly recommended to have all stages of the construction inspected by an independent qualified professional.

New home inspections comprise of 4 separate inspections conducted throughout the major stages of construction. By covering all of these major stages, We ensure that nothing goes unnoticed, and is built to standards, assuring you peace of mind and a quality built home.

Through all stages of your building inspection, you will receive a written report complete with photographs, informing you of the observations from our building inspector.

New Home Building Inspections

Building a new home or even an investment property represents a significant investment and it’s a good idea to get every stage of the home construction inspected by experienced and qualified experts in new home inspections. We at Above Board Building Inspections Melbourne, provide excellence in new home inspections. We have been operating in this space for over 30 years and are highly skilled and knowledgeable in this job.

When building a new home, many people opt for a new home construction inspection for their off the plan properties, as they want to be assured that they are buying a property that is structurally sound and free of pest infestations. Our home inspections comprise of 4 separated inspections and are typically conducted right through all the major construction stages.

The Inspection Stages

When all these major stages are covered, it ensures that no faults or potential problems go unnoticed. This also helps ensure that every stage of the build process is built to the standards, and the result is a safe and stable home structure. We provide you with detailed inspection reports at the end of every stage- this includes photographs and a written report that details all of our building inspectors observations. The 4 different stages of New Home Inspections Melbourne are:

1. SLAB INSPECTION (PRIOR TO POURING CONCRETE)

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, vapor 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

This is an important stage in new home inspection, as alarming errors in floor-slabs can cause a disastrous outcome, which sometimes may not come to light until a few years later, having this inspection carried out prior to the pouring of concrete is strongly recommended and will give you great peace of mind.

2. FRAME INSPECTION (AT FRAME COMPETITION STAGE)

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 codes, 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.

3. LOCKUP INSPECTION (PRIOR TO PLASTER)

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 pipework and cabling, and after the carpenters have finished straightening the walls, hanging the external doors and fitting the shower bases and baths.

This stage of our new home building inspections picks up the alterations and modifications that have been made to the structure of new homes by builders 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.

Some of the items reviewed during this inspection are:

  • The frames of the wall for their compliance with the relevant Building Codes with their plumb and straightness and the correct installation of the bracing
  • The window frames for correct installation
  • The guttering, fascia and eaves for their level, straightness, and correct installation
  • The roofline and tile installation
  • All shower bases are checked for correct installation in accordance with their manufacture's guidelines
  • All baths are checked for proper support
  • Ducting for WC exhaust fans having been properly installed
  • Timber door sills are properly flashed

If the brickwork has been installed at this stage it is also checked for:

  • Level, plumb, straightness and to make sure that it is in alignment.
  • The proper placement of articulation joints, flashings and weep holes.
  • The correct clearances between the windows and the brick sills.
  • The correct bearing of the brick walls onto the concrete slab.
  • The cavities are checked to ensure no build-up of excessive mortar.
  • A simple strength test is carried out on the mortar, further testing may be recommended.
  • If installed, the installation is also checked for its correct fitting along with any other 6-star energy compliance requirements.

4. HANDOVER INSPECTION (AT COMPLETION STAGE, PRIOR TO HANDOVER BY BUILDER)

The final inspection for your new home construction inspection during the construction process is known as the handover inspection. Under the Domestic Building Contract Act, before builders can demand any completion payment, the builder must ensure that all work has been completed by them and all contracted work has also been completed in accordance with all relevant standards. The handover inspection is very important as any minor defects or omissions will be documented in our handover inspection reports.

The builder and all relevant contractors are required to make sure any defects or omissions which have been discovered in our final report are amended prior to handover.

The practical/handover stage is reached when the construction work is completed and 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 paintwork, appliances and white goods, pergola's, fences, external concrete or pavements, rainwater tank, finishing of retaining walls, landscaping, site drainage, letterbox, 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.

Talk to us About Organising Your New Home Building Inspection Today

0429 335 404

aboveboardbuildinginspections@gmail.com

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