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Why you should get a New Construction QA Inspection Report
Building a new house is a big investment which can take up a lot of time and headspace. It can often be a stressful experience at the best of times, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way.
By having Just Inspections complete New Construction Quality Assurance Inspections, you will have professional opinion of an expert building consultant providing feedback on the quality of the build at each stage of the construction process.
Our New Construction QA Inspection Reports include photographs, easy to understand reports and all references to Building Codes, Australian Standards, Tolerances and Guidelines at the key stages of the construction.
The key construction stages we complete inspections for are:
Pre Slab Inspection
Steel Inspection
Frame Inspection
Lockup Inspection
Pre Plaster Inspection
Waterproofing Inspection
Fixing Inspection
Final Inspection
What happens at each stage of construction?
Each stage of our QA Inspection Reports builds on the other, which ensures and defects identified in the previous stage of construction is re-inspected and updated in the next report.
Here is an overview of each key stage of construction and what is inspected.
Pre Slab Inspection
the pre slab inspection is completed prior to the slab being laid. Our team will inspect and report on factors such as formwork, reinforcement, termite treatment, plumbing and moisture barriers which will be embedded in the concrete.
Our aim is to let you know whether or not plumbing and drainage lines are properly laid and protected, and there is no visible debris within the pour area. These factors can all cause or prevent major defects in the future.
Steel Inspection
The steel inspection is then completed prior to the concrete being poured.
Just Inspections will inspect and report on the concrete reinforcement and ensure bars are properly placed based on the dimensions of the concrete slab.
Frame Inspection
By inspecting the frame of the house before any finishes or fittings are installed, we are able to thoroughly examine the overall structure of your new home.
We will inspect each room and check elements such as the trusses, framework, supporting beams as well as any electrical or plumbing fixtures that have been installed at this stage.
Lockup Inspection
The lockup inspection is completed when all external walls are finished, all windows, doors and roof coverings are complete, the flooring has been laid and the building is secured.
The lockup inspection and fixing inspection are not considered ‘mandatory inspections’. However, we feel these are both critical stages in any new construction project.
By completing inspections at these stages, we are able to re-check the frame of the house and ensure nothing has been damaged or comprimised before it is covered up with plaster or walls.
Pre Plaster Inspection
The Pre Plaster Inspection is a crucial stage in the construction phase as a lot of trades do their “rough in works” such as running pipes and cables, prior to plastering going on. It’s for this reason that we check to ensure all workmanship are in good manner and as per Australian Standards.
At this stage, we check the notching of walls and structural beams to ensure they have not been drilled or cut into and still within their tolerances, as well as ensure insulation has all been installed as per Australian Standards.
Water Proofing Inspection
The waterproofing inspection can be completed in conjunction with the fixing inspection, or seperately. There are a large range of property disputes and defects that are related to water leaks, making this a critical insepction stage.
Our team will inspect and report on factors including door stops to ensure they’re installed in the right locations, as well as ensuring the location, height and width of the waterproofing application meets Australian Standards.
Fixing Inspection
The fixing inspection is completed when all the interior work such as skirting, cabinetry and architraves are installed, and your house is ready for painting.
At this stage, we are able to ensure all fixings have installed correctly, and the application of water proof membranes in wet areas have been applied correctly before they are covered up with paint and other finishings.
Final Inspection
The final inspection is completed when the builder is essentially ready to handover the keys to your new home.
At this stage, we will inspect all internal and external elements of your home including internal finishings, fittings and fixtures, cieling and wall insulation, external concreting or pavements, and internal and external paintwork.
Benefits of getting a New Construction Quality Assurance Inspections
There area a number of reasons people get QA Inspections with the most common being when a client doesn’t have full confidence in the building process and would like a third party to check the workmanship of the builder and ensure work is carried out according to the relevant Australian Standards.
Other reasons someone may complete New Construction Quality Assurance Inspections, can be to manage or avoid disputes with a builder claiming stage payments for the construction. This can occur when a builder claims they have reached a certain stage of construction such as ‘lock up’, and are requesting payment, but have not actually be at this stage of construction.
New Construction QA Inspections can provide you with the peace of mind, that there is an expert building consultant overseeing the construction of your new home and ensuring all the relevant standards and guidelines are being met.
Some common defects identified in quality assurance inspections for new construction include:
Pre Slab Inspection
- Lack of termite protection
- Materials left out
- Missing beams
- Undersized materials
- Rubbish, materials or waste in the slab area which can impact the structural integrity
Pre Plaster Inspection
- Sisolation – Substandard workmanship
- Wall insulation damage to external walls
- Silicone to plumbing rough in missing
- Modification to any structure including structural beams by tradespeople after frame inspection by building surveyor or building inspector
- Roof tiles not aligned
- Insulation not installed to outer edges
- Steel reinforcement installation – substandard workmanship
Final Inspection
- Articulation Joints are not continuous from footing to top of wall
- External power points were not sealed
- External cracking to parapet moulding
- Surface water drainage insufficient
- Incorrect installation of the stormwater pipes
- The painting of the dwelling has numerous defects
- Substandard workmanship – gutter
- Surface water drainage not operational
Some common standards and guidelines that are referenced IN OUR REPORTS INCLUDE:
- NCC 2019
- Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2015
- AS 2870
- AS 1684
- Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995
- Building Regulations 2018
New Construction QA Inspections Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a home inspection for new construction?
Home inspections for a new construction are not mandatory. However, new home owners typically have New Construction QA Inspections completed to ensure all builders and contractors are building to the relevant codes and regulations.
Most people don’t typically come from a building background, and therefore don’t always know the respective codes and regulations that need to be adhered to, or how to check if they are actually being met.
For this reason, people who are building their dream homes, hire a home inspector who will complete ‘stage inspections’ and provide clear reports that either give the home owner peace of mind, or highlight things that need to be rectified.
What inspections are required when building a house?
The mandatory inspections that are completed by a building surveyor when building a house are:
- Pre Slab Inspection
- Steel Inspection
- Frame Inspection
- Final Inspection
Whilst these inspections cover each stage of the construction, the critical inspections between the Frame Inspection and Final Inspection that are often overlooked are:
- Lockup Inspection
- Pre Plaster Inspection
- Waterproofing Inspection
- Fixing Inspection
These inspections allow building inspectors to check the core structure of the frame and house before it’s covered up by plaster and fixings.
At Just Inspections, we have a team of qualified and experienced inspectors who are able to complete all these stage inspections for your new home.
What does a building inspector do when inspecting a new construction?
When completing an inspection for a new construction, a building inspector will typically review the building plans to ensure all relevant building codes are met.
They will then complete stage inspections at each stage of the construction to check elements such as the foundations, framing and fixings.
Each stage inspection builds on the previous one, where areas of concern identified in a previous stage inspection is reviewed to ensure problems have been rectified.
Melbourne's Best Property Inspectors!
Just Inspections have been providing quality property inspection services across the Melbourne and Geelong area for over 30 years.
Here's what our clients have to say.
We couldn't have been more impressed with your service! From the first phone contact - you knew what we needed to do.
The inspector came very quickly, was very throrough, professional, happy to explain everything he checked and was a nice bloke!
The report came through promptly which allows us to proceed with the sale of our property, and the price was reasonable!
Again thank you! We would recommend your service to anyone in a similar situation to ourselves.
Graeme
Property Inspection
Malvern,Victoria
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Our Office
273 Waverly Road
Malvern East
VIC 3145