Inspection Stages
Final inspection (Presentation/Practical completion inspection)
Many supervisors may rush you through the handover, counting on your excitement and limited experience. Remember, they do this every week, while most homeowners do it only once in a lifetime. That’s why a final inspection is essential.
We recommend scheduling it after you’ve received the builder’s notice of completion and final invoice, ideally at the same time as your new home walkthrough. Beforehand, check with your builder that the notice of final inspection has been issued, as certificates from trades can sometimes delay the certificate of occupancy.
For contract references:
HIA contracts: see Sections 36 & 37
Master Builders contracts: see Section 17
Make sure your home is fully complete according to your building contract before the inspection. This ensures we can give you the most thorough assessment and help you move in with confidence.
Utilising AS3740 the NCC. And all of the other reference material already noted in above previous inspection stages.
External comprehensive inspection including all external cladding and roofing elements.
- Brickwork is checked for level, plumbness, straightness.
- Brick packs have been blended and present with no obvious discoloration.
- Defective bricks from the manufacturer.
- Mortar bed and perps are within the allowed tolerances.
- Perps line up across the brickwork vertically.
- Mortar inspected for discolouring and strength
- The proper cleaning off of mortar residue from face brickwork.
- Chipped bricks and/or holes and imperfections in the mortar finish.
- Correct placement of articulation joints, flashings and weepholes.
- Correct clearances between the windows and their brick sills.
- Correct fall on sill bricks.
- Overhang (bearing) of brick work on slab and lentils.
- Lightweight cladding similar to bricks and also-
- Hebel/ EPS foam cladding inspected for overhang, AJ’s, voids finished coating etc.
- Weatherboards inspected for lapping and horizontal alignment, finished coating etc.
- Fascia, gutters and eaves for their level, straightness and correct installation.
- Colorbond gutters, fascias and flashings for scratches and damage to their pre-finished paintwork.
- Correct installation of roof tiles/Colorbond roofing and flashings.
- Window FC sheet Infills, cover boards and linings are checked for correct installation.
- Aluminium window flashings installed correctly
- Glazing and frames checked for scratches and damages.
Internal comprehensive inspection for compliance of all finished products.
- Flooring installation and conforms to leveling requirements.
- Doors for correct clearances and function.
- Door furniture for its operation.
- Window reveals are checked for bows, sagging or twists that may indicate improper fitting.
- Walls and the skirting boards for their straightness.
- Joinery- kitchen cupboards and vanities for chips, scratches and correct installation.
- Benchtops for chips, scratches and unsightly joints.
- Tiling & grouting for level, straightness and finish.
- Cut-outs around taps for correct sizing.
- Tiles have been cleaned to remove grout and hazing.
- Tile junctions and joints caulked and sealed.
- Baths are checked for proper support.
- Plumbing fixtures and fittings are installed correctly.
- Plaster joints for tool marks, scratches and sanding ridges.
- Ceiling plaster installed correctly with no visible joints.
- Cornice lines are level and straight.
- Bulkheads and openings checked for plumb and level.
- Note* we do not do paint markups, testing of appliances, electrical and plumbing services unless specifically asked for.
- This is something that should be done between the owner and the builder during the final walk-through.
Roof cavity
Insulation, ensuring it reaches all the way to the side wall plates, fits snugly between the ceiling framing members and each other, is installed at the correct depth, and does not touch the underside of roof tiles or sheets.
Heating platform, verifying correct installation and size, along with proper installation of the walkway and light fitting are within reach of the manhole.
Roof sarking (if applicable): Checking that it is fitted correctly, including ensuring any penetrations are properly taped/sealed, lapped and drained into gutters.
Exhaust vents, confirming they are correctly vented to the atmosphere.
