Stage inspections follow the construction sequence. Each stage targets the work that becomes inaccessible at the next stage.

Stage 1 — Base / Slab

Inspected after the slab is poured and before frames go up. Sometimes split into a pre-pour and post-pour inspection.

What we check: – Slab dimensions match the plans – Set-down for wet areas, garage, alfresco – Edge beams, internal beams, piers (if waffle pod or M/H slab) – Reinforcement (pre-pour) — bar size, spacing, chairs, laps, top mesh – Vapour barrier and termite management system – Penetration locations — plumbing rough-ins, electrical conduits – Slab finish — flatness, cracking, curing – Site drainage and finished floor level vs surrounding ground

The slab is the foundation of everything that follows. Errors here propagate through the build.

Stage 2 — Frame

Inspected after framing and roof trusses are complete, before any wall lining or roof cladding goes on. This is the most important early-stage inspection — every structural element is visible, and every defect is fixable in hours rather than days.

What we check: – Wall frame plumbness, straightness, height – Stud spacing, top and bottom plates, lintels – Roof truss installation, bracing, tie-downs to AS1684 – Wet area floor blocking, noggins for fixings – Window and door openings — size, square, head heights – Sub-floor (if elevated) — bearers, joists, anti-rot, ant capping – Wall and roof bracing — type, location, fixings – Tie-down hold-downs at slab and at top plate – Compliance of any engineer-specified beams or posts

Frame stage defects are the most common and the most consequential. Missing tie-downs, undersize lintels, and wrong-spec brackets show up in the majority of new-home inspections we run.

Stage 3 — Lockup / Pre-Plaster

Inspected after the roof is on, the windows and external doors are installed, and the building is weather-tight, but before plaster goes up. The home is still open inside — every wall cavity, every junction is visible.

What we check: – Roof installation — flashings, valleys, ridge, sarking, eaves – Window and door installation — flashings, head and sill, weather seals – Wall wraps and cavity flashings – Plumbing rough-in — waste falls, pipe sizes, lagging, brackets – Electrical rough-in — cable runs, GPO and switch heights, smoke alarm wiring – Insulation — wall and ceiling, R-value, fitting quality – Wet area waterproofing prep — substrate, membrane (if applied at this stage) – Termite collars and protection at penetrations

Lockup is the last chance to see what is going behind plaster. Once linings go up, hidden defects become invisible until they fail.

Stage 4 — Fixing / Pre-Paint

Inspected after plaster, skirtings, architraves, doors, cabinetry, and tiling — but before final paint and final fix electrical/plumbing. Effectively the second-last inspection.

What we check: – Plaster — bowing, cornices, joints, screw pops, finish – Skirtings and architraves — mitres, gaps, fixings – Internal doors — operation, locks, gaps, latching – Tiling — lippage, grout, falls in wet areas, tile cuts, silicone – Cabinetry — alignment, drawer/door operation, gaps – Stairs and balustrades — fixings, gaps, height compliance – Wet area waterproofing (visible indicators) — falls, hobs, junctions

Fixing-stage defects are workmanship issues. They do not threaten the structure, but they degrade the finish and they are what the owner lives with for decades.

Stage 5 — Practical Completion (PCI)

The most important inspection of the build. The Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) is your last opportunity to flag defects before you sign off and take possession. Once you sign the practical completion notice, the builder’s obligation shifts to warranty repair only — and warranty disputes are slow, contentious, and frequently end up at VCAT.

What we check: – Every defect from prior inspections, confirmed rectified – All finishes — paint, tiling, cabinetry, joinery, render – All operation — doors, windows, locks, taps, drains, appliances – All compliance — smoke alarms, balustrade heights, glazing, pool fencing if applicable – All weather-tightness — flashings, seals, drainage, gutters – Site — landscaping if contracted, driveway, paths, finished levels – Documentation — certificates of compliance (electrical, plumbing, energy), warranty information, manuals

The PCI report becomes the defects schedule that the builder rectifies before final payment is released. Lodging it formally — in writing, with photos, dated — is what makes the warranty argument winnable.