New Construction Building Inspection - Framing Stage Inspection by Build Assure Consultants.
New Construction - Stage Inspections
Be Assured your home is being constructed well
Build Assure is highly specialised in the area of Residential New Construction Inspections. Our building inspections will determine if your New Construction is being completed to meet the National Construction Code (NCC) and NSW Standards and Tolerances, as well as the building contract’s construction documents. Our inspections ensure that the quality of workmanship, the materials used, and the detail of building methods and finishes are within an acceptable standard. Our New Construction Building Inspections are conducted throughout the build, usually structured around Staged Progress Claims, as well as the final Practical Completion Inspection (PCI). The client is responsible for determining that the building works at each stage have been completed, as per approved plans, for progress payments to be released to the builder. As most clients are not building experts, they can be placed in the vulnerable position of not always knowing what to be looking for. This is where we can help you get it right.
Based on experience, we highly recommend staged inspections as it allows us to identify or foreseeable issues in the future that if rectified early, then costly defects, delays and disputes can be avoided at the end of the project. We are the independent third-party building expert to help you navigate this process. Using Build Assure will provide you with peace of mind and the best outcome for your build. Often known that you have a Build Assure as your private building inspector monitoring their construction will serve as motivation to ensure they build well and get it right. Building a home is likely to be the biggest investment a client will ever make, so it makes sense to invest in assuring that your dream home doesn’t become a nightmare.
BUT ISN’T A BUILDING CERTIFIER ENOUGH TO ENSURE BUILDING QUALITY?
If you are building a new home, you might think that everything will be perfect and up to code. However, this is not always the case. Mistakes can happen and defects can go unnoticed. That's why a building inspection is vital for your under-construction home. Many homebuilding clients are recognising the value of having the expertise and knowledge of an independent building consultant in conjunction with the required certifier. This is because not all stages require compliance inspections from a certifier. For example, certifiers are only required to inspect the waterproofing of internal wet areas, not external areas such as balconies. From experience, insufficiently waterproofed balconies or incorrectly installed flashing details are the cause of much defective work. These defects often cause water ingress that can bring damage throughout the home as water tracks through the internal cavities. It is also important to understand that certifiers are not builders and often lack the practical construction knowledge of the whole picture to be able to advise and discuss building details that may cause potential issues. This is why so many homes passed by certifiers are still presenting with costly defects that are challenging to rectify after-the-fact.
While stages can vary, particularly with renovations and extensions, below are some common construction progress stages to consider obtaining the support of Build Assure Consultancy.
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A Pre-Concrete Slab Inspection is a critical stage in the construction process that ensures the correct installation of reinforced steel and formwork prior to concrete being poured. We will also examine whether plumbing and drainage is correctly roughed-in and termite protection have been sufficiently installed. These inspections are recommended for structural footings and concrete slabs.
Issues with incorrectly installed reinforced steel and formwork will have ramifications further down the track, which can be costly to rectify later.
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A Framing Inspection is a critical stage in the construction process that ensures the structural integrity of the building and examines that building methods meet the NCC and NSW Standards and Tolerances. It is conducted after the framing of the building has been completed and before the installation of insulation, internal linings and external finishes. Our framing inspection checks for any defects, deficiencies, or other matters relating to non-compliance. It also includes inspecting window and door installation for correct flashing details prior to any cladding, brickwork or internal linings. Our framing inspections look at structural aspects for wall, floor and roof framing from structural steel columns, to beams and lintels, to timber or steel framing, to window and door openings. We will inspect to ensure the construction is compliant and as per plan. We will also inspect that framing is straight and plumb, which will impact the quality of the installation of internal linings to follow. Issues with incorrectly installed framing will have ramifications further down the track, which can be costly to rectify later.
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A Lock-up Inspection is a critical stage in the construction that refers to the point in time that a home is effectively able to be ‘locked up’ – the external wall cladding or brickwork has been installed and roof coverings fixed, the flooring is laid, and the external doors and windows are fixed to the frame (even if those doors and windows are only temporary). Our Lock-up inspection examines for compliance for the installation of external wall cladding/brickwork, roof coverings, fascia boards, bargeboards, gutters and downpipes, flashing details and tiling pointing, etc. We inspect to ensure that brickwork is correctly placed on the concrete slab without overhanging beyond accepted tolerance. It checks for damage to materials or cracks that may compromise building integrity and lead to further issues.
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Waterproofing Inspections are considered a critical stage in the construction process that ensures the waterproofing membrane is sufficiently installed to meet the NCC and NSW Standards and Tolerances. Issues with insufficient waterproofing can lead to wet areas leaking and potentially causing damage, not only to the immediate area but also to structural and internal finishes throughout the home. While certifiers focus their attention on internal wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries, often balconies and external waterproofed areas are overlooked. These are often the source of water ingress defects due to insufficient waterproofing details and building methods.
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While a Tiling Inspection is not a critical stage in the construction process, we recommend tiling to be inspected prior to bathroom fit-off of toilets, basins, vanities, tapware, floor wastes, etc. Issues with insufficient fall and required step-downs, or poor tile installation can lead to costly defects such as water ingress and flooding, which may cause damage to flooring, Bathroomware, if left to a Practical Completion Inspection to identify. Build Assure inspects that works are compliant to the NCC and NSW Standards and Tolerances.
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This critical final inspection for your building project requires knowledge, expertise, and a keen eye for detail to identify defects. New Constructions (Renovations and New Builds) require a walk-through Practical Completion Inspection with the builder/site supervisor and the client to inspect the completion of the builder’s work. The aim of this contractual requirement is for the client to inspect all components of the building works to identify and note any non-compliant, defective, omitted or incomplete work, which requires rectifying prior to ‘practical completion’. It is a vital inspection to seek the support of Build Assure Consultancy.
Read more about this vital inspection by visiting the page about our Practical Completion Defects Inspection.
