We will spend an hour or so reviewing your plans to look at liveability aspects of the design that the builder’s sales consultant may not have thought about. Remember, he’s there to make sure the sale goes through – we are there to be on your side. Are the bench heights OK? do the house block levels make sense? is it oriented on the block the right way? Do the dimensions of the plan add up? Can the neighbours see into your private areas? All this and more…..

We will work through our unique checklist to make sure that the slab, earthworks, retaining walls and fences are ready for the next stage of the works. Are the services correctly sized? Are the footings deep enough? Is the level on the block correct? We check the slab, as laid, thoroughly to give you peace-of-mind.

Brickwork not only has to look good, but performs a critical structural function. Our inspector will work through our specially designed checklist to make sure that costly mistakes are not covered up by the building process. The experience of our inspector also tells him if something additional to our checklist, particular to this house, is amiss. Our thorough inspection keeps an eye on the technical details and the aesthetics. Brick ties, insulation, lintels, frame ties, weepholes – all are critical to your house meeting appropriate Standards.

Our Roof-On inspection is designed to inspect the roof frame, roof cover and roof plumbing in one visit, saving you time and money. It will normally coincide with a major claim by the builder, so we recommend this inspection as one of the most important to do. It is also the one that will guard against structural issues being found when you come to sell by a pre-purchase building inspector working for the buyer. If you don’t want leaks or roof sags and you want roof stability in high winds, this inspection is a must.

The waterproofing and lock-up stage inspection is important to set the tone for what is expected of the builder for the Practical Completion Inspection. As well as checking on waterproofing and screeds, windows, doors, services rough-in, and external render we will be looking at your ceiling and wall plastering, cabinets and tiling if installed. This inspection complements the previous inspections and is you last chance before the completion to issue instructions to the builder if previously found items have gone unrectified.

Ideally, we would attend site to inspect the slab preparation before it is poured. As well as checking the structural requirements against the structural plan, we would be checking the position of services, cast-in lighting, drainage points and air-conditioning penetrations. There are other aspects that the form worker or steel-worker may not be thinking about – stair setout, shelf angles, cover to exposed concrete to mention a few. You would not believe how many times these details go unchecked and rectification is sometimes impossible. We would ask that your builder allow a full day between trades finishing and concrete arriving so that these details can be checked.

It is just as important to look at upper floor brickwork detailing, sometimes more so, when aspects such as flashings, weepholes, reverse brick veneer or other claddings and insulation are so important. Why chance trying to check these items yourself, when our services are so cost-effective?

Your Builder will ask you to attend what is called first PCI, to check all aspects of the house to compile a list of defects to all facets of the house. This normally takes 2-4 hours, depending on the size of the house, the ability of the builder and who is attending. Our inspection goes room by room, elevation by elevation and roof interior and exterior to note all items requiring attention. We will check the front elevation against the plans to make sure that the front of the house looks like what was intended (you would not believe how many times this proves not to the case).

Yes, we can pick up the trail of most defects even if the house is totally finished. Once we have looked at your plans, our trained staff will be able to advise the best sequence of inspections, even if the house is finished. Send us your details and we will be back to you as promptly as we can.

ABBC Building Inspectors prides itself on looking after our customers – we work for you and can help you no matter what the budget. Sometimes just one inspection can change the psychology of the supervisor to expect all stages to be inspected. Give our office a call and have a confidential chat about tailoring an inspection plan just for you. Maybe we are looking at another house in the same street and can offset the travel component in getting to the job.
If you are a developer building multiple residences at once on one site we can also tailor a programme of inspections to meet your budget – reduced travel expenses is just the start of the savings.

Your needs as the customer come first with ABBC – if you only want one brick inspected, we would arrange for this to be done economically, thoroughly and quickly! It may be appropriate to arrange for an Investigation Inspection to direct our inspection to just your problem. Of course, for a lot of customers, what you are worried about may not be what we are worried about! A comprehensive inspection of the entire stage may not be much more expensive.

All of our inspections and reports are written without favour to anyone, they are written the same for Owner, Builder and subcontractor. Our inspector will assess any building work against the approved plans, National Construction Code, relevant Australian Standards, manufacturer’s instructions and the WA Guide to Standards and Tolerances. There may also be industry body standards to be taken into account. Your inspector is paid to know more than any Builder.

If you send us your details, we would be happy to send you a copy of a sample inspection and a copy of our useful guide on how to select a building inspector. Tap our ‘contact me’ button now and place in the comments that you want a copy of our sample report.