New Construction Building Inspections
Professional building inspection services for new construction across Southeast Queensland. From stage inspections to practical completion, we ensure your new home meets the highest standards.
Building Stage Inspections
Monitor your new construction at every critical stage to ensure quality workmanship and compliance.
What's Included:
- Pre-pour foundation inspection
- Post-pour slab inspection
- Frame and structural inspection
- Pre-plaster/lock-up inspection
- Waterproofing inspection
- Progress monitoring and detailed reporting
Practical Completion Inspections (PCI)
Comprehensive final inspection before you take possession of your new construction home.
What's Included:
- Complete building quality assessment
- Defect identification and documentation
- Building code compliance verification
- Finish quality evaluation
- Incomplete work documentation
- Builder rectification list
Warranty Inspections
Identify defects in your new construction before your builder's warranty period expires.
What's Included:
- Comprehensive defect assessment
- Warranty item identification
- Settlement crack evaluation
- Moisture ingress detection
- Component failure assessment
- Legal documentation support
Dilapidation Reports
Document existing property condition before nearby construction or excavation begins.
What's Included:
- Pre-construction condition assessment
- Structural crack mapping
- Photographic evidence collection
- Baseline condition documentation
- Legal evidence preparation
- Post-work comparison reporting
Thermal Imaging Inspections
Advanced thermal imaging technology to detect construction defects not visible to the naked eye.
What's Included:
- Moisture detection behind walls
- Insulation gap identification
- Electrical fault detection
- HVAC system assessment
- Energy efficiency evaluation
- Hidden construction defect revelation
Why Choose VG Inspect?
Professional, reliable, and thorough - that's our promise
Qualified Professionals
All inspectors are fully qualified and licensed with years of industry experience.
Fast Turnaround
Same-day reports issued on-site before we leave most inspections (some exclusions apply for complex builds and inspections requiring extended desktop review).
Comprehensive Coverage
Detailed inspections covering all accessible areas with photographic documentation.
Licensed & Certified Professionals
Your peace of mind is backed by our professional qualifications
Licensed Inspector
Experienced building inspection specialist
Fully Qualified Professionals
All our inspectors are licensed professionals with years of experience in the building industry
Stage inspections by suburb
Independent, QBCC-licensed checks at each critical stage of your new build across Moreton Bay.
Construction stage inspection FAQs
Common questions about stage inspections on Queensland new-home builds.
What are construction stage inspections?
Construction stage inspections are independent QBCC-licensed inspections carried out during the build of your new home — not after. Each stage inspection happens at a critical hold point where the next trade will cover the previous work: pre-pour before concrete goes down, frame before plasterboard covers the timber, waterproofing before tiles hide the membrane, and so on. Every stage is an opportunity to catch defects while they can still be fixed easily.
Which stages should I book on a Queensland new home?
The typical high-value schedule is Pre-Pour (24-72 hours before concrete pour), Frame (after frame is up, before plasterboard), Waterproofing (after membrane, before tiling), and PCI (1-2 weeks before handover). That covers the four highest-risk moments in a modern build. Lower-priority optional stages are Slab (post-pour, if pre-pour was done), Pre-Plaster (rough-ins complete), and Enclosed / Lock-up (external envelope complete).
How much do construction stage inspections cost?
Stage inspections are $550 per stage including GST. Practical Completion (PCI) is $660 for homes under 220m² (larger homes quoted individually). Every fee includes the same-day standards-referenced report with photographs and Australian Standard / QBCC / NCC clause references. Re-inspection to verify rectification is 50% of the original stage fee ($275 stage, $330 PCI).
What's the difference between a stage inspection and the certifier's inspection?
Queensland uses a private-certifier system. Your builder appoints a certifier who attends key stages and issues Form 16 and Form 21 certificates confirming compliance with the building approval — that's a regulatory check. The certifier is not contracted to identify cosmetic defects, finish quality, contract-specification omissions, or items inside QBCC Standards and Tolerances but outside the building approval. A VG Inspect stage inspection is the independent buyer-facing assessment that picks up those items — and gives you an evidence-based document to hand to your builder.
When should I book each stage?
Pre-Pour: 24-72 hours before the concrete pour (last chance to catch buried defects). Slab: after pour, before frame — usually 3-5 days post-pour. Frame: after the frame is fully up, before plasterboard begins. Pre-Plaster: rough-ins complete, just before plasterboard. Waterproofing: after the membrane is laid, before tiling starts. Enclosed / Lock-up: external envelope complete (windows, roof, brickwork done). PCI: 1-2 weeks before handover, when the home is functionally complete. Your builder gives you stage dates as the build progresses — send them to us and we'll fit the inspection into your window.
Do I need to attend the inspection?
You don't have to — VG Inspect conducts the inspection either way and delivers the same-day photographic report to your email. If you can attend, we walk you through findings on site. If you can't, we schedule a phone or video call at your convenience to explain the report. This is common for interstate buyers or owners who work through builder timing.
What happens if defects are found at a stage inspection?
Every defect goes in the report with a photograph, its exact location, and the AS/NCC/QBCC clause it breaches. You hand the report to your builder's site supervisor — under the Domestic Building Contracts Act and the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide, your builder is responsible for rectification at their cost. Typically defects flagged at a stage inspection are rectified before the next stage proceeds. If you want us to verify the rectification, we re-attend for a re-inspection at 50% of the original stage fee.
My builder said they have internal QA at every stage. Do I still need an independent inspection?
Your builder's internal QA is not independent — it's their own team checking their own work. That's a legitimate first line but it isn't the same as an outside QBCC-licensed inspector assessing the build against Australian Standards. On average VG Inspect finds 5-15 items per stage on volume-builder work — items the builder's internal QA didn't flag. An independent inspection isn't a criticism of your builder; it's the objective record you need if a defect emerges later and rectification is disputed.
What if the builder is already at PCI and I haven't booked any stage inspections?
Not too late. PCI catches finishes, workmanship, drainage, and everything visible at handover. What's lost is verification of everything buried behind plaster, tiles, and concrete — the structural and waterproofing checks you'd get at pre-pour, frame, and waterproofing stages. Book the PCI now to catch what's still catchable. For your next build, book from pre-pour.
How long does each stage inspection take?
Pre-Pour takes 60-90 minutes on site. Slab, Frame, Pre-Plaster, Waterproofing and Enclosed take 45-90 minutes each. PCI takes 2-3 hours for a single-storey home under 220m², longer for double-storey or larger homes. Reports are delivered the same day for all inspections (most inspections; exclusions apply for very large or complex reports).
Ready to Protect Your New Construction?
Don't leave your biggest investment to chance. Ensure your new home is built to standards with professional stage inspections from VG Inspect.