6 quality moments in your build — from slab to warranty
Every checkpoint your builder won't tell you about. Independent QBCC-licensed inspections at each stage. Same-week SEQ availability.
Get the free QBCC defect checklist
The stage-by-stage list of what to check before each build milestone — emailed straight to you.
One build, six chances to get it right
A new home is assembled by dozens of trades over months, and most defects are only visible for a short window before the next stage covers them up. Inspecting at each stage means issues are caught while they're still cheap and simple to fix — not after handover when they're hidden behind concrete, plasterboard and tiles.
Slab
Weeks 2–6
What we check
- Reinforcement (reo) placement, cover and chair heights
- Set-out, dimensions and edge-beam depth against the plans
- Vapour barrier, penetrations and termite management system
- Formwork and site levels before the concrete pour
What gets caught
Insufficient reo cover on a slab edge — invisible once concrete is poured, and a direct path to future cracking under AS 2870 and AS 3600.
Frame
Weeks 6–12
What we check
- Tie-downs, hold-down bolts and truss connections
- Wall and roof bracing quantity and fixing per AS 1684
- Timber sizing, straightness and stud spacing
- Openings, lintels and structural set-out against the engineering
What gets caught
Missing bracing straps and under-nailed tie-downs — cheapest to fix while the frame is open, impossible to see once the plasterboard goes on.
Pre-Plaster + Waterproofing
Weeks 10–16
What we check
- Shower and wet-area membrane coverage and upturn heights
- Floor wastes, hobs and junctions per AS 3740
- Electrical rough-in, plumbing and insulation before lining
- Frame penetrations and services clash before sheeting
What gets caught
A shower membrane upturn short of the AS 3740 minimum height — caught before tiling, it's a same-day touch-up; caught later, it's a full wet-area strip-out.
Enclosed (Lock-Up)
Weeks 14–20
What we check
- Insulation batts installed to full coverage with no gaps
- Electrical and plumbing rough-in before linings close up
- External cladding, windows, flashings and weatherproofing
- Roof, gutters and sarking once the home is watertight
What gets caught
Insulation gaps behind linings and rough-in wiring left unclipped — both disappear at sheeting stage and quietly cost you in comfort and compliance.
PCI (Handover)
Handover week
What we check
- Every room, fixture and finish against your contract
- Finish tolerances measured to the QBCC Standards & Tolerances Guide
- Wet areas, external works, drainage and site levels
- Compliance documents — Form 16/21, certificates and warranties
What gets caught
Paint, tiling and joinery outside QBCC tolerance plus missing contract inclusions — documented before you sign, while the builder is still obliged to rectify.
Warranty (11-Month)
Month 11 of 12
What we check
- Settlement and shrinkage cracking that emerges over year one
- Wet-area and roof performance after a full weather cycle
- Doors, windows and joinery that have moved or dropped
- Any earlier defects that have re-appeared or worsened
What gets caught
Settlement cracks at door and window corners that only show up months after handover — recorded before your 12-month statutory warranty window closes.
Adam Gates
Independent Building Inspector
Adam attends every inspection personally — no subcontractors.
What owners say
"Adam was awesome to deal with. I don't know much about building. His ability to explain what was a major and minor defect really put my mind at ease. Would definitely use Adam again"
andy sang
"Adam is extremely professional. He found many defects that the builder didn't notice, and his attention to detail is impressive. Thanks, Adam."
Andy Zhou
"Very good company, 100% recommend. Good communication and great people."
Jed Parker
Book the whole sequence up front
Six checkpoints — slab, frame, pre-plaster & waterproofing, enclosed, PCI and the 11-month warranty inspection — scheduled as your build hits each milestone, so nothing slips past.
From $550 per stage
Book slab inspectionFrequently Asked Questions
When should I book my slab inspection?
Book as soon as your builder confirms the slab set-out and reinforcement are ready but before the concrete pour — usually around weeks 2 to 6. Once concrete is poured, reo placement and cover can't be verified, so the pre-pour window is the only chance to catch those issues. A day or two's notice is ideal so we can lock in same-week across SEQ.
How do I know when my build is at each stage?
Your builder's construction schedule and their SMS or portal updates flag each milestone — slab, frame, lock-up, waterproofing and practical completion. If you're unsure, send us the update and Adam will tell you which inspection fits. Booking the full sequence up front means we track the stages with you so nothing slips past.
Do you work with builders or independently?
Completely independently. VG Inspect is engaged by you, the owner, and reports to you — never the builder. Adam is a former site supervisor, so he knows how builds are put together, but every report is builder-neutral and clause-referenced so it stands on objective standards, not opinion.
Can I book the whole sequence up front?
Yes — that's the ideal way to do it. You can book the full six-stage sequence at once and we schedule each inspection as your build reaches that milestone. Booking ahead means you never miss a checkpoint, and each stage catches issues while they're still cheap and easy to rectify.
What does each stage cost?
Stage inspections (slab, frame, pre-plaster/waterproofing, enclosed and the 11-month warranty inspection) are $550 each, GST inclusive. The Practical Completion Inspection is $660 for new homes under 220m², as it's the most comprehensive. Homes over 220m² are quoted individually — call Adam on 07 3180 8041.
How much notice do you need?
Usually just a day or two. We hold same-week availability across South East Queensland, and stage inspections are time-critical, so the sooner you flag an upcoming milestone the better. If you've booked the sequence up front we already have your build on the radar.
What suburbs do you cover?
All of South East Queensland — Moreton Bay, Brisbane City, Logan, Ipswich and Redland City council areas, and the growth corridors in between. If you're building anywhere in the SEQ region, we cover you.
Do I have to be on-site?
No. Adam attends every inspection personally and you're welcome to join, but you don't need to be there. Your photographic report is emailed to you with every finding recorded against its location and the standard it relates to, so you have the full picture whether or not you attended.
Can I use the reports in a QBCC dispute?
Yes. Every report is clause-referenced against the National Construction Code, the relevant Australian Standards and the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide, with dated photos. That makes it a strong contemporaneous record if a defect ends up in a written request to the builder or a QBCC dispute.
How is this different from the builder's certifier?
Your builder's private certifier issues Form 16 and Form 21 to confirm the work meets the building approval — a regulatory compliance check on their behalf. They're not engaged to assess finish quality, contract-specification omissions or QBCC tolerance items on your behalf. VG Inspect is the independent, buyer-facing inspection that catches those things at each stage, for you.