Waiting until pre-handover to have your new home inspected means waiting until it's far too late to fix the issues that matter most. The slab, frame and lock-up stages are where the biggest, most expensive defects either get caught — or get built over and hidden for good.
Once plasterboard goes up, the frame is invisible. Once the concrete cures, the slab reinforcement is invisible. Stage inspections exist because the earliest points in construction are the only time these critical elements can actually be seen and verified against the plans.
Why Stage Inspections Matter
A defect caught at frame stage might cost a builder an afternoon to fix. The same defect discovered after handover can mean opening up walls, ceilings, or floors — at your expense and inconvenience, not the builder's.
Slab Stage
The slab is the foundation everything else sits on, and it's only ever fully visible before the frame goes up. Inspection at this stage checks reinforcement placement, membrane installation, plumbing and drainage penetrations, and overall levelness — all things that are essentially impossible to verify once the frame and flooring are in place.
Frame Stage
Frame stage is arguably the most important inspection in the entire build. This is when the structural skeleton of the home — wall frames, roof trusses, and structural bracing — is checked against the approved plans and engineering specifications, before it disappears behind plasterboard and insulation forever.
Lock-Up Stage
Lock-up stage occurs once the home is weatherproof — external walls, roof, windows and doors are installed. Inspection at this point checks weatherproofing, flashing, window and door installation, and general build quality before internal linings and finishes cover up any issues.
| Stage | What's Checked | Why It Can't Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Slab | Reinforcement, membrane, drainage, level | Concrete is poured over it permanently |
| Frame | Structural framing, bracing, roof trusses | Covered by plasterboard and insulation |
| Lock-Up | Weatherproofing, flashing, doors, windows | Internal linings hide any faults |
| Pre-Handover (PCI) | Finishing, compliance, contract inclusions | Your last check before final payment |
Who Should Order a Stage Inspection
- 1Owner-Builders Working With a Builder
You're relying entirely on the builder's own quality control unless you commission independent checks.
- 2Custom & Knock-Down Rebuild Clients
Higher-value, bespoke builds carry more complex framing and structural detail worth independently verifying.
- 3First-Time New Home Buyers
Without construction experience, it's difficult to know what "normal" looks like at each stage.
- 4Anyone Building on a Tight Budget
Catching defects early is dramatically cheaper than remediation after the fact.
Building a New Home? A Simple Sequence
Independent inspections at each stage give you leverage the whole way through.
Slab Stage
- Verify reinforcement and drainage before the pour is covered forever
Frame Stage
- Confirm structural framing matches approved plans before it's enclosed
Lock-Up Stage
- Check weatherproofing and general quality before internal finishing begins
Pre-Handover (PCI)
- Final documented defect list before you accept the home and release final payment
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need every stage inspected, or just one?
Each stage checks something different and irreversible once covered over. For maximum protection, frame stage and pre-handover are the two most critical if budget only allows for a couple of inspections.
Will my builder object to independent stage inspections?
A reputable builder generally welcomes independent inspections, since they help catch and resolve issues early — before they become disputes at handover.
How much notice does the inspector need for each stage?
Ideally a few days' notice so the inspection can be scheduled before the builder proceeds to the next stage of construction.
What happens if a stage inspection finds a defect?
You receive a documented report to raise with your builder, who addresses it before construction proceeds — far simpler than remediation after the relevant stage is covered over.
Protect Your Build From the Ground Up
Independent slab, frame, lock-up and pre-handover inspections from a DB-U Licensed Builder.
Book a Stage Inspection