Whittlesea Building
Inspections

Lock-up inspection in Whittlesea

External walls are wrapped, roof sheeting is on, and windows are fixed before the walls are closed up.

  • After roof cladding and external doors, before plasterboard
  • 1 to 2 hours on site
  • Report within 24 hours
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Fully licensed & accredited

Stage4 of 7
When to bookAfter roof cladding and external doors, before plasterboard
Time on site1 to 2 hours on site
Inspected againstAS 3700 (masonry), AS 4773, AS 2047 (windows), NCC Part 3.5 roof and wall cladding, manufacturer flashing details

What is included in a Whittlesea lock-up (pre-plaster) inspection

  • Wall wrap and roof sarking coverage, laps and tears
  • Head, sill and jamb flashings to every window and door
  • Weep holes clear and correctly spaced
  • Articulation joints and cavity clearance
  • Mortar joints, brick ties and bed joint reinforcement
  • Lintels over openings and their bearing
  • Roof battens, tile or sheet fixing and ridge details
  • Valleys, penetrations and box gutter supports
  • Roof space insulation, sarking and services
  • Exhaust and rangehood ducting runs
  • External cladding fixing and clearance to ground
  • Garage, porch and alfresco set-downs
  • Site drainage and grading before landscaping
  • Debris and mortar droppings at the slab edge
Why it matters here

Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections on Whittlesea builds

The single most important thing we have found at lock-up in Whittlesea is roof sheeting that overlaps the wrong way. This causes water to be pushed back up under the ridge instead of shedding away. It is not obvious from the ground and will be covered by the roof covering, which means only a close inspection catches it. The local climate means every joint must be watertight.

What we find at this stage in Whittlesea

  • Roof sheeting and flashings not watertight
  • Wall wrap and sarking laps incomplete or taped
  • Wall framing still needs fixing from the frame stage
  • Insulation batts not secured or installed in cavities
  • Window and door openings sealed with plastic instead of flashing
Clean inside the joints, recorded during a lock-up inspection in Beveridge
The inspector checked the joints for debris to ensure they are clean and clear, Beveridge
Sample findings

Sample defects found during our lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections in Whittlesea

Annotated findings from Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections.

Improve finish to render, recorded during a lock-up inspection in Beveridge
The inspector noted uneven render and tile junctions, Beveridge
Cap gas pipe, recorded during a lock-up inspection in Beveridge
The gas pipe was capped to stop debris blocking it, Beveridge
Anti ponding board required (when sarking installed), recorded during a lock-up inspection in Beveridge
Anti ponding board is missing and required under the Building Act 1993, Beveridge
Seal pipe penetrations through the external walls, recorded during a lock-up inspection in Beveridge
Pipe penetrations through external walls must be grouted or caulked properly to prevent water entry, Beveridge

The other stages of a Whittlesea build

  1. Bored piers inspection in Whittlesea1Bored piersAfter drilling and cage placement, before concrete
  2. Slab pre-pour inspection in Whittlesea2Slab pre-pourThe day before pouring, before waterproofing
  3. Frame inspection in Whittlesea3FrameAfter wall frame erection and bracing, before lining
  4. Fixing inspection in Whittlesea5FixingAfter joinery and doors installed, before painting
  5. Waterproofing inspection in Whittlesea6WaterproofingAfter membrane application and prior to tiling
  6. Pre-handover (PCI) inspection in Whittlesea7Pre-handover (PCI)Two to three weeks prior to handover

All construction stage inspections in Whittlesea →

Guides

Construction stage guides for Whittlesea

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FAQ

Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections in Whittlesea: common questions

Why does roof sheeting direction matter?

The sheets must overlap to channel water down to the gutter. If the lap is wrong, water runs back up and into the roof cavity, which is a direct path for leaks.

Is wall wrap important?

Yes, it stops wind driven rain and insects. The laps must be fully taped and the corners sealed so the building envelope remains weather tight.

What happens if insulation is loose?

It can drop out of the cavity or be compressed, which reduces thermal performance and creates gaps. It must be stapled or clipped in place and checked for gaps.

Can frame items be missed?

Yes, some trades skip back to finish earlier tasks. We check every item listed at the frame stage again to confirm it is fixed or recorded as outstanding.

How soon after frame do you check lock-up?

Once the roof structure and cladding are on. We do not wait for plasterboard so we can check the external envelope before it is closed up.

Do you look at the services?

We look at the location of pipes and wires but we do not inspect the fittings or connections inside the wall. The focus is on the structural and external components.

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