BASE STAGE INSPECTIONS OR SLAB STAGE INSPECTIONS
The Base Stage Inspection is one of the most important inspections when a new home is being built.
As outlined in Section 40 of the Domestic Building Contracts and Tribunal Act 1995:
‘Base stage’ means –
- In the case of a home with a timber floor, the stage when the concrete footings for the floor are poured and the base brickwork is built to floor level;
- In the case of a home with a timber floor with no base brickwork, the stage when the stumps, piers or columns are completed;
- In the case of a home with a suspended concrete slab floor, the stage when the concrete footings are poured.
- In the case of a home with a concrete floor, the stage when the floor is completed.
- In the case of a home for which the exterior walls and roof are constructed before the floor is constructed, the stage when the concrete footings are poured.
We ensure that the base stage (concrete slab or suspended floor on stumps or brick piers) has been fully and properly constructed – compliant with the relevant building plans and specifications.
Finalinspect uses a comprehensive inspection checklist that has been progressively refined and updated over many years. At completion of the base stage, Finalinspect closely inspects and checks a wide range of items including but not limited to the following:
Piers / Stumps and Columns (suspended floors)
- The size of the concrete pad footings are compliant with the relevant engineer’s drawings and specifications.
- All piers, stumps and columns are thoroughly checked to ensure they are correctly located, straight, plumb, level and the correct height – compliant with the relevant engineer’s drawings and specifications.
- All holes are well compacted and adequately backfilled.
- All base brickwork is properly backfilled.
- The sub floor area is clear of rubbish and rubble.
- The finished ground level in the sub-floor area is not below the external ground levels around the perimeter of the base brickwork.
Finished concrete slab checks
- A laser measuring tool and laser level is used to accurately check that the finished slab is level across all sections of the slab, straight and square.
- The size of the finished slab is measured to check it accords with the relevant floor plan.
- The location of all service pipes are checked to ensure they are located compliant with the relevant floor plan.
- The finished concrete slab is thoroughly checked for any damage, cracks or exposed steel reinforcement etc.
The importance of base stage / slab stage inspections
The structural integrity of a new home is only as good as the base or concrete slab upon which it has been constructed. The base stage inspection or the slab stage inspection is therefore one of the most important inspections during the construction of a new home.
It is therefore very important to book an independent building inspector as soon as your builder advises that the base stage has been completed. We strongly recommend that you do not handover the base stage payment to your builder until after we have inspected the completed base stage and advised you to do so in the report we prepare for you.
If you would like to talk to us about Base Stage Inspections or Slab Stage Inspections or would like to arrange a completely independent Base Stage Inspection or Slab Inspection, call us now on 0408 132 152.