Pre-Slab Inspection Melbourne
Get Your Slab Right Before the Concrete Goes In
The slab is the one part of your new home you can’t fix later. Once the concrete is poured, any problem with reinforcement, vapour barrier, termite protection or plumbing penetrations is locked in underneath your house for good.
A BuildInspect Melbourne pre-slab inspection is carried out after the formwork, steel and services are in place and before the pour is booked. Our independent inspector checks the work against your engineering drawings, the National Construction Code and AS 2870 (residential slabs and footings), then gives you a clear photo report so your builder can fix any issues while it’s still quick and cheap to do so.
What Our Pre-Slab Inspection Covers
A detailed check of everything that will be buried under the concrete.
- What We Check
Inspected against your engineering plans, the NCC and AS 2870.
- Site preparation, excavation and ground conditions
- Formwork set-out, levels and dimensions against plans
- Steel reinforcement size, spacing, laps and ties
- Bar chairs and concrete cover to reinforcement
- Edge beams, internal beams and set-downs for wet areas
- Vapour barrier coverage, laps, taping and penetrations
- Termite management system installation (AS 3660.1)
- Sewer and stormwater pipe penetrations and lagging
- Slab-edge insulation where specified
- Any debris, water or loose fill in the excavation
- When to Book
Timing is everything with a pre-slab inspection.
- Once formwork, reinforcement and under-slab plumbing are complete
- Before your builder books the concrete pour
- Ideally 1–2 business days before the pour so defects can be fixed
- Ask your site supervisor for the planned pour date as early as possible
- Common Pre-Slab Defects We Find
Issues that are simple to fix now and very costly later.
- Missing or displaced bar chairs leaving inadequate concrete cover
- Torn, poorly lapped or untaped vapour barrier
- Incorrect reinforcement laps or missing trimmer bars
- Termite collars missing or damaged at pipe penetrations
- Beam depths or widths not matching the engineering design
- Rubbish and loose soil left in beam trenches
- Your Inspection Report
Clear, easy to read and delivered fast.
- Detailed report with photos of every issue found
- Each defect referenced to the relevant standard or plan
- Plain-English explanation of what needs fixing
- Report usually delivered within 4 hours of the inspection
- Easy to forward straight to your builder
- Free lifetime phone support to talk through the findings
- Pricing
Clear, fixed pricing. All prices include GST.
- Single storey home: from $330 per stage
- Double storey home: from $350 per stage
- 5-stage package (pre-slab to handover): from $2,000 single storey / $2,200 double storey
- Free lifetime phone support with every inspection
- Other Stage Inspections
Book individual stages or save with our 5-stage package.
Why a Pre-Slab Inspection Matters
Concrete hides everything. This is your only chance to check it.
Slab defects are among the most expensive to repair after handover.
Your building surveyor checks minimum compliance. We work for you.
Catches defects before you pay the base stage progress claim.
Confirms termite protection is installed before it becomes inaccessible.
Gives you a documented photo record of what’s under your home.
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We Cover All of Melbourne
All Melbourne, Covered
We cover the entire metropolitan Melbourne area.
Key suburbs we service in this area:
- Inner Melbourne
- Inner North
- Inner East
- Eastern Melbourne
- South East Melbourne
- Bayside Melbourne
- Western Melbourne
- Caroline Springs Region
- Northern Melbourne
- Outer Northern Growth Corridor
Pre-Slab Inspection FAQs
When should a pre-slab inspection be done?
After the formwork, steel reinforcement, vapour barrier and under-slab plumbing are complete, and before the concrete is poured. We recommend booking it 1–2 business days before the pour so your builder has time to fix anything we find.
Doesn't my building surveyor already inspect the slab?
Your building surveyor carries out a mandatory inspection to check minimum compliance, but they work within the building permit process and can’t spend long on site. An independent inspection is carried out for you, the owner, and checks workmanship against your plans in more detail.
What happens if you find defects?
You receive a photo report listing each item and the relevant standard or drawing reference. You pass it to your builder to fix before the pour. If needed, we can come back for a re-inspection.
What standards do you inspect against?
Your engineering and architectural drawings, the National Construction Code, AS 2870 for residential slabs and footings, and AS 3660.1 for termite management, along with the VBA Guide to Standards and Tolerances.
Is BuildInspect Melbourne insured?
Yes, it holds both professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance.
How much does a pre-slab inspection cost?
Pre-slab inspections start from $330 for a single storey home and $350 for a double storey home, including GST. It is also included in our 5-stage package from $2,000.
What qualifications do your inspectors have?
All of our building inspectors are Registered Building Practitioners, licensed carpenters, building surveyors and qualified timber pest inspectors in Victoria, with over 30 years experience in residential and commercial construction. They are trained in Tramex moisture detection and thermal imaging equipment.
Book an Inspection
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At BuildInspect Melbourne, we pride ourselves on delivering honest advice, detailed reporting, and reliable service you can trust.
Contact us today to arrange your pre-purchase building and pest inspection and ensure you know exactly what you’re buying before you commit.