Fixing stage inspection in Box Hill

Stage5 of 7

When to bookAfter mouldings, doors and joinery, before the painter

Time on site1 to 2 hours on site

Inspected againstAS 2589 (gypsum linings), AS 3958 (tiling), the Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2017 and your contract selections

What is included in a Box Hill fixing inspection

Plasterboard joints, flushing and finish level in natural light
Wall flatness against the 5 mm over 1.8 m tolerance
Cornices, architraves and skirtings
Door fit, hardware, hinges and closing action
Door and window reveals and gaps
Cabinetry level and alignment, doors and drawers
Benchtop joins, edges and splashback junctions
Tiling set-out, lippage and grout where laid
Staircase, balustrade and handrail fixing
Wardrobe and linen shelving installation
Skirting and floor junctions before floor coverings
Items to raise with the site supervisor before paint

Why it matters here

Fixing inspections on Box Hill builds

Fixing stage does two jobs. It checks the carpentry and the external detailing that has just gone on, and it confirms the waterproofing items raised earlier were genuinely rectified before tiling covered them. The external findings here run to weep holes never formed in the brickwork, weep holes sitting below the minimum height above the adjacent ground, window infills incomplete and downpipes left unsecured.

What we find at this stage in Box Hill

No weep hole found in a run of brickwork
Weep holes below the minimum height above ground
Window infills incomplete
Downpipes not installed or not secured
Eaves and fascia not level or loose

Ground floor downpipe not installed, Box Hill — Ground floor downpipe not installed

Sample findings

Sample defects found during our fixing inspections in Box Hill

Annotated findings from Fixing inspections on Box Hill builds. Client addresses withheld.

No weep hole found, recorded during a fixing stage inspection in Box Hill — No weep hole found in the brickwork

Weep hole minimum height from the adjacent ground, recorded during a fixing stage inspection in Box Hill — Weep hole below the minimum height

Infills incomplete, recorded during a fixing stage inspection in Box Hill — Window infills left incomplete

Downpipe not secured, recorded during a fixing stage inspection in Box Hill — Downpipe not secured

The other stages of a Box Hill build

All construction stage inspections in Box Hill →

Guides

Construction stage guides for Box Hill

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FAQ

Fixing inspections in Box Hill: common questions

What does a weep hole do?

It lets water that gets into the cavity drain back out, and it lets the cavity breathe. A brick wall without weep holes holds water against the frame behind it, which is a slow and expensive problem.

Why does the height above ground matter?

A weep hole below the adjacent ground level admits water instead of releasing it, and it bridges the barrier the clearance was there to provide. The standard sets a minimum for both reasons.

Is fixing the same as the waterproofing stage?

They overlap and often run as one visit, but they answer different questions. Waterproofing is about the membrane before tiling; fixing is about the carpentry, the external detail and closing out earlier items.

Why inspect before the painter?

Once paint is on, the gaps, joints and knocks that this stage exists to find disappear. After painting the same defects are still there and much harder to evidence.

How much time does it take?

Around two to three hours on a typical home, and the report lands that day or first thing the next.

Is it worth booking if I already have a handover inspection?

On most builds yes, because fixing stage is the last point at which wet area work can still be corrected cheaply. By handover the tiles are down.