New Build Lock-Up Inspection
External shell complete and weatherproof, the right time to verify before internal trades begin.
- Same-day report (subject to access and availability)
- Upfront pricing
- 12 months free advice
On-site ~1hr · Report same day (subject to access and availability)
What's in your new build lock-up inspection
Included
- Roofing installation and flashing check
- External cladding and brickwork inspection
- Window and door installation verification
- Weather sealing and sarking check
- External drainage and site grading
- Written report with annotated photographs
Our inspectors document every accessible element on site with photo evidence and severity ratings.
Real defects our inspectors have flagged
What we find when we walk a property
Every new build lock-up inspection draws on the same indexed defect corpus, patterns our inspectors have catalogued across thousands of properties.
Across Perth and Sydney. Every report indexed.
Per property our inspectors document, photograph and severity-rate.
23,030 defects classified critical: items that affect structure, safety or value.
Source: SURE defect corpus, refreshed monthly
The process
- 1
Book when lock-up stage is reached
Schedule the inspection when roofing, cladding, windows, and external doors are installed and the building is weatherproof.
- 2
Inspector assesses the external envelope
Your SURE inspector examines roofing installation, flashing details, cladding or brickwork quality, window and door installation, sarking, and external drainage.
- 3
Same-day report delivered
A detailed report with annotated photos and any findings is emailed the same day, subject to access and availability.
- 4
Builder addresses items before internal fit-out
External defects identified at lock-up are documented clearly so your builder can rectify them before internal trades begin working around them.
See exactly what you get before you book
Our new build lock-up inspection report includes annotated photos, severity ratings, AS 4349 references and actionable remediation advice. Written in plain language so you can act on it the day you receive it.
- Photo evidence per finding
- Severity rated: critical, moderate, cosmetic
- Australian Standards cross-referenced
- Remediation guidance you can quote
What our new build lock-up inspections commonly find
Our DefectIndex documents inspection findings across Perth and Sydney. Browse the defect categories most relevant to this type of inspection.
About a new build lock-up inspection
The lock-up inspection assesses the building’s external envelope at the point where it becomes weatherproof, roof installed, cladding complete, windows and external doors fitted. This is a critical quality gate because it coincides with a significant progress payment to the builder and the beginning of internal fit-out trades.
Our inspectors examine roofing installation (tile alignment, sheet fixing, ridge capping), flashing details at wall-roof junctions, external cladding or brickwork quality, window and door installation (plumb, square, sealed), sarking installation, and external drainage. We verify that the building is genuinely weatherproof before internal works begin, because water ingress during the internal fit-out stage can cause hidden damage to framing, insulation, and services that becomes a persistent problem.
The lock-up report documents every external deficiency with annotated photographs, giving you clear evidence to raise with your builder before authorising the lock-up progress payment. Items identified at this stage are typically straightforward for the builder to rectify while their external trades are still on site.
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About new build lock-up inspection
What does lock-up stage mean?
Lock-up means the external shell is complete, roof, cladding, windows, and external doors are all installed and the building is weatherproof. It's the stage where the builder typically triggers a progress payment before internal fit-out trades (plumbing, electrical, plastering) begin.
Why inspect at lock-up?
Lock-up is your last opportunity to assess external elements before they're obscured by internal lining, ceiling installation, and landscaping. Roofing, flashing, cladding, and window installation defects caught now are far cheaper to fix than after internal trades have completed their work around them.
Does this inspection check plumbing and electrical rough-in?
Lock-up inspection focuses on the external envelope. Plumbing and electrical rough-in are typically not yet complete at lock-up stage. These are assessed during the practical completion inspection when all services are installed and functional.