New Build Slab Inspection
The foundation sets the standard for everything above it, make sure it's right before the frame goes up.
- 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 slab inspection
Included
- Pre-pour, post-pour, witness pour, or stump/slab, book the type that matches your build stage
- Slab dimensions and level check
- Reinforcement, set-out, and formwork checks (pre-pour and witness)
- Surface finish and curing assessment (post-pour)
- Drainage and fall verification
- Hold-down bolt and starter bar check
- Written report with photographic evidence
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 slab 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 before or after the pour
Pre-pour and witness pour must be booked before the concrete pour date. Post-pour is booked after the concrete has cured, before frame construction begins.
- 2
Inspector attends at the right stage
For pre-pour, the inspector verifies steel, vapour barrier, and set-out. For witness, the inspector is on site during the pour. For post-pour, the inspector assesses the finished slab against approved plans.
- 3
Same-day report delivered
A detailed report with photos and any findings is emailed the same day, subject to access and availability.
- 4
Proceed to next stage with confidence
Any items requiring attention are documented clearly. Your builder can address them before the frame goes up.
See exactly what you get before you book
Our new build slab 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 slab 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 slab inspection
The slab inspection is the first stage inspection in a new build and arguably the most important. Once the frame goes up, slab defects become exponentially more expensive to rectify. Our inspectors verify the slab against your approved construction plans, checking dimensions, levels, surface finish, drainage falls, and the placement of hold-down bolts and starter bars.
Slab defects are more common than most new build buyers realise. Surface cracking from inadequate curing, incorrect drainage falls that will cause future water pooling, and misplaced hold-down bolts that compromise frame connections are all issues our inspectors regularly identify at this stage.
During a witness pour, the inspector verifies that the concrete is poured efficiently, that initial levelling is correct, that the surface is smoothed correctly, that no large aggregate is near the surface, that edges are rounded, that non-slip surface ridges are formed, and that the slab is dampened to cure slowly. These checks confirm the pour complies with AS 2870-2011 and the Building Code of Australia while the concrete is still workable.
A slab inspection typically takes around one hour on site. The report is delivered same-day with annotated photographs showing exactly where deviations from plan or construction standards have been identified, giving you clear documentation to discuss with your builder before the next stage begins.
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About new build slab inspection
What types of slab inspection are available?
There are four: pre-pour (steel reinforcement, set-out, formwork, plumbing penetrations checked before concrete is poured), post-pour (slab assessed after the concrete has been poured and cured), witness pour (inspector attends on the day of the pour), and stump/slab (for builds over piers/stumps). Each looks at different parts of the slab works, so the inspection that's right for you depends on where your build is up to and which assurances you want.
When should I book?
It depends on the inspection type. Pre-pour and witness pour need to be booked before the concrete pour, let us know the date of the pour so we can attend a day or two beforehand (pre-pour) or on the day (witness). Post-pour is booked after the concrete has been poured and cured, but before frame construction begins. Stump/slab is booked once the slab/stump system is complete and ready for the next stage.
What defects do you typically find at slab stage?
Common slab issues include surface cracking, incorrect falls for drainage, misplaced hold-down bolts, reinforcement set-out variations, and dimensional variations from the approved plans. Catching these early prevents compounding problems as construction progresses.
Should I get a pre-pour slab inspection?
Yes — once the concrete is poured there is no way to find or correct defects in the foundation or footing. The pre-pour stage checks the trenches, sewer drains, steel reinforcement, concrete cover, and termite and vapour barriers while everything the slab forms on is still visible.
How do you inspect slab footings?
Before the pour, while the steel, trenches, sewer drains and everything the slab forms on are clearly visible. We also offer a witness pour to confirm the concrete is placed in accordance with the Building Code of Australia.
Does the builder need to be present?
The builder doesn't need to be present during the inspection. We measure against your approved plans and report any deviations. You can then raise concerns with your builder using our documented findings.
What is a Stump/Post Inspection and when is it needed?
A Stump/Post Inspection applies to homes built over piers or stumps rather than a conventional concrete slab. The inspector confirms that stump installation matches design specifications, that structural elements are plumb and properly aligned, that underground services are correctly positioned, and that measurements match the approved plans. Book this inspection once the stump or post system is complete and ready for the next stage.