We always recommend pre slab inspection for two reasons:
Firstly to make sure that preparations are complete and nothing of significance has been missed and secondly to put builder on notice that you have building expert looking after your investment.
This is what we found on a recent inspection:
This is what I said in my report:
“On the way to this inspection concrete contractor rung me saying preparations were not complete and that he was short of reinforcing but that would be rectified next morning just before slab pour. He also said that building inspector performing mandatory slab inspection had been but would come back in the morning to check again.
On arrival I found slab preparations substantially incomplete and rushed:
- Incomplete formwork
- Incomplete row of formwork against ground
- Areas of missing reinforcing mesh
- Locations of inadequate mesh lap
- Incomplete steelwork tying
- Incomplete lagging to pipes
- Inaccurately placed pods with narrowing of rib beams
- Incomplete fixing of formwork set downs
- General lack of workmanship and attention to detail
- Set out string lines have been removed and now there is no chance of monitoring formwork for unintended movement.
- Statutory slab inspection had not passed
Expert Opinion:
Slab preparations have been unnecessarily rushed and are incomplete and at the time of inspection slab had not passed mandatory inspection from the building surveyor.
It is not sufficient just to pass mandatory inspection. Slab preparations must exhibit completeness, attention to detail and workmanship that would be expected from a builder skilled in his art or there will be a breach of workmanship warranties.
In my opinion the client cannot be comfortable with preparations to date.
It is not clear how builder’s quality control (if any) can allow present situation to develop
Recommendations:
- Concrete pour should be delayed or cancelled until all preparations have been completed with proper exhibition of workmanship.
- Reinspection to ensure completion of detail”
Your investment is far too important to skip pre slab inspection. If foundations of your home are not right how can the rest of your build be?
