Waterproofing inspection in Craigieburn

Stage6 of 7

When to bookAfter the membrane is applied and before any tile is laid

Time on siteAbout 1 hour on site

Inspected againstAS 3740 (waterproofing of domestic wet areas), AS 3958 (tiling), NCC Volume Two Part 10.2

What is included in a Craigieburn waterproofing inspection

Membrane coverage across the floor and up the walls
Wall upturn heights at the shower and against hobs
Hob, threshold and step-down details
Bond breakers at wall and floor junctions
Floor waste flange bedded and sealed to the membrane
Falls to the floor waste and shower screed
Penetrations for taps, wastes and shower rails sealed
Membrane cure, damage and coverage before tiling
Primer and substrate preparation where visible
Set-down depth against the finished floor level
Junctions to baths, screens and vanities
Laundry, powder room and ensuite treated to the same standard

Why it matters here

Waterproofing inspections on Craigieburn builds

Wet area rectification is the most expensive defect category in a new home, because fixing it after tiling means dismantling the room. What we have recorded in Craigieburn is membrane work left simply incomplete in an ensuite, which is the version of this failure that is easiest to catch and cheapest to correct, provided somebody looks before the tiler starts.

What we find at this stage in Craigieburn

Membrane application incomplete in a wet area
Coverage stopping short of the required height
Bandages not embedded into the membrane coats
Water stop angles missing or wrongly set
Penetrations and outlet lugs not sealed

Mouldy sealant on an older wet area, Craigieburn — Mouldy sealant on an older wet area

Sample findings

Sample defects found during our waterproofing inspections in Craigieburn

Annotated findings from Waterproofing inspections on Craigieburn builds. Client addresses withheld.

Incomplete waterproofing to an ensuite, recorded during a fixing stage inspection in Craigieburn — Ensuite waterproofing incomplete

Further incomplete waterproofing, recorded during a fixing stage inspection in Craigieburn — A second incomplete area in the same wet area

Incomplete waterproofing recorded during a fixing stage inspection in Craigieburn — Membrane still unfinished at inspection

Sealant recommended, recorded during a building and pest inspection in Craigieburn — Sealant recommended at a wet area junction

The other stages of a Craigieburn build

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Guides

Construction stage guides for Craigieburn

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FAQ

Waterproofing inspections in Craigieburn: common questions

Which standard applies?

AS 3740 for waterproofing of domestic wet areas, read with the National Construction Code and the ABCB Housing Provisions, alongside your contract and the Guide to Standards and Tolerances.

Do you flood test?

No. Flood testing is intrusive and belongs to the waterproofer as part of their own process. We inspect visually and by hand, which is what identifies incomplete and badly detailed work.

How long is the window?

Often only a few days between the waterproofer finishing and the tiler starting. Book as soon as the waterproofer is scheduled rather than once the work is done.

What does a failure look like later?

Usually a damp skirting or a stain on the wall of the adjoining room, a year or two after you move in. By then the remedy is removing tiles and screed and starting again.

Can this be combined with the fixing inspection?

It frequently is, and on most Craigieburn builds the two run as a single visit. Where the tiler is close behind, we would rather attend separately and early.

Whose responsibility is the fix?

The builder's, as a coordination matter between the waterproofer and the tiler. The report gives them the location and the clause, which is usually enough for it to be redone before tiling.