How Air Leaks Show Up in New Homes (And What Inspectors Look For)
How air leaks show up in new homes and what inspectors look for. Learn where draughts occur, why they happen and what to check before handover.
Building Insights & Inspection Advice
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Unsealed Architraves Around External Doors and Windows: Why It Matters in New Homes
Unsealed architraves around external doors and windows can affect finish quality, comfort and energy efficiency in new homes
Laundry Cabinet Defects in New Homes: What’s Normal and What’s Not
Laundry Cabinet Defects in New Homes: What’s Normal and What’s Not explained clearly. Learn how to spot water damage, poor alignment, and PCI issues before handover.
Bathroom Vanity and Cabinet Defects in New Homes: What’s Normal and What’s Not
Bathroom vanity defects in new homes explained clearly. Learn what’s normal, what’s not, and what should be fixed before handover.
All inspection articles
- Are Rainheads Installed Incorrectly? Common Roof Drainage Defects Found in Melbourne New Builds
- Are Your Articulation Joints Bridged? A Common Brickwork & Render Defect in Melbourne New Builds
- Bathroom Vanity and Cabinet Defects in New Homes: What’s Normal and What’s Not
- Brick Cleaning Defects: Mortar Smears, Debris and Paint Marks on New Brickwork
- Brickwork Cracking in New Builds - Settlement, Articulation or Structural Movement?
- Building Stage Inspections in Clyde North, Victoria
- Building vs Pest Inspections - What’s the Difference and Why Smart Buyers Do Both
- Buying a House Without a Building Inspection — The Risks Buyers Often Regret
- Can a Building Inspection Identify Termite Damage?
- Can a Building Inspection Kill a Property Purchase?
- Can a Building Inspection Reveal Hidden Renovation Work?
- Common Defects Found at Slab Stage in Melbourne
- Common frame stage defects in Melbourne explained for homeowners
- Concrete Cracks: Structural vs Non‑Structural – When Should Homeowners Worry?
- Concrete Slab Defect: Honeycombing — What Homeowners Should Know
- Construction Stage Inspections in Melbourne — What They Are And Why They Matter
- Cracked Brickwork Defects When Buying a House — Cosmetic or Structural?
- Cracks in New Homes — What Is Normal and When Should Homeowners Be Concerned?
- DIY Repairs Found During a Pre-Purchase Inspection — When to Worry (and When Not To)
- Do Builders Check Stormwater Drainage Before Handover? (Slope, Breaks and Blockages Explained)
- Doors Not Aligned in New Homes — Is This Within Tolerance?
- Doors That Don't Close Properly in New Homes
- Downpipe Rollovers and Stormwater Connection Defects - What Homeowners Should Know
- Drummy Tiles in New Homes — Are They a Defect?
- Fix Stage Inspection in Melbourne — What Inspectors Check Before Handover
- Frame Defects: Out-of-Level Studs and Poor Workmanship — What Inspectors Look For
- Gaps Around Door Frames in New Homes — Are They a Defect?
- Gaps Around Lights and Electrical Fittings? What It Means in a New Build
- Gaps Around Window Frames In New Homes – What Melbourne Building Inspectors Look For
- Hairline Cracks in Walls — Are They Normal in a New Home?
- Hebel Boundary Walls Not Properly Sealed? What It Means and When to Raise It
- Holes in Brick Mortar — Are Brickwork Voids a Problem in New Homes?
- How a New Home Is Built in Australia — From Slab to Handover
- How Air Leaks Show Up in New Homes (And What Inspectors Look For)
- How Aluminium Window Frames Should Be Installed and Protected During Construction
- How Brick Veneer Wall Ties Are Installed in Melbourne New Homes
- How Concrete Slabs Should Be Placed and Compacted During Construction
- How Long Does a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection Take?
- How Long Should Window Protection Stay On During Construction?
- How Much Does A Building Inspection Cost in Melbourne?
- How Much Does a Dilapidation Inspection Cost?
- Is It Normal to Find Issues During a New Home Inspection?
- Is Your Shower Waterproofing High Enough? The Hidden 150mm Defect Most New Homes Miss
- Kitchen Cabinet Defects in New Homes: What’s Normal and What’s Not
- Laminate Floorboards Squeaking or Creaking in New Homes — Is It a Defect?
- Laundry Cabinet Defects in New Homes: What’s Normal and What’s Not
- Lock Up Stage Defects in New Homes: What Inspectors Commonly Find Before Internal Works Begin
- Loose or Hollow Tiles in New Homes — What They Mean During a Building Inspection
- Major Structural Cracks Found During a Pre-Purchase Inspection — Should You Walk Away?
- Missing Silicone Behind Baths and Basins: A Hidden Waterproofing Risk in New Homes
- New Build Inspections Melbourne
- New Build Stage Inspection FAQ’s for homeowners in Mickleham
- New Build Stage Inspections in Aintree, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Armstrong Creek, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Beaconsfield, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Berwick, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Beveridge, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Bonnie Brook: What Actually Happens at Each Stage and What to Watch Before It’s Covered
- New Build Stage Inspections in Caroline Springs, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Charlemont, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Clyde, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Cobblebank, Victoria — How the Process Typically Runs
- New Build Stage Inspections in Cranbourne East, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Deanside, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Donnybrook, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Fraser Rise, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Geelong, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Grovedale VIC
- New Build Stage Inspections in Hoppers Crossing, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Kalkallo, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Lara, VIC
- New Build Stage Inspections in Mambourin, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Manor Lakes, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Melbourne — A Complete Guide to Every Inspection Stage
- New Build Stage Inspections in Mount Atkinson VIC: What to Check Before Each Stage Is Covered Up
- New Build Stage Inspections in Officer, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Pakenham, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Plumpton VIC
- New Build Stage Inspections in Point Cook, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Strathtulloh VIC: What Actually Gets Checked (and Why It Matters Before It’s Too Late)
- New Build Stage Inspections in Sunbury VIC
- New Build Stage Inspections in Tarneit, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Truganina, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Weir Views VIC — What Most Homeowners Miss Until It’s Too Late
- New Build Stage Inspections in Werribee, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Williams Landing, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Wollert, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Woodstock VIC
- New Build Stage Inspections in Wyndham Vale, Victoria
- New Build Stage Inspections in Rockbank VIC: What Gets Checked and Why Timing Matters
- New Build Stage Inspections in Thornhill Park, VIC: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know Before It’s Too Late
- Paint Defects in New Homes: What Should Be Fixed Before Handover in Melbourne?
- Paint Defects in New Homes — What Should Be Fixed Before Handover
- Poor Silicone Sealant in New Homes — A Small Detail That Can Cause Big Problems
- Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) Defects in New Homes — What Inspectors Commonly Find Before Handover
- Pre-Plaster Inspection in Melbourne — What’s Checked Before Plasterboard Goes On
- Pre Purchase Building Inspections in Balwyn, Victoria
- Pre Purchase Building Inspections in Camberwell, Victoria
- Pre Purchase Building Inspections in Doncaster, Victoria
- Pre Purchase Building Inspections in Hawthorn, Victoria
- Pre Purchase Building Inspections in Kew, Victoria
- Pre Purchase Building Inspections in Surrey Hills, Victoria
- Pre-Purchase Building Inspections in Melbourne — A Complete Guide for Home Buyers
- 15 Red Flags to Watch for When Buying a House in Melbourne (Building Inspector Guide)
- Roof Flashing and Fascia Defects at Lock-Up — What Inspectors Look For (and Why It Matters)
- Scratches or Damage to Aluminium Window Frames, What Homeowners Should Know
- Shower Screen Leaks in New Homes — Why Water Escapes the Shower Area
- Slab Edge Alignment Issues in New Homes: What Inspectors Look For Before the Concrete Pour
- Structural Movement in Older Brick Homes — When Should a Buyer Be Concerned?
- Tile Grout Cracking in Bathrooms — Cosmetic Issue or Waterproofing Problem?
- Tile Lipping in New Homes — When Tiles Sit Uneven
- Top 5 Frame Defects Identified in 2026 – Insights from ClearScope Building Inspections
- Underfloor Moisture Found During a Pre-Purchase Inspection — How Serious Is It?
- Understanding Roof Gutter Defects In Melbourne: Fall and Why Slope Matters for Drainage Performance
- Uneven Floors in New Homes — What Is Within Tolerance?
- Uneven Shower Floor in New Homes — Is This a Defect?
- Unsealed Architraves Around External Doors and Windows: Why It Matters in New Homes
- Unsealed Melamine Shelf Cut Outs: A Small Detail That Can Lead to Bigger Issues in New Homes
- Vapour Barrier Problems Under Concrete Slabs in New Homes - What Inspectors Look For
- Water Damaged Melamine Panels in New Homes: Why Replacement Is Usually the Only Proper Fix
- Water Pooling in Shower — Is the Floor Fall Incorrect?
- Water Stains on Ceilings in New Homes — What They Mean During a Stage Inspection
- Shower Waterproofing Mistake That Can Ruin Adjacent Rooms: Missing Water Stops Near Doorways
- Waterproofing Defect: Water stops sitting below or above the finished floor level in wet areas
- Waterproofing defects
- Waterproofing Defects: Membrane Damages and Pinholes — What Homeowners Should Know
- Waterproofing Failures in New Builds — What Inspectors Look For Before Tiling
- Waterproofing in New Homes — A Complete Guide for Homeowners
- What Are My Options If My Builder Does Not Agree to Fix Inspection Items?
- What Defects Can and Cannot Be Seen After Plaster is Installed
- What Does a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection Actually Check?
- What Does ‘Practical Completion’ Actually Mean in a New Home Build?
- What Does “Within Tolerance” Actually Mean in a New Home Inspection?
- What Happens After Frame Stage and Before Lock-Up?
- What Happens at Lock-Up Stage in a New Home Build?
- What Happens If You Disagree With Your Builder’s Defect Response?
- What Problems Do Building Inspectors Most Often Find in Existing Homes?
- When Is the Right Time to Book Each Stage Inspection for a New Build?
- When Should Waterproofing Be Inspected During a Build?
- Why Are There Unpainted Areas Behind Doors or Cupboards in My New Home?
- Why Doors Rattle at Handover in New Homes and What It Means
- Why Independent Inspections Are Carried Out at Multiple Stages of a New Build
- Why Your New Home Door Frame Looks Crooked (And When It’s Actually a Defect)
- Why Your New Home Walls or Skirting Look Uneven and When It May Be a Defect
- Window Flashing Defects in New Homes — Why Water Gets Behind Brickwork