The vapour barrier and steel cover under a new slab
A Maddingley pre-pour inspection found the vapour barrier stopping short of edge beams and steel without enough cover. Why it matters on cold, wet ground.
Wet area membranes sit under the tiles and are only visible for a day or so. We look at coverage, upturns and junctions while the membrane is bare and cured, before the first tile is laid.
One of our inspectors will call you back. If it is urgent, call 1300 471 805.
Bathrooms in a cold climate stay damp for longer between uses, and moisture that gets past a membrane has little warmth to dry it out. In a Ballarat home a small gap at a hob or a door threshold can mean wet framing and mould inside the wall for years before anyone sees it.
Annotated findings from Waterproofing inspections.
1Bored piersAfter drilling and cage placement, while every hole is still open2Slab pre-pourSteel, pods and pipes done, formwork braced, pour not yet started
3FrameWalls standing and trusses braced, before wrap or sarking closes it in
4Lock-up (pre-plaster)Roof, windows and cladding up, plasterboard not yet delivered
5FixingLinings, doors, trims and cabinets fitted, painter yet to start
7Pre-handover (PCI)Builder has notified completion and the final claim is pendingA Maddingley pre-pour inspection found the vapour barrier stopping short of edge beams and steel without enough cover. Why it matters on cold, wet ground.
Bottom plates hanging off the slab, trusses without tie-down grips and roof load sitting on a non-loadbearing wall, from a Maddingley frame inspection.
Lock-up is the last look inside the walls. A Maddingley inspection found insulation not yet in, wall wrap missing and bracing cut. Why that matters in a cold climate home.
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Membrane coverage on floors and walls, upturns, junctions, water stops at doorways, and the bath and shower set-downs, all checked visually against AS 3740 and the NCC.
Tiles and grout are not waterproof. Water reaches the membrane every time the shower runs, so any break in it lets water into the framing below.
An angle set into the floor at a wet area doorway so water cannot run out under the door into the next room or the frame.
No. We inspect the membrane visually. A flood test is a separate procedure that the builder or waterproofer can arrange.
Yes. Many owners book it as a separate visit because the gap between membrane and tiling is so short. Request a quote online for the timing you need.
The waterproofer, before tiling starts. Repairs at this point are quick; once tiles are on, the floor or wall has to come up.