Lock-up inspection in Strathtulloh

Stage4 of 7

When to bookRoof, windows and brickwork in, plasterboard not yet delivered

Time on site1 to 2 hours on site

Inspected againstAS 3700 (masonry), AS 4773, AS 2047 (windows), NCC Part 3.5 roof and wall cladding, manufacturer flashing details

What is included in a Strathtulloh lock-up (pre-plaster) inspection

Wall wrap and roof sarking coverage, laps and tears
Head, sill and jamb flashings to every window and door
Weep holes clear and correctly spaced
Articulation joints and cavity clearance
Mortar joints, brick ties and bed joint reinforcement
Lintels over openings and their bearing
Roof battens, tile or sheet fixing and ridge details
Valleys, penetrations and box gutter supports
Roof space insulation, sarking and services
Exhaust and rangehood ducting runs
External cladding fixing and clearance to ground
Garage, porch and alfresco set-downs
Site drainage and grading before landscaping
Debris and mortar droppings at the slab edge

Why it matters here

Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections on Strathtulloh builds

Later trades are the risk at this stage. Plumbers and electricians cut through bracing to run their lines, roofers leave cracked tiles, and nobody tapes the sarking they tore. Each of these is a quick fix with the walls open and an expensive one once they are lined.

What we find at this stage in Strathtulloh

Bracing cut through by a later trade
Cracked or slipped roof tiles
Torn sarking and unsealed roof penetrations
Anti-ponding boards missing at the eaves
Door frames out of plumb
Floors out of level beyond tolerance

Torn sarking in several places that needs taping before linings go up, Strathtulloh — Torn sarking in several places that needs taping before linings go up

Wall packers used to straighten studs left without proper fixings, Strathtulloh — Wall packers used to straighten studs left without proper fixings

Truss bearing too far off the stud on a single top plate, Strathtulloh — Truss bearing too far off the stud on a single top plate

Sample findings

Sample defects found during our lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections in Strathtulloh

Annotated findings from Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections.

Structural bracing cut through by a later trade, needing repair and engineer sign off, found during a lock-up inspection in Strathtulloh — Structural bracing cut through by a later trade, needing repair and engineer sign off

Cracked roof tile on a brand new roof that will let water through

Sarking left unsealed around a roof penetration, a direct path for water, found during a lock-up inspection in Strathtulloh — Sarking left unsealed around a roof penetration, a direct path for water

Anti-ponding board missing at the eaves under a sarked tile roof, found during a lock-up inspection in Strathtulloh — Anti-ponding board missing at the eaves under a sarked tile roof

The other stages of a Strathtulloh build

All construction stage inspections in Strathtulloh →

Guides

Construction stage guides for Strathtulloh

9 February 2026 · 4 min read

Planning your stage inspections on an Atherstone build

How to line up slab, frame, lock-up, waterproofing, fixing and PCI inspections on a new Strathtulloh home without missing a window.

23 February 2026 · 4 min read

Holes, laps and pipes: vapour barrier faults on Strathtulloh slabs

The vapour barrier under a slab is invisible for the life of the house. These are the membrane faults we find before Strathtulloh pours.

9 March 2026 · 4 min read

Where the weight goes: frame load path faults in Strathtulloh homes

Trusses on the wrong wall, missing bracing rods and plates hanging off the slab. Why frame stage is about following the load to the ground.

All guides →

FAQ

Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections in Strathtulloh: common questions

What does a lock-up inspection cover?

The roof covering and sarking, window and door installation, framing changes since frame stage, wall packers, bracing, and the readiness of the house for plaster.

Why look at bracing again?

Because it is often damaged after the frame inspection, when services go in. A cut brace needs repair and engineer sign off before it disappears.

Does the inspector get onto the roof at lock-up?

Where it is safe, or we use a drone and ladder views. The report notes how the roof was inspected.

What about insulation?

We check that wall and ceiling batts are installed where they are due at this stage and note gaps.

Do you treat lock-up and pre-plaster as one visit?

Many builders combine the two, and our visit covers both: the closed-in shell and the framing just before lining.

How long is the visit?

Usually around two hours.