Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspection in Tarneit

Stage4 of 7

When to bookAfter brickwork, windows and roof are on, before plasterboard

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 Tarneit 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 Tarneit builds

Water entry at windows and garages is the most common warranty claim we investigate on Tarneit homes under five years old, and almost every one traces back to a flashing or wrap detail that was visible at lock-up. Rendered upper floors on double-storey Tarneit homes also need their control joints and cladding fixings checked before render.

What we find at this stage in Tarneit

Window head flashings missing or reversed
Wall wrap torn or not lapped over the sill flashing
Weep holes blocked with mortar, mortar joints unfilled
Brick ties missing or corroded, articulation joints bridged
Insulation and sarking gaps in the roof space, exhaust fans not ducted

Roof tiles not seated correctly, leaving a leak path in heavy rain, Tarneit — Roof tiles not seated correctly, leaving a leak path in heavy rain

Electrical cable touching a water pipe with none of the required clearance, Tarneit — Electrical cable touching a water pipe with none of the required clearance

Debris left in the gutters that will wash into the downpipes, Tarneit — Debris left in the gutters that will wash into the downpipes

Plan notes requiring temporary downpipes through construction, Tarneit — Plan notes requiring temporary downpipes through construction

Sample findings

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

Annotated findings from Lock-up (pre-plaster) inspections on Tarneit builds. Client addresses withheld.

Dented metal roofing, where lost coating leads to early rusting, found during a lock-up inspection in Tarneit — Dented metal roofing, where lost coating leads to early rusting

Termite protection breached, leaving a way past the barrier, found during a lock-up inspection in Tarneit — Termite protection breached, leaving a way past the barrier

Wall bracing cut through, weakening the frame against sideways movement, found during a lock-up inspection in Tarneit — Wall bracing cut through, weakening the frame against sideways movement

Mortar smears left across the face of the brickwork, found during a lock-up inspection in Tarneit — Mortar smears left across the face of the brickwork

Broken tile underlaps that let rain through in a storm, found during a lock-up inspection in Tarneit — Broken tile underlaps that let rain through in a storm

The other stages of a Tarneit build

All construction stage inspections in Tarneit →

Guides

Construction stage guides for Tarneit

5 August 2026 · 5 min read

When to book each stage inspection on a Tarneit build

Slab, frame, lock-up, fixing and PCI: the right moment to inspect each stage and what is lost if you miss it.

28 August 2026 · 5 min read

Frame inspection in Tarneit: what we check before the wrap goes on

Straightness, bracing, tie-downs, lintels and openings. The frame stage is the last time the structure is fully visible.

22 August 2026 · 5 min read

Lock-up and waterproofing inspections in Tarneit: before the plaster and tiles hide it

Flashings, wall wrap, brick ties and mortar joints at lock-up. Membranes, upturns and falls before tiling. Two checks that prevent most water problems.

All guides →

FAQ

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

Is lock-up the same as pre-plaster?

Yes. Some builders call it pre-plaster because the key point is that plasterboard has not gone on yet.

Do you go into the roof space at lock-up?

Yes, where there is safe access. Roof space services, insulation, sarking and truss fixings are part of the inspection.

Can the builder fix lock-up items before plaster?

Almost always. Flashings, wrap and mortar are quick to correct at this point and expensive once lined.

Is lock-up the same as pre-plaster?

Yes. The key point is that plasterboard has not gone on, so flashings, wrap and brick ties are still visible.

Do you check the roof from above at lock-up?

Where safe access or a drone allows. Roof battens, tile fixing, ridge and valley details are all part of the inspection.

Can lock-up items be fixed before plaster?

Almost always, and cheaply. That is the point of inspecting at this stage.