Dreamhouses.co.za : Building inspection check list

Please note: Dreamhouses.co.za published this guide for your comfort only and will not be held liable for any losses incurred with the use of this document. This document is designed to be used as a checklist on site while the building process is in progress to point out any items that the contractor has overlooked or items which is of poor built quality or not built to standard building codes.

• Is the site cleared sufficiently to commence setting out
• Are foundation set out in accordance with plan dimensions
• Are foundations excavated to correct widths, length and are bottom of trenches level
• Was any excavation excavated too deep, if so, was it brought to the correct level with concrete
• Are foundation re-measurement drawings required
• Is shoring done to satisfaction
• Is the excavations safe guarded against flooding
• Is material for back filling acceptable
• Is protection against termites necessary
• Was backfill material approved

• Are concrete pegs in trenches to correct height
• Was samples of sand and stone for concrete approved
• Was the cement type approved
• Was a slump test performed using approved material
• Were test cubes made
• Is shuttering adequately supported
• Has steel been assembled and bound together correctly
• Was steel approved by an engineer and certificate issued
• All required sleeve pipes, conduits etc. laid in correct
• Is steel spacing from inner face of shuttering correct
• Is steel clean and free from grease
• Is shuttering clean and ready to receive concrete
• Did stripping of the formwork comply to set down stripping
• Was concrete cured correctly without ant cracks
• Damp proof membrane under surface bed
• Compacted hardcore filling under floors

• Is building sand clean and free of clay
• Are bricks for foundations hard burnt bricks
• Was facebrick samples approved
• Were samples of bricks for foundations submitted
• Is cement mortar of correct mix (proportionally 6:1)
• Does the setting out of brick wall conform to plan
• Are all joints in foundation brick work grouted solid
• Is brick force built in at correct intervals (every 3^rd /4^th course)
• Damp proof course at floor height
• Damp proof courses at window sills
• Have cavity walls been bricked solid at top of walls
• Is weep holes provided at bottom of cavity walls
• Have roof ties been built into brick wall (at least 4 courses)
• Has firewalls been constructed to conform to SABS codes
• Is under-surface bed damp proof membrane of correct type
• Flashings pointed properly and thoroughly waterproofed

• Only treated roof timber to be used, if not, what preservative has been used
• Have wall plates been treated
• Have wall plates been strapped and adequately anchored to walls
• Are pre-fabricated roof trusses used
• Was the engineers certificate issued
• Has roof bracing been carried out correctly
• Are purlin and brandering spacings correct
• Are valleys in roofs constructed correctly
• Is timber near flues and fireplaces at least 100mm away from flue
• Are purlins secured to rafters with galvanized wire
• Are ceiling boards fixed to brandering in correct manner
• Is ceiling insulated
• Is a trapdoor for roof access provided
• Do doors comply to door schedule specifications
• Do windows comply to window schedule specifications
• Has PVC sheeting been laid over gap under ridge and hip tiles
• Are roof tiles securely fixed to brandering at eaves

• Has surfaces to receive waterproofing been prepared satisfactory
• Has the correct waterproofing been applied to flat roofs
• Has it been performed to the manufacturers specification
• Have corners been filleted correctly
• Are expansion joints formed to detail
• Is a maintenance coat of bituminous paint required on sheeting

• Are steel windows manufactured according to the window schedule
• Are all window fasteners and stays fitted
• Do windows close easily and not hinged bound
• Has all welding of joints on steel work been performed neatly

• Was plastering sand checked and approved
• Does plaster conform to the specified mix
• Is the thickness and finish to the plaster satisfactory
• Is granolithic of specified mix
• Have steps been finished neatly
• Have metal dividing strips been provided at different floor finishes
• Are wall and floor tiles of a first grade
• Are horizontal and vertical joints perfectly plumb and level
• Has top edge of tiling been filled and finished off neatly
• What skirting finish has been provided

• Have excavations been carried out to correct depth and falls
• Has pipes been laid to straight lines
• Does barrel of pipes rest on solid ground
• Are their drains passing underneath building encased in concrete
• Are vertical bends encased in concrete from bottom to top
• Have drains been tested and approved
• Have cleaning eyes and inspection eyes been installed
• Are gullies at least 70mm above paving level
• Have approved vents been installed correctly
• What type if septic tank has been installed (where applicable)
• Was the porosity test of the soil adequate for the french drain (where applicable)

• Has gutters been fitted to correct falls
• Are down pipes secured correctly to walls
• Is building adequately protected against lightning
• Is piping adequately fixed to walls with appropriate holderbolts
• Have pans & cisterns been checked and all in order
• Are seats firmly fixed to pans
• Have taps been installed correctly
• Have plugs and chains been fitted to wash hand basin
• Check waste pipes for leaks
• Have geysers been fitted with drip trays
• Check taps & flushmasters
• Check cisterns for operation

• Does glass thickness comply with safety regulations
• Are doors fitted with appropriate safety tape etc.
• Check preparation work to walls before final coats are applied
• Is final coat acceptable
• Has painting been cut-in neatly around doors, frames etc.
• Are floors clean and free of paint spots
• Ceiling
• Have nails heads been primed with undercoat
• Are ceiling boards correctly nailed to brandering (Nails 150mm apart)
• Are cornices firmly fixed in position
• Has all steel work been cleaned and primed
• Are final coats acceptable