What a plate height inspection checks

Plate height is the stage when the brick walls reach the height where the roof will sit. Your builder will usually claim a progress payment at this point. Soon after, the roof frame goes on, then the ceilings, and the inside of the walls is never seen again.

The cavity and wall ties

A double-brick wall is two skins of brick with a gap between them. The gap stops water crossing from the outside skin to the inside. Wall ties hold the two skins together. At plate height we check that:

• wall ties are in place, at the right spacing and set into the mortar properly;
• the cavity is clear of mortar droppings, which can bridge the gap and carry damp across;
• the cavity width is consistent.

Lintels and openings

Steel lintels carry the bricks above windows and doors. We check that each lintel sits far enough onto the brickwork at each end, and that windows and doors are in the right places, plumb and square, and match the plans.

Flashings and weep holes

Flashings direct any water that gets into the cavity back out through weep holes at the base of the wall. Missing or damaged flashings are a common cause of damp inside the home later on.

Room sizes and wet areas

We measure rooms and openings against the approved plans. Wet areas are checked for size and square so the shower, bath and vanity will fit as designed.

Tie-downs for the roof

In Perth's wind conditions the roof must be tied down to the walls. At plate height the tie-down straps or rods should already be built into the brickwork, ready for the roof frame.

When to book

Book as soon as your builder tells you the walls are complete, and before the roof frame starts. If you are paying a progress claim at this stage, have the inspection done first.