Fixing stage check in Wollert

Stage5 of 7

When to bookAfter plaster, doors and cabinetry, before the painter starts

Time on site1 to 2 hours on site

Inspected againstAS 2589 (gypsum linings), AS 3958 (tiling), the VBA Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2015 and your contract selections

What is included in a Wollert fixing inspection

Plasterboard joints, flushing and finish level in natural light
Wall flatness against the 5 mm over 1.8 m tolerance
Cornices, architraves and skirtings
Door fit, hardware, hinges and closing action
Door and window reveals and gaps
Cabinetry level and alignment, doors and drawers
Benchtop joins, edges and splashback junctions
Tiling set-out, lippage and grout where laid
Staircase, balustrade and handrail fixing
Wardrobe and linen shelving installation
Skirting and floor junctions before floor coverings
Items to raise with the site supervisor before paint

Why it matters here

Fixing inspections on Wollert builds

A house on reactive Wollert clay settles into its final shape over its first summer and winter. Joinery fitted with sloppy gaps or hard against a wall has nowhere to go when the frame moves, and that is when doors bind and cornices open. Careful fixing work is what keeps those movements out of sight.

What we find at this stage in Wollert

Wall sheets with visible joins, nail pops or drummy areas along a long run
Skirting and architrave mitres open, or gaps packed with filler and gap seal
Internal doors binding, uneven margins, or handles and latches misaligned
Cabinet doors and drawer fronts out of level with inconsistent shadow lines
Tiles lipping at edges, uneven grout lines and hollow sounding wall tiles
Cornice runs wavy, or the ceiling and wall junction cracked before painting

Step down gap in the garage still to be filled, Wollert — Step down gap in the garage still to be filled

Window head and side infills not finished, Wollert — Window head and side infills not finished

Roof brackets installed but some needing extra fixing to hold properly, Wollert — Roof brackets installed but some needing extra fixing to hold properly

Sample findings

Sample defects found during our fixing inspections in Wollert

Annotated findings from Fixing inspections on Wollert builds. Client addresses withheld.

Sliding door tracks needing a clean to stop the rollers being damaged, found during a fixing inspection in Wollert — Sliding door tracks needing a clean to stop the rollers being damaged

Uneven gap between the door and its frame, needing adjustment, found during a fixing inspection in Wollert — Uneven gap between the door and its frame, needing adjustment

Skirting nail heads still to be filled and sanded before painting, found during a fixing inspection in Wollert — Skirting nail heads still to be filled and sanded before painting

Infills missing to the sides and heads of windows and doors, found during a fixing inspection in Wollert — Infills missing to the sides and heads of windows and doors

External cladding not finished, found during a fixing inspection in Wollert — External cladding not finished

The other stages of a Wollert build

All construction stage inspections in Wollert →

Guides

Construction stage guides for Wollert

6 March 2026 · 7 min read

When to book each stage inspection on a Wollert build

How to time the pre-slab, frame, lock-up, waterproofing and fixing inspections on a new Wollert home so faults are found while work is open.

21 March 2026 · 7 min read

Reactive clay and slab design on Wollert building sites

Wollert sits on Newer Volcanics basalt with heavy reactive clay above it. What that means for slab design and your pre-slab check.

4 April 2026 · 6 min read

If your Wollert builder refuses an independent inspector

What to do in Victoria when a builder blocks your private stage inspector, including contract access, written notice and the BPC dispute pathway.

All guides →

FAQ

Fixing inspections in Wollert: common questions

Why inspect before painting?

Paint hides the joinery. Once two coats are on, an open mitre or a poorly set plaster joint is far harder to prove and far messier to repair, because the repair then needs repainting as well.

How are tiling and joinery judged?

Against the Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2015 in Victoria, together with the contract and your selections. That guide sets measurable limits for lipping, gaps, level and finish rather than leaving it to opinion.

Do you open cabinets and doors?

Yes, by hand. We swing doors, open drawers and check margins and catches by operating them. We do not test appliances, cooktops or any electrical or gas fitting at any point.

Is fixing stage the same as handover?

No. Fixing comes before painting and before the final trades. Handover is the practical completion inspection at the end, and most owners book both because they catch very different things.

What if my cabinetry has not arrived?

We can still inspect what is installed, and we will list what was not present on the day. If a large part of the fixing work is outstanding it is usually better to move the booking by a week.

Will the builder fix items found at this stage?

Most items at fixing stage are straightforward for the trades still on site, which is exactly why the timing works. Anything not resolved carries forward into your practical completion list.