Here's How to Time Your Enclosed Stage Inspection (and When Your Waterproofing Inspection Could Be Included)
Learn the best time to book your enclosed stage inspection, when a waterproofing inspection may be included, and why you should always confirm your builder has genuinely reached enclosed stage before paying the progress claim.
4/25/20263 min read
The Best Time to Book an Enclosed Stage Inspection (And When Your Waterproofing Inspection Might Be Included)
Have you been sent your builder's enclosed stage invoice?
If so, your first priority isn't trying to combine inspections or save money—it's making sure your home has actually reached the enclosed stage under your building contract.
In this week's video, I explain why the timing of your enclosed stage inspection matters, and how, in some cases, your waterproofing inspection may also be completed during the same visit.
▶ Watch the reel below before reading on.
Has Your Builder Claimed the Enclosed Stage?
This is where many homeowners get caught out.
If your builder has issued the enclosed stage payment claim, that payment is often one of the largest progress claims during construction.
Before paying the invoice, you should first confirm the home has genuinely reached the enclosed stage.
If the home has not reached enclosed stage, don't worry about the waterproofing inspection.
Book your enclosed stage inspection immediately.
Our role is to independently document whether the home has actually achieved the enclosed stage at the time the builder requested payment.
That report can provide important evidence if the stage has been claimed prematurely.
When Can a Waterproofing Inspection Be Included?
Once you've confirmed the builder has legitimately reached the enclosed stage, the next question becomes:
Has the waterproofing already been completed?
If the answer is yes, there may be an opportunity to inspect both stages during the same site visit.
This doesn't happen on every build, but when the construction schedule lines up, it can save you the cost and inconvenience of arranging a separate waterproofing inspection.
The important thing is that the enclosed stage comes first.
The waterproofing inspection is simply an opportunity when the timing naturally works.
Don't Delay Your Enclosed Stage Inspection
One thing I want to make very clear:
This is not advice to delay your enclosed stage inspection.
If you've received an enclosed stage invoice and the home hasn't reached that stage, arrange your enclosed stage inspection as soon as possible.
Waiting several weeks in the hope that waterproofing will be completed could leave you paying a significant progress claim before the home has legally reached that stage under your building contract.
Always protect yourself first.
If the waterproofing happens to be ready when we attend, that's an added bonus—not the objective.
How to Give Yourself the Best Chance
Once you've confirmed your builder has genuinely reached enclosed stage, simply ask your site supervisor one question before booking:
"Will the waterproofing be complete when my enclosed stage inspection is carried out?"
Sometimes the answer is yes.
Sometimes it's only a day or two away.
Sometimes it won't be completed until much later.
That single conversation can help determine whether both inspections can be completed during the same visit.
Why Timing Matters
A waterproofing inspection must be completed before tiling.
Once tiles have been installed, the waterproofing membrane is no longer visible and cannot be inspected without removing finishes.
If the waterproofing is already complete when your enclosed stage inspection is scheduled, inspecting both stages together can be an efficient outcome for everyone.
Book Your Enclosed Stage Inspection With Confidence
At BSPI Inspections, our priority is always making sure you're paying the correct stage at the correct time.
If the builder has claimed the enclosed stage, we'll assess whether the home has genuinely achieved that milestone.
If the waterproofing is also ready when we attend, we'll inspect that at the same visit where possible.
It's about protecting your investment—not creating unnecessary inspections.
Need an Enclosed Stage Inspection?
If you've received your enclosed stage invoice or want independent advice on the best time to book your enclosed stage or waterproofing inspection, get in touch with BSPI Inspections.
We'll help ensure the timing is right and, where the construction schedule allows, maximise the value of your inspection.
If there’s a specific stage you’d like to learn more about, click the link below to explore that section on our blog.
