Why inspect during construction
Most expensive defects are built in early and then covered up: a membrane under a terrace, the fall of a shower screed, the cable bonding a pool, the fixings behind cladding. At handover they are invisible; during the build they take minutes to check and are cheap to put right. Our guide to buying off-plan covers the contract side; this guide is about the site.
The stages that matter
- Foundations and slab: setting out, reinforcement cover, damp-proofing and service entries before the pour
- Frame and walls: column and beam alignment, block bonding, lintels and frame-to-block junctions
- Roof: structure, fixings, membranes and falls before tiles or finishes go on
- First fix: plumbing, drainage and electrical routes before walls and ceilings are closed
- Waterproofing: wet rooms, terraces, balconies and the pool shell, tested before tiling
- Pre-finish: screed falls, render quality and window installation before final finishes
What a stage visit checks
Each visit is matched to the stage. Before tiling we check membranes are continuous and dressed into outlets and up walls, and that falls run the right way. At first fix we check pipe joints, drainage gradients, cable routes and that the pool bonding is in. On the roof we check fixings, flashings and gutter sizes. Our guide to roof drainage and external walls explain the details we look at.
Reporting while the builder can still act
A stage report is only useful if it arrives in time. We report within 48 hours with photos and clear actions, so the builder can correct an item before the next trade covers it. Each visit builds a record of how the villa was put together — something that is valuable at handover, and later if you sell.
Building from overseas
Many owners commission a villa and only see it at milestones. Stage visits give you independent eyes on site at the moments that matter, and a way to check progress against payment stages. Combined with project management, they keep the build on track without you flying in.
Booking stage inspections
Tell us the build programme and we will suggest which stages to visit. See construction stage inspections for how it works, and finish with a full pre-handover inspection. Building on a hillside? Read our page on Kamala and Surin or Rawai and Nai Harn.