Verify the Drainage Before It's Under Concrete Forever
A pre-slab pour CCTV drain inspection is a camera run through the under-slab sewer and stormwater drainage after rough-in, before the concrete goes down. It confirms every line is clear of construction debris, undamaged, properly jointed and flowing to plan — while a fix still costs hundreds, not the tens of thousands it costs to cut concrete after handover. For the price of a short site visit, you pour with certainty and hold dated video evidence of the drainage condition at pour day.
💡 Quick answer: A pre-slab pour CCTV inspection films your under-slab drainage after rough-in and before the concrete goes down — the only affordable moment to catch crushed pipes, bad falls, bellies or construction debris. Once the slab is poured, the same defect costs many times more to fix.
📋 What We Check Before the Pour
| What we check | Why it matters under a slab |
|---|---|
| 📐 Pipe falls | Wrong fall means a lifetime of slow, blocking drains |
| 🕳️ Bellies and dips | Low spots trap waste and become permanent blockage points |
| 🧱 Crushed or damaged sections | Site traffic and compaction damage pipes before the pour |
| 🗑️ Construction debris | Concrete slurry and offcuts in lines are brutal to remove later |
Jack attends every inspection personally — 20+ years on the tools, 5.0★ from 85+ Google reviews, and reports formatted consistently for your job files.
Reviewed and updated July 2026.
Why Builders Book a Pre-Pour Drain Inspection
- Catch damage while it's cheap: a pipe crushed by a bobcat, a dropped joint or a bellied line is a quick repair before the pour — and a concrete-cutting nightmare after it.
- Catch debris before it becomes a blockage: mortar, packers, offcuts and soil washed into open pipes are the classic new-home blockage — found at the camera stage, they're cleared on the spot.
- Dated evidence for your records: recorded footage proves the drainage was clear and sound at pour day — invaluable for handover documentation, trade disputes and warranty claims years later.
- Protect the schedule: finding a defect two days before the pour is an inconvenience; finding it at the plumbing final is a delay with trades stacked behind it.
What the Inspection Covers
- Every accessible line: under-slab sewer and stormwater runs camera-inspected from the available access points, with footage recorded end to end.
- Condition and workmanship: joints, junctions, pipe grade/falls, bedding-related sags and any impact damage — noted with locations.
- Debris check: anything sitting in the lines is identified; most debris can be jet-flushed clear in the same visit with the onboard 5000 PSI jetter.
- Line location if needed: paired with electronic pipe locating to confirm exactly where runs sit relative to the slab layout.
What You Get: Report + Footage, Same Day
Every inspection is delivered as full recorded CCTV footage plus a written digital report: line-by-line condition notes, defects with locations, and clear photos pulled from the footage. It lands in your inbox the same day, formatted consistently so repeat sites file cleanly. If something needs fixing, the report says exactly what and where — no vague "possible issue" language your site plumber can't act on.
How It Works on Site
- Book ahead of the pour: a day or two of lead time means anything found can be fixed without moving the concrete booking.
- Camera run: most residential slabs take under an hour on site; commercial slabs quoted by size.
- On-the-spot findings: you or the supervisor get a verbal rundown before Jack leaves site — no waiting on the report for bad news.
- Report delivered same day: footage plus written report to your inbox, ready for the job file.
How Much Does a Pre-Slab CCTV Inspection Cost?
Fixed and upfront, based on slab size and the number of lines — quoted over the phone before you book, with no surprises on the invoice. Builders running multiple sites should ask about trade rates for repeat inspections. For general drain camera work and pricing context, see CCTV drain inspections.
Serving Builders Across Melbourne's East
Pre-pour inspections across Melbourne's eastern growth and infill suburbs — Ringwood, Croydon, Lilydale, Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark, Mount Evelyn, Wantirna, Rowville, Ferntree Gully, Bayswater and the wider outer east and Yarra Valley. Also available for commercial drainage projects and drain smoke testing where required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pre-slab pour CCTV drain inspection?
A camera inspection of the under-slab sewer and stormwater drainage after rough-in but before the slab is poured. It verifies every line is clear of debris, undamaged, properly jointed and running to plan — while problems can still be fixed cheaply.
Why inspect drains before pouring the slab?
Once concrete is down, any crushed pipe, dropped joint, construction debris or misaligned junction is entombed under the slab. Repairs then mean concrete cutting or under-slab boring at enormous cost and delay. A pre-pour camera run is the cheapest insurance in the build.
What do I get with the inspection?
Full recorded CCTV footage of every accessible line plus a written digital report noting condition, joints, falls and any defects — delivered same day. It's dated evidence for handover documentation, disputes and warranty claims.
How long does a pre-pour drain inspection take?
Most residential slabs take under an hour on site, with the report delivered the same day. Book a day or two ahead of the scheduled pour so anything found can be fixed without moving the concrete booking.
What happens if you find a problem before the pour?
You get footage showing exactly what and where the defect is. Debris can usually be cleared on the spot with jetting; damaged sections are flagged with precise locations so the plumber on site can repair before the pour.
How much does a pre-slab CCTV inspection cost?
Fixed and upfront based on slab size and number of lines, quoted over the phone before booking. Builders with multiple sites can ask about trade rates for repeat inspections.
Do you work with builders on repeat sites?
Yes — Water Serpent works as a drainage subcontractor to builders and plumbing contractors across Melbourne's east: pre-pour inspections, drain locating and jetting on new builds. One call books the site in.
Book a Pre-Pour Inspection
Pouring this week? Get the drainage verified first — call to lock in a site time.
When exactly should the inspection happen?
After the drainage rough-in is complete and tested, and before slab prep covers the pipes — ideally a day or two before the scheduled pour, so there’s time to fix anything we find.
Does the footage help if there’s a dispute with the builder?
Enormously. Time-stamped footage of the drainage before the pour is independent evidence of its condition. If a drain fails after handover, you can show whether the defect existed before the concrete went down.
Booking a Slab Pour Soon?
Call Jack to book a pre-pour CCTV inspection — fast turnaround, same-day report, trade rates for repeat sites.
📞 Call 0425 226 636