Reviewed and updated July 2026
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.
Jack attends every inspection personally — 20+ years on the tools, 5.0★ from 93 Google reviews, and reports formatted consistently for your job files.
📋 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 |
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.
Before the Pour vs After the Pour
| ✅ Defect found before the pour | 🚫 Defect found after the pour | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to fix | Hundreds — a quick repair or on-the-spot jet clear | Tens of thousands — concrete cutting or under-slab boring |
| Impact on schedule | An inconvenience, fixed without moving the concrete booking | A delay with trades stacked behind it |
| What you hold | Dated video evidence the drainage was sound at pour day | A dispute over whose trade caused it — with no footage |
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.
Pouring this week?
Get the drainage verified first — call Jack to lock in a site time, with a fixed price quoted before you book.
📞 Call Jack — 0425 226 636How It Works on Site
1️⃣ Book ahead of the pour
A day or two of lead time means anything found can be fixed without moving the concrete booking.
2️⃣ Camera run
Most residential slabs take under an hour on site; commercial slabs quoted by size.
3️⃣ On-the-spot findings
You or the supervisor get a verbal rundown before Jack leaves site — no waiting on the report for bad news.
4️⃣ 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.
Frequently Asked Questions — Pre-Pour Inspections
Pre-Pour Inspections in Your Suburb?
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.
Booking a slab pour soon?
Pouring this week? Get the drainage verified first — call to lock in a site time. Call Jack to book a pre-pour CCTV inspection — fast turnaround, same-day report, trade rates for repeat sites.
📞 Call Jack — 0425 226 636