The small slab nobody looks at
Hot water service pads, and the membrane and isolation strip they need.
In short: It is a square of concrete beside the house. It still has an engineering detail, and on one Manor Lakes slab it had been skipped.
What we recorded
On a slab inspection in August 2025, the hot water service pad had no damp proof membrane and no isolation strip, both called for by the engineering.
Why the membrane matters
Without it, ground moisture rises into the pad and the base of the unit and its fittings sit in damp concrete.
Why the strip matters
The isolation strip lets the pad and main slab move separately. Without it, movement can crack one or the other at the junction.
When it is fixable
Before the pour, in minutes. After, it means breaking out concrete next to a fitted appliance.
The bigger lesson
Small slabs and set-downs are easy for everyone to treat as an afterthought. They are on the engineering for a reason.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Manor Lakes. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
