Find the cause. Then fund the fix.
Independent building investigation for Sydney strata and commercial buildings — invasive testing that finds the real defect before a cent is committed to repairs. Don't guess. Know.
No obligation. A builder reviews it — not a call centre.
Request an investigation.
An investigation finds which layer failed and why — the diagnosis that has to come before a repair is priced.
Skip it and you pay twice: misdiagnosed repairs, scope blowouts, and rejected insurance claims with no documented evidence.
A report runs $1,500–$3,500 for a single area, $4,000–$10,000+ for a multi-area strata building — and rolls into the works.
Skip the diagnosis and you pay for it twice.
Rushing past the investigation stage is the single most expensive mistake an owners corporation makes. Here's what it costs.
Misdiagnosed repairs
Cracks get patched while the waterproofing keeps failing. Concrete gets coated while corrosion continues underneath. The symptom is treated, the cause isn't — and the defect comes straight back.
Escalating cost & disruption
A small leak left undiagnosed becomes a full facade or balcony rebuild. Caught early on a report, it's a contained repair. Caught late, it's a capital works programme.
Legal & insurance exposure
In a dispute or claim, the absence of a documented investigation is a liability. Insurers reject claims without evidence; defect cases get harder to defend. A report is the evidence base.
What a building investigation actually is.
A building investigation is the diagnosis that comes before the repair — finding which layer failed and why, not just what you can see.
Water ingress, cracking, corrosion and cladding failure rarely start at the surface.
By the time the stain shows on the ceiling, the cause is usually a layer underneath — a perished membrane, carbonated concrete, movement at a junction, or a detailing failure built in years ago.
"A price written without an investigation is a guess — it either pads for the unknown or misses it, and the owners corporation pays for the gap later."
— CLASS 2 DBP REGISTERED · LICENCE 360636C
What an investigation covers
We match the method to the defect — not a blanket checklist. A typical investigation draws on:
• Moisture mapping & thermal imaging — hidden water ingress behind facades, slabs and wet areas
• Concrete carbonation & core sampling — how far corrosion has advanced; cosmetic vs structural
• Borescope & internal cavity inspection — the failed layer without demolishing the element
• Leak detection & water testing — the exact entry path, confirmed not assumed
• Drone facade & roof survey — defects mapped with no scaffold or EWP
Each method is matched to the defect and the building — an observation report, a condition assessment, or a full invasive investigation.
Why investigation first saves money
A price written without an investigation is a guess — it either pads for the unknown or misses it, and the owners corporation pays for the gap as a variation later. A defined defect means a fixed-price scope, fewer engineer call-outs, and no repeat repairs two years on.
How Atomic Projects handles it
We're the builders who do the repairs — so our diagnosis is grounded in what we actually find when concrete is broken out and balconies are opened, not desktop guesswork. We're Class 2 DBP registered (Licence 360636C), and where works follow, the report rolls straight into the scope so nothing is wasted.
We'd rather you verify us than take our word for it. Our licence is on the NSW Fair Trading register — check it before you call.
Independent. Documented. Verifiable.
A report is only worth what it can stand behind. Ours is built to survive an engineer's review, an insurer's scrutiny, and a tribunal's questions.
We'd rather you verify the report than take our word for it.
We investigate, document, and prove.
What a building investigation costs.
Related reading.
Plain-English guides for committees and managers — on the rules, the risks, and getting remedial works right.
Compliance & DBP Act
DBP Act July 2026: What Changes for Class 3 and 9c Buildings on Day One
Exactly what comes under the Act from 1 July 2026 — and what to have ready.
Compliance & Regulation
DBP Act July 2026 Deadline: Your 5-Week Compliance Checklist
A week-by-week run sheet for Class 3 and 9c buildings approaching the deadline.
Guides
How to Choose a DBP-Registered Remedial Contractor for Class 3 and 9c
What to check before you engage anyone for regulated remedial work.
Compliance & Regulation
How to Get Accurate Quotes Under NSW's New $30K Rule
How the two-quote threshold works and how to compare quotes properly.
What your committee will want to know.
What do building investigation reports include?+
How long does a building investigation take?+
How much do building investigation reports cost?+
Does your report replace an engineer's report?+
Do you carry out the remedial works too?+
What testing happens during a building investigation?+
How disruptive is a building investigation for residents?+
Why investigate before getting builder quotes?+
Can an investigation find hidden waterproofing failures?+
Does an investigation lock us into using the same builder?+
Don't guess. Know.
Send the symptoms, the photos, or the engineer's brief. We'll investigate, document and prove what's actually wrong — so the money goes on the fix, not the guesswork. We respond within 1 business day.