A while back we wrote that our checklists are chonky. They go deep on purpose. We also promised to break them down, call out the checks that matter, and add the context, so you don't just tick boxes. The Constructor Field Manual is that promise.
Constructor Field Manual, both volumes (A4 fillable PDFs)
$299.00 AUD (or $179 per volume)
Last updated 11 Oct 2026 · Revision 1 · Free updates for life
Product Type: Field manual for homeowners, two volumes
Form Factor: Two fillable A4 PDFs, 726 pages
When to use: From buying land to the end of your first year
Every new-build check from our checklists, by stage, with what good looks like. Know what to ask, before you need to ask it.
Preview Volume 1 · Preview Volume 2
✓ Authorship verified on the blockchain · View certificate
What it is
The Field Manual is every new-build check from our checklists, about 3,600 of them, organised by stage in two A4 volumes:
- Volume 1: Land to lock-up. Buying land, design and contract, colour selections, site start, slab, frame, roof and enclosed. 410 pages.
- Volume 2: Rough-in to handover. Rough-in, fixing and finishes, practical completion, handover and the first year. 356 pages.
Each topic is a spread. On the left are the checks, with Mine, Fine, Later and Issue boxes and a CINS number for every issue. On the right is what good looks like: the key things to look for, common defects, how to check, technical sketches with numbered check tags, and the standard behind each check.
A primer, not a to-do list
You won't do all 3,600 checks, and you don't need to. Nobody expects you to memorise it all either.
Read what's checked and when, then choose what matters on your build. Tick Mine beside those checks and list them on the My priority checks page at the start of each part. Take that page to site and to your builder, and ask why.
That's the point: to know what you don't know, before you need to know it, so every site visit has a purpose and every conversation with your builder is about quality, not just progress.
Why it matters
Most defects aren't deliberate. Time, cost and quality pull against each other, supervisors are stretched, and the people moving your job through the system often know the process but not the why. The checks that matter most are often the simplest:
- Is the trade licensed? It takes seconds to check online, and skipping it can mean paying twice.
- Is the block in a landslip or flood overlay? Missing it can stop a build and add tens of thousands in engineering.
- Was the box gutter designed for the roof it drains? Many aren't.
We're not changing the rules. Everything in the Field Manual comes from the National Construction Code, the Australian Standards and the manufacturers' instructions builders are already meant to follow. We're just holding up the scoreboard.
What's in each volume
| Part | What it covers | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Volume 1 | Every site visit card; Your land (C1); Design and contract (C4, C20, C22 colour selections); Site start; Slab; Frame; Roof and enclosed | 398 |
| Volume 2 | Every site visit card; Rough-in (C10); Fixing and finishes (C12–C15, waterproofing); Practical completion, handover and the first year (C16–C18) | 328 |
| In both | What good looks like spreads with sketches, My priority checks pages, witness inspection records before each claim, defects and CINS registers | |
| Fillable | Mine, Fine, Later and Issue tick boxes and CINS fields on every check (11,000+ fields per volume) |
Preview Volume 1 · Preview Volume 2 · Get both volumes for $299
Each volume is also sold on its own for $179. Printed, coil-bound copies are coming.
A few honest caveats
- The Field Manual is for homeowners. It's an educational guide, not legal or engineering advice, and it doesn't replace your contract, an independent inspector or a licensed professional.
- Look, photograph and ask. Don't move materials, climb on anything or direct the trades. Give instructions to your builder, in writing.
- Requirements differ between states, councils and sites, so confirm details with your builder, certifier or engineer.
Related reading
Our Checklists Are Chonky, and We Know It. Here's WhyYes, our checklists are long, and that's on purpose. They're built to help you spot issues, ask the right questions and hold your builder to standard. Here's why the details matter and where we're heading next.
The Constructor Site Diary: Your Own Record of the BuildBuilders keep a site diary. The Constructor Site Diary is yours: a one-page record for every visit, a weekly wrap, and a stage gate before every payment, so you have dates, names and photos to point to if a question comes up.
C16 Practical Completion Inspection Checklist: Find Every Defect Before You Accept Your HomeOur C16 Practical Completion Inspection Checklist walks you through 293 checks across 19 sections, so you can find every defect, collect every certificate, key and warranty, and get it all in writing before you pay the final claim.
