Independent second opinion for Australian homeowners

About to approve thousands in drainage work?

Before excavation starts, get an independent drainage second opinion on whether the proposed solution, scope and assumptions actually make sense.

No payment required to submit your issue.

48-hour turnaroundNo contractor referrals or commissions

The best time to question the scope is before the digging starts.

Reviewed by real construction and engineering professionals with 60+ years combined experience

Chartered Engineer

Engineering judgement & technical risk

Qualified Builder

Construction scope & practicality

Infrastructure Specialist

Scope, assumptions, risk & value

Independent • No contractor commissions • Human-reviewed before anything is sent to you

We don’t just check whether the number looks high. We pressure-test whether the proposed drainage intervention itself makes sense.

Example DrainageCheck
Fictional example
A$18,750 quote

OUR VIEW: DON'T ACCEPT YET

4 issues identified

  • Cause of water not established
  • Discharge point unconfirmed
  • Existing drainage not investigated
  • Reinstatement exclusions unclear

5 questions to take back to your contractor

Example: Where will the new drainage legally discharge?

Tell us about your quote

We’ll first check whether DrainageCheck is likely to be useful for your situation.

Usually under 60 seconds • No payment required

No payment required now. If we don’t believe we can provide a meaningful review, you pay nothing. If we can help, we’ll confirm the fixed A$149 fee before we start.

How DrainageCheck works

Three simple steps. No site visit required to start.

1.Send your quote

Tell us about the problem and proposed work.

2.Add photos and information

Photos, reports, CCTV or plans where available.

3.Receive your DrainageCheck

Get the independent review within 48 hours.

See what you'll receive.

Example DrainageCheck — fictional case for illustration.

DrainageCheck Review
Example only
Independent second opinion • Prepared for the homeowner

Property issue

Water pooling beside rear retaining wall after moderate rainfall.

Contractor proposal

18m agricultural drain, new collection pit and connection to existing stormwater.

Quoted cost

A$18,750

Our view

DO NOT ACCEPT YET

The proposed works may improve collection of water reaching the retaining wall, but the information provided does not yet establish that subsurface groundwater is the primary cause.

What concerns us

  • Existing discharge point has not been confirmed
  • Quote does not explain why existing drainage cannot be reused
  • Surface runoff does not appear to have been ruled out
  • Reinstatement and excavation exclusions are unclear

Questions we'd ask before proceeding

  1. 1Where will the new drainage legally discharge?
  2. 2Has the existing ground fall been measured?
  3. 3What evidence indicates groundwater rather than surface runoff?
  4. 4Has the existing drainage been inspected?
  5. 5Why is drainage required along the full wall length?

Bottom line

We would clarify the source of the water and proposed discharge point before committing to the full scope.

Reviewed by experienced professionals — not generated and sent automatically

Every DrainageCheck is reviewed by a Chartered Engineer, a qualified builder and a senior infrastructure project delivery expert.

Together, our review team brings more than 60 years of combined experience across engineering, construction, infrastructure and project delivery.

Chartered Civil / Structural Engineer

Brings engineering judgement to the proposed solution, drainage approach, site conditions, structural implications and technical risks.

Qualified Builder

Looks at the practicality of the proposed works, construction scope, exclusions and whether the approach makes sense on the ground.

Senior Infrastructure Project Delivery Expert

Pressure-tests the overall decision — scope, assumptions, risk, value for money and the questions that should be answered before you commit.

What that means for you

We don't simply summarise your quote. We challenge it.

Your DrainageCheck considers whether the proposed solution makes sense, what may be missing or unclear, what assumptions need testing and what you should ask before spending the money.

Independent by design

We don't undertake the drainage works, sell contractor leads or receive referral commissions.

Not another drainage quote. A second opinion.

The biggest risk is not the price — it is paying for the wrong intervention.

Does the proposed solution make sense?

Does the work logically address the problem you've described?

What's missing or unclear?

Are important items, exclusions or assumptions absent from the quote?

What assumptions need testing?

What does the contractor appear to be assuming about the cause?

Could there be a simpler approach?

Are there alternatives worth asking about before excavation begins?

Are there scope or pricing red flags?

Does anything warrant clarification or another quote?

What should you ask before accepting?

We'll give you practical questions to take back to your contractor.

Pressure-test a five-figure drainage decision before you commit.

If the proposed work is right, you can proceed with more confidence. If something important is missing, unclear or based on an assumption, you can find out before the excavation starts — not after.

A$10k–A$50k+

Potential drainage decision

Independent

Professional second opinion

48 hours

Turnaround

What you get with DrainageCheck

If we believe we can genuinely help, the fixed review fee is A$149.

  • Assessment of the proposed solution
  • Scope and assumption review
  • Potential gaps or red flags
  • Questions to ask your contractor
  • Alternatives worth discussing
  • Clear bottom-line second opinion
  • Professional review
  • 48-hour turnaround

Introductory pricing. No payment required to submit your issue.

Is DrainageCheck right for me?

DrainageCheck is particularly useful when…
  • You've received an expensive quote and aren't sure whether to proceed
  • Different contractors are recommending different things
  • Significant excavation has been proposed
  • You're unsure whether the cause has actually been identified
  • You want another view before committing thousands
Sometimes a desktop review isn't enough.

Structural movement, complex groundwater conditions, engineering design, certification or issues requiring physical investigation may need a site visit or specialist professional advice.

If the information isn't sufficient to give you a useful review, we'll tell you.

Frequently asked questions

Before you spend A$10,000, A$20,000 or A$30,000 on drainage, check the decision first.