New Build Plumbing in Merrimac

A typical inland Gold Coast new build runs across roughly 5-7 plumbing site visits over 4-6 months from slab to handover. The full scope:

• Pre-slab set-out and drainage. Reading the plans, setting out every wet-area drain, every floor waste, every through-slab penetration. This is where most other plumbers cut corners and the homeowner pays for it 3 years later, we set out to the published AS3500 falls minimum, not just whatever the trench digger thought looked about right.
• Sewer connection to council main. Universal in inland suburbs, no septic. Connection depth depends on the council main, we set the slab drainage to come out at the right depth at the boundary.
• Water service from meter. Including pressure-limiting valve (mandatory under AS3500 for all new builds), isolation valves at the meter and at every wet area.
• Gas rough-in. Natural gas almost everywhere in inland Gold Coast (some pockets of Mudgeeraba and Currumbin Waters still on LPG). Cooktop, hot water, BBQ point, gas heater if specified.
• Hot and cold water rough-in to every wet area with isolation valves. PEX is now standard for most builders, we will use copper if you prefer.
• Hot water unit supply and install. Most inland new builds now go heat pump or gas continuous flow, see hot water systems section.
• Fit-off after waterproofing and tiling. Tapware, mixer, basin, toilet, shower and bath. Coordinated with your tiler so set-outs match the chosen fittings.
• Pressure test and commissioning. Hydrostatic test before handover, leak checks, hot water commissioning, gas leak test.
• QBCC Form 4 plumbing compliance + gas compliance certificate handed to your certifier as a single PDF pack.

What inland builds get right that coastal builds do not have to worry about: standard chrome-plated brass tapware lasts the full 20+ years inland, no salt-air corrosion premium. Hot water unit placement is flexible, no need to worry about exposed walls. External fittings can be standard spec, no marine-grade upgrade needed.

What inland builds still need to get right: water pressure in many inland suburbs runs hot, 600-850 kPa at the meter is common in Robina, Varsity Lakes, Mudgeeraba and the southern inland areas. The pressure limit valve is not optional, every new build needs one properly commissioned. We have replaced too many failed mixer cartridges and burst flexis at 3-year-old homes where the pressure was never checked at handover.

Working with your builder: we work with several Gold Coast builders on production and custom homes. We hit our site visit dates without chasing, we attend pre-pour meetings, and we have the paperwork ready for the certifier before they ask. If you are a builder reading this and you want a plumber who treats your schedule as non-negotiable, we are interested.

Realistic 2026 ranges for an inland Gold Coast new build, slab to handover plumbing only:

• Production-style 4-bed (basic spec, builder-grade fittings): $14,000-22,000
• Mid-tier custom 4-bed (better tapware, heat pump): $20,000-32,000
• Premium custom (Phoenix / Sussex / Astra Walker tapware, freestanding bath, gas continuous flow + BBQ + heater): $32,000-55,000+

Inland builds are the most predictable cost of any cluster, standard mains everywhere, no salt-air premium, no septic, no long tank runs. Quotes are usually within 5% of final actual cost if the plans are signed off properly before pre-slab.