Frame Stage Inspection Melbourne
Check the Bones of Your Home Before They're Covered Up
The frame is the structural skeleton of your home. Bracing, tie-downs, lintels and trusses are what keep it standing straight and secure, and within weeks they’ll be hidden behind brickwork, insulation and plaster.
A BuildInspect Melbourne frame stage inspection is carried out once the wall frames and roof trusses are up and before lock-up. Our independent inspector checks the frame against your engineering plans, truss layout, AS 1684 (residential timber-framed construction) and the National Construction Code. You get a clear photo report before you pay the frame stage progress claim.
What Our Frame Stage Inspection Covers
A structural check of the frame, roof and slab while everything is still visible.
- What We Check
Inspected against your plans, truss layout, the NCC and AS 1684.
- Slab finish: level, cracking and exposed reinforcement
- Wall frame plumb, straightness and alignment
- Stud, nogging and top/bottom plate sizes and spacing
- Lintels and beams over openings
- Wall bracing type, location and fixings
- Tie-downs and hold-down connections to the slab
- Roof truss installation against the truss layout
- Truss bracing, binders and girder truss connections
- Steel beams and posts against engineering details
- Damage to framing from services or modifications
- When to Book
Book once the structure is complete and still exposed.
- After wall frames and roof trusses are fully installed
- Before brickwork, cladding, insulation or wrap cover the frame
- Before you pay the builder's frame stage progress claim
- Usually 2–4 weeks after the slab is poured
- Common Frame Defects We Find
Structural issues that are much harder to fix after lock-up.
- Missing or incorrectly fixed bracing and tie-downs
- Out-of-plumb or bowed walls
- Undersized or missing lintels over openings
- Trusses not installed to the manufacturer's layout
- Notched or drilled studs weakening the frame
- Slab cracking or exposed steel not yet addressed
- Your Inspection Report
Clear, easy to read and delivered fast.
- Detailed report with photos of every issue found
- Each defect referenced to the relevant standard or plan
- Plain-English explanation of what needs fixing
- Report usually delivered within 4 hours of the inspection
- Easy to forward straight to your builder
- Free lifetime phone support to talk through the findings
- Pricing
Clear, fixed pricing. All prices include GST.
- Single storey home: from $330 per stage
- Double storey home: from $350 per stage
- 5-stage package (pre-slab to handover): from $2,000 single storey / $2,200 double storey
- Free lifetime phone support with every inspection
- Other Stage Inspections
Book individual stages or save with our 5-stage package.
Why a Frame Stage Inspection Matters
Structural defects get hidden behind brick and plaster within weeks.
Out-of-plumb walls cause problems with doors, windows and cabinetry later.
Your building surveyor checks minimum compliance. We work for you.
Gives you leverage before you pay the frame stage progress claim.
Confirms bracing and tie-downs match the engineering design.
Provides a photo record of the structure for future reference.
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We Cover All of Melbourne
All Melbourne, Covered
We cover the entire metropolitan Melbourne area.
Key suburbs we service in this area:
- Inner Melbourne
- Inner North
- Inner East
- Eastern Melbourne
- South East Melbourne
- Bayside Melbourne
- Western Melbourne
- Caroline Springs Region
- Northern Melbourne
- Outer Northern Growth Corridor
Frame Stage Inspection FAQs
When is the right time for a frame inspection?
Once the wall frames and roof trusses are fully installed, and before brickwork, cladding, sarking or insulation cover the frame. This is usually before the builder issues the frame stage progress claim.
Do you inspect steel frames as well as timber?
Yes. We inspect both timber and light-gauge steel frames against your engineering plans, the relevant Australian Standards and the manufacturer’s installation requirements.
What's the difference between your inspection and the building surveyor's frame inspection?
The building surveyor’s mandatory frame inspection checks minimum compliance for the building permit. Our inspection is independent and carried out for you, with a more detailed check of workmanship, straightness and finish against your plans.
Should I pay the frame claim before the inspection?
We recommend booking the inspection before you pay the frame stage claim, so any defects can be raised with your builder while you still have leverage.
Is BuildInspect Melbourne insured?
Yes, it holds both professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance.
How much does a frame stage inspection cost?
Frame inspections start from $330 for a single storey home and $350 for a double storey home, including GST. It is also included in our 5-stage package from $2,000.
What qualifications do your inspectors have?
All of our building inspectors are Registered Building Practitioners, licensed carpenters, building surveyors and qualified timber pest inspectors in Victoria, with over 30 years experience in residential and commercial construction. They are trained in Tramex moisture detection and thermal imaging equipment.
Book an Inspection
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At BuildInspect Melbourne, we pride ourselves on delivering honest advice, detailed reporting, and reliable service you can trust.
Contact us today to arrange your pre-purchase building and pest inspection and ensure you know exactly what you’re buying before you commit.