Frame inspection in Wollert

Stage3 of 7

When to bookOnce the trusses are up, before wrap, sarking or cladding hides anything

Time on site1 to 2 hours on site

Inspected againstAS 1684 (timber framing), AS 4100 or NASH for steel frames, the engineer's bracing and tie-down plan, NCC Part 3.4

What is included in a Wollert frame inspection

Stud, plate, lintel and beam sizes against AS 1684 and the engineer's drawings
Wall straightness and plumb, top plate level
Floor level across the slab
Bracing type, position and fixing against the bracing plan
Tie-downs from roof to wall and wall to slab
Triple grips, straps and bolt fixings
Jack studs, lintels and trimmers over every opening
Window sill trimmers for wide openings
Roof truss spacing, fixing and girder connections
Valley boards, ceiling battens and roof bracing
Window and door openings against the plans
Wet area framing, noggings and service penetrations
Damaged, split, notched or over-drilled members
Termite collars and slab penetrations still visible

Why it matters here

Frame inspections on Wollert builds

Homes on the northern plains sit on open, exposed lots with little shelter, so bracing and tie-down have to match the wind classification set for the site under AS 4055. The frame also has to stay square while the reactive clay below it moves seasonally. Straight walls now save cracked cornices later.

What we find at this stage in Wollert

Bracing units short of the design, or braces nailed off with too few fixings
Tie-down rods and straps missing at braced walls and at truss connections
Lintels undersized or unsupported over wide window and garage openings
Studs out of plumb, walls bowed, or top plates not straight along a run
Bottom plates loose on the slab, or anchors set too close to the slab edge
Notched or drilled studs and plates cut past what AS 1684 allows

Bottom plates needing masonry nails at 600mm or bolts at 1200mm centres, Wollert — Bottom plates needing masonry nails at 600mm or bolts at 1200mm centres

Temporary downpipes not discharging to stormwater, so water ponds around the slab, Wollert — Temporary downpipes not discharging to stormwater, so water ponds around the slab

Heavy use of plastic packers to level the upper floor framing, needing engineer confirmation, Wollert — Heavy use of plastic packers to level the upper floor framing, needing engineer confirmation

Sample findings

Sample defects found during our frame inspections in Wollert

Annotated findings from Frame inspections on Wollert builds. Client addresses withheld.

Concrete recess runs under the wall frame, leaving the plaster without proper support, found during a frame inspection in Wollert — Concrete recess runs under the wall frame, leaving the plaster without proper support

Slab out of level by more than the allowed tolerance, so it needs fixing before framing is signed off, found during a frame inspection in Wollert — Slab out of level by more than the allowed tolerance, so it needs fixing before framing is signed off

Honeycombing along the slab edge, which weakens the concrete and exposes the steel, found during a frame inspection in Wollert — Honeycombing along the slab edge, which weakens the concrete and exposes the steel

Slab sticking out past the timber frame by over 20mm, squeezing the brick cavity, found during a frame inspection in Wollert — Slab sticking out past the timber frame by over 20mm, squeezing the brick cavity

Beam connection not built the way the engineering drawings specify, found during a frame inspection in Wollert — Beam connection not built the way the engineering drawings specify

The other stages of a Wollert build

All construction stage inspections in Wollert →

Guides

Construction stage guides for Wollert

6 March 2026 · 7 min read

When to book each stage inspection on a Wollert build

How to time the pre-slab, frame, lock-up, waterproofing and fixing inspections on a new Wollert home so faults are found while work is open.

21 March 2026 · 7 min read

Reactive clay and slab design on Wollert building sites

Wollert sits on Newer Volcanics basalt with heavy reactive clay above it. What that means for slab design and your pre-slab check.

4 April 2026 · 6 min read

If your Wollert builder refuses an independent inspector

What to do in Victoria when a builder blocks your private stage inspector, including contract access, written notice and the BPC dispute pathway.

All guides →

FAQ

Frame inspections in Wollert: common questions

When is the frame stage finished?

The frame is ready to inspect once walls, roof trusses and any structural steel are fixed in place and the tie-downs are installed. It is no longer inspectable once wrap and cladding cover the timber.

Which standard governs timber framing?

AS 1684 covers residential timber framed construction, together with the truss manufacturer's layout and the wind classification determined under AS 4055. Steel framed homes follow their own manufacturer's design instead.

Should I inspect before or after the plumber and electrician?

After the rough in wherever possible. That way we can see whether pipes and cables have been run through notched or drilled members in ways the framing standard does not permit.

Are small bows in a wall a defect?

It depends on how much. The Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2015 sets the limits for straightness and plumb in Victoria, and we measure against those rather than calling every ripple a defect.

Can the builder keep working while you inspect?

Yes, and most do. We work around the trades on site. What we ask is that nothing is wrapped or lined until the report has been read and any agreed items have been attended to.

Do you check the electrical rough in?

No. We do not inspect, test or energise electrical work at any stage. A licensed electrician handles that. We do report where a cable run has damaged a structural member.