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Frame stage (payment milestone)

Frame stage as a payment milestone is when the frame is complete and inspection signed off. Distinct from frame stage as build sequence. Builder primer.

By Chalkline. Last updated 14 May 2026. Verified 14 May 2026.

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Frame stage as a payment milestone is the point in a residential progress-payment schedule when the timber or steel frame is complete and the framing inspection has been signed off by the certifier or building surveyor. It is one of the standard milestones in HIA fixed-price and MBA building contracts, typically the third or fourth claim in the build (after deposit, base/slab, sometimes brickwork or roof).

Distinction from “frame stage” as build sequence. “Frame stage” is also a build-sequence term meaning the part of the construction where carpenters erect the frame. The two meanings overlap but aren’t identical:

  • Frame stage (sequence): the period of carpentry work erecting the frame. Starts when slab cures, ends when frame is complete.
  • Frame stage (milestone): the specific contractual trigger point at frame completion plus inspection sign-off. Lasts a moment.

What must be done to validly claim Frame Stage:

  1. Frame physically complete to the design: studs, plates, noggings, ribbon plates, top plate strapping, tie-downs, bracing, roof framing or trusses, lintels, openings framed correctly.
  2. Frame inspection passed by the RBS (VIC), certifier (NSW, QLD), or council building officer. The certifier’s certificate of inspection is the evidence.
  3. Engineer’s certification if the design requires structural sign-off at frame (typically required on H1+ sites, large openings, or unusual lintel details).
  4. Frame protected from weather if there’s a gap before lock-up: tarps or sarking in place to protect the structure.

Frame stage as a percentage of contract. Typical residential contracts allocate:

  • Deposit: 5-10%.
  • Base / slab: 10-15%.
  • Frame stage: 15-20%.
  • Lock-up: 15-25%.
  • Fix-out (fit-off): 20-25%.
  • Completion (PCI): 5-10%.

The exact split depends on the contract form and any state-specific deposit caps.

Common builder issues at frame-stage claim:

  • Inspection booked too late: the frame is complete but the inspection is 2 weeks out. Claim cannot be issued until inspection passes. Cash flow gap.
  • Inspection fails: defects identified at inspection (missing bracing, undersized lintels, missing tie-downs). Rectify before re-inspection. Cost and time.
  • Frame stage claim served before reference date: if the contract specifies a reference date scheme (NSW SOPA, etc.), claiming before the reference date is invalid.
  • Variation claims rolled into frame claim: messy when reconciled. Keep variation claims separate from milestone claims.

For builders.

  1. Book the inspection in advance when you can see the frame completion approaching. Certifiers and council inspectors book out 1-2 weeks.
  2. Walk the frame yourself before booking the inspection. Defects caught by you are cheap; defects caught by the inspector cost the inspection fee plus rework time.
  3. Issue the claim immediately after inspection sign-off. Don’t delay; the claim windows under the contract can be tight.

Also known as: frame stage claim, frame milestone, frame inspection payment.

Category: Contracts / progress claims / milestones.

See also

Last updated: 2026-05-14. Verified: 2026-05-14.

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