In short: Two storey homes carry more load through more connections, and the faults we find at frame and lock-up in Clyde North are almost all about load not getting where the engineer sent it.
Studs cut for a meter box
In April 2026 we found the studs at a corner cut away to fit the meter box, leaving the junction without proper support and no stud behind the internal lining. The meter box went in fast; the frame paid for it.
Roof bracing that was never tightened
The same month, another Clyde North frame had its speed bracing bent and slack along the roof. Strap bracing only works in tension, so a loose strap lets the roof move before it does anything.
Connections not as drawn
Coach screws at a structural connection where the engineering detail called for bolts at the joint above it. At lock-up in July 2025, studs that were not bearing fully on the bottom plate. Both are about load transfer, and both disappear behind plaster within weeks.
Why this matters on two storeys
An upper floor and a large roof put more load through each fixing. The engineering accounts for that, but only if what is built matches. Frame and lock-up inspections are the two times it can be checked, so on a Clyde North double storey we treat both as essential.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Clyde North. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
