The brace that was cut to fit a duct
A structural element, removed by somebody who needed the space.
In short: Wall bracing is sized to resist lateral load. Cut through, it resists nothing, and after plaster nobody will ever see it.
What a brace does
It carries lateral load into the frame and down to the slab, and its capacity is set by the wind classification for your lot.
What we recorded
Three separate braces cut through on the one Craigieburn build, each to give a following trade a route for services.
Why it happens
It is almost never deliberate. A duct or pipe needs a path, the brace is in the way, and the quickest route wins.
Why nobody catches it later
Plaster goes on within days. From that point the wall looks identical whether the brace is intact or not.
What to do
Book the lock-up stage. It is the only inspection where this is visible, and on these builds it is the single most valuable thing we find.
Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Craigieburn. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
