Facade inspections
Melbourne weather works on a facade all year: wind-driven rain, salt off the bay, UV and constant thermal movement. The damage that follows - cracked render, failed sealant, corroding fixings, water getting in behind the cladding - usually starts out of sight. A facade inspection finds it while it is still small and cheap to fix.
We inspect facades by rope access. A certified technician abseils the building and checks the envelope up close, square metre by square metre, including the recesses, sills and detailing that a boom lift or scaffold cannot reach. Access is set up in hours rather than days, and the building keeps running while we work.
What a regular inspection gives you:
- Problems caught early. Cracking, staining, corrosion and mould are logged before they spread into the structure and into a bigger repair bill.
- A building that stays safe and compliant. Loose frames, spalling and failing fixings get flagged before anything can come loose over the street below.
- A maintenance plan you can budget. A photographed report lets you stage repairs, recladding or resealing instead of reacting to a failure.
What we check on a rope access inspection
Rope access puts a supervisor within arm’s reach of the facade, so faults are found by eye and by hand, not from the ground with binoculars. We often run the inspection alongside the repair - cleaning, caulking or painting - so you are not paying twice to rig the same building.
On a typical inspection we record:
Component inspected | What we look for |
Facade surfaces | Streaks and grey or black staining from mould and mildew, plus general wear and weathering. |
Glazing & windows | Cracked glass, loose frames or movement around window units. |
Joints & sealants | Failed caulking or sealant that lets water in. |
Structural fixings | Corrosion, rust or failing fixings that hold the facade on. |
Roof and eaves | Dirt build-up on the eaves and the condition of the roof edge. |
Some checks are not optional. Fall-arrest anchors must be inspected before use, and fixed anchor points in regular use must be checked by a competent person at least every six months.
Compliance and safety (WHS/OHS)
Every inspection, and the repair work that follows, is carried out to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017.
Certified crew and paperwork
High-access work is high-risk work, so every job runs on:
- IRATA/ARAA technicians. Trained in rope access, equipment use and rescue, so a second person can always reach the first.
- A risk assessment. Weather, structure and the area below are assessed before anyone goes over the edge.
- A Safe Work Method Statement. Any work with a fall risk over two metres gets a SWMS written before it starts.
Building owners have to keep a building safe to clean and maintain. An inspection shows where that duty needs action, such as installing certified anchor points.
What an inspection costs
We price each building after we have seen it. The number moves on:
- Height and complexity. Taller and more intricate facades need more rigging and planning.
- Scope. A visual inspection costs less than one that adds thermal imaging, structural testing and a full written report.
- Access and surface area. Building size, and any hard-to-reach detailing or window sections, add time.
- Documentation. Preparing the SWMS and a photographed report is part of the job and part of the price.
Quotes are free and carry no obligation. Tell us the address and the height of the building, and we will come and look.
Frequently asked questions
How often should i schedule professional facade inspections for a Melbourne high-rise?
We advocate conducting regular facade maintenance inspections by a professional team to determine necessary repairs or maintenance for your building. If visible signs of degradation (like streaks or black marking) are present, or if it has been more than five years since the last cleaning, an inspection is highly recommended. For optimal preservation, routine checks every 12–18 months, or even every six months for buildings facing tough coastal or highly polluted environments, are often beneficial.
Why is industrial rope access (abseiling) the better method for facade inspections?
Industrial rope access is better because it offers flexibility and precision that traditional methods like scaffolding cannot match. The rope descent system allows IRATA/ARAA-certified technicians to reach difficult and narrow areas. This direct access enables careful attention to all parts of the building, ensuring thorough inspection and detailed reporting on structural integrity and signs of damage.
What specific issues are professionals looking for during a high-rise facade inspection?
Professionals look for signs of surface degradation, including mould, mildew, and algae build-up. They check for cracking, discolouration, and corrosion that weaken the structure, and inspect critical areas like window frames, joints, and seals for failure points that could lead to water ingress. They also assess if debris or pollution buildup could inhibit system function, such as on solar panels.
What safety documentation is required before a high-access facade inspection begins?
Since facade inspection often involves working at heights over two metres, a full Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is mandatory and must be prepared before the work starts. The inspection is preceded by a detailed risk assessment of factors like weather and structure. All personnel must hold IRATA/ARAA certifications to make sure competence in Level 3 work-positioning systems.
What happens if an inspection reveals structural damage or a non-compliant anchor point?
If structural damage is found, the inspection report provides the data necessary to plan immediate repairs, such as facade repairs, caulking, or abseiling painting. If an anchorage is assessed as impaired by a competent person, the employer must ensure it is tagged and not used until it is repaired and re-inspected by a competent person who confirms it is safe to use.
WHY US
What you get with every job
IRATA/ARAA-certified technicians on every job, with rescue and work-positioning competencies.
Rope access means no structure on the ground, no permits for hoardings and no closed footpaths.
Public Liability cover and WorkCover for every employee - details supplied with the quote.
You get a documented scope, a Safe Work Method Statement and a photo report on completion.
Our crews have worked on ropes since 2013, with more than 100 years of combined experience across the team - and every job runs to written contract terms.
What affects the price of facade inspections
Every building is quoted after we have seen it. These are the factors that move the number up or down - ask us about any of them and we will explain how they apply to your site.
| Height and access method | Rope access, elevated work platform or suspended platform - the method is chosen for the building, and it sets the crew size and setup time. |
| Surface area and condition | Heavy soiling, salt, traffic film or construction residue take longer and need specialised products. |
| Facade complexity | Recesses, angled or domed glazing, tight gaps between buildings and heritage detailing all slow the descent down. |
| Access and anchor points | Buildings with certified anchor points are quicker to set up. If there are none, temporary systems or installation are quoted separately. |
| Scheduling | Work outside trading hours, staged access or occupied tenancies affect the programme. Regular maintenance cycles are cheaper per visit than one-off jobs. |
Quotes are free and carry no obligation. Where the work is subject to a compliance requirement, the quote states which standard it is carried out to.
Suburbs we cover
We work across greater Melbourne - from CBD towers to bayside and outer-suburban sites. If your suburb is not on the list, ask anyway: our crews travel across the metropolitan area and regularly work in regional Victoria.
Aberfeldie · Airport West · Armadale · Balaclava · Balwyn · Beaumaris · Bentleigh · Bentleigh East · Blairgowrie · Brighton · Brighton East · Brunswick · Carnegie · Caroline Springs · Caulfield · Caulfield North · Caulfield South · CBD · Chadstone · Coburg · Dandenong · Daylesford · Eltham · Elwood · Essendon · Footscray · Frankston · Gardenvale · Gisborne · Glenbervie · Glen Iris · Glenroy · Greenvale · Hampton · Heidelberg · Hillside · Ivanhoe · Keilor · Kew · Lilydale · Lower Plenty · Malvern · Malvern East · Maribyrnong · Melton · Moonee Ponds · Northcote · Oakleigh · Oak Park · Officer · Ormond · Parkville · Pascoe Vale · Port Melbourne · Prahran · Preston · Reservoir · Rye · St Kilda · St Kilda East · Strathmore · Sunbury · Sunshine · Taylors Hill · Toorak · Tarneit · Wantirna · Werribee · Williamstown
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