With builders under constant pressure to deliver projects faster, with fewer errors and to tighter margins, stringent planning and clear communication are absolutely critical. If details aren’t carefully considered during the early design phase – or if 2D drawings are interpreted differently, or incorrectly – by designers, fabricators and site crews, a building project can turn into one long troubleshooting exercise.

‘Plans drawn in 2D do not always reveal practical challenges. For example, a beam height may interfere with stairs, causing potential head-clearance issues, or heights may be misaligned in split-level designs,’ explains Shane Sitek, Software Deployment and Implementation Manager at MiTek. ‘These sorts of issues can cause delays and on-site costs if they’re not caught and addressed before construction begins.’ 

Other common challenges that can compromise project delivery for HIA members include quoting inaccuracies and disputes that arise when expectations of the design differ from what’s delivered; or encountering design surprises for the first time when materials arrive onsite. ‘The result is rework, delays, budget blowouts and frustration for both builders and their clients,’ Shane says.

MiTek’s 3D Viewer software offers a proven, accessible solution to these common dilemmas, as well as a range of other benefits aimed at helping HIA members deliver every project with accuracy and efficiency.

What is MiTek 3D Viewer?

Shane describes the MiTek 3D Viewer as a collaboration tool that gives all parties a clear picture of what’s happening with a building project.

‘It’s a lightweight version of our 3D modelling and design program that MiTek Fabricators use to model roof trusses, wall frames and floor trusses. The only difference is that we’ve taken away the editing and design functionalities.’

The 3D Viewer allows users to zoom in on the detail, take measurements, isolate items and view the interactions between particular levels or layers within the structural framing plan.

Clarity before construction

‘One thing we talk about is the importance of early design engagement – getting all parties together during the design stage of a project and getting everyone’s perspectives and input,’ Shane says. ‘MiTek Viewer is really useful as a communication tool as fabricators can add notes or certain views into the file for others to access. This can help circumvent those problems and surprises that happen onsite.’ 

Projects can be explored in 3D, ensuring potential issues are identified and resolved before they reach site. The virtual 3D model can also help clients understand all the elements and details within their new home.

‘I think it's really important that clients know what they're getting,’ says Brook Chambers, Managing Director of FrameWayz, a framing supply and install company based in South Australia. ‘Being able to see something on the 3D Viewer, you know exactly how it's going to be and know that it will be fabricated exactly as per that model. That's a huge selling point for us.’

Once on-site construction commences, MiTek Viewer can be used on a tablet or smartphone to give a real-time inside view of the project. ‘Let's say you're on-site, standing in the middle of the slab,’ Shane explains. ‘You can move to that point in the building to see what's actually happening in the model at that exact spot.’

Watch the video below to see this capability in action.

While the 3D Viewer has been available for several years, MiTek is constantly upgrading it. The most recent iteration includes IFC functionality, so users can see structural steel in conjunction with all the timber elements in the model.

Greater accuracy in quoting

As a MiTek Fabricator, Brook Chambers says all FrameWayz projects are modelled in the 3D Viewer and quotes then relate to that model. By aligning expectations early, builders and their clients can be confident in the scope and cost of every project.

‘A frame and truss manufacturer using MiTek products and software, CARTERS Building Supplies uses the MiTek 3D Viewer to improve visibility of quoting and pricing,’ Shane Sitek says. ‘They use it as a specification tool, and it gives everyone on the project visibility over that.’

The 3D Viewer also provides early issue detection, project acceptance and improved quoting accuracy, not offered by other fabricators/framing manufacturers in the market.

Collaboration across stakeholders

As well as providing a detailed virtual view of your structural framing, this essential digital tool facilitates communication between designers, builders, trades and client.

‘Framing manufacturers, builders and MiTek partners can review the same model, eliminating miscommunication and giving transparency to all trades,’ Shane says.

‘As a communication tool, it links the different services together, allowing designers and builders to identify issues before they happen.’

In particular, he says the MiTek Viewer comes into its own by ensuring everyone can see where services for plumbing, air-conditioning, cabling, etc ,will be placed. ‘If these things aren’t thought through or communicated at the pre-design stage, assumptions are often made on both sides.’ 

Brook Chambers adds that the MiTek Viewer streamlines the decision-making processes between builders and their framing supplier. 

‘One of our clients is a custom builder who has been growing rapidly over the past five years that we’ve been working with them. Before we build any job, we bring the model up in Teams and go through all aspects of the model together in detail, making sure it's meeting all their requirements. That becomes a fabrication agreement; we then either modify the model to get it to what they want, or we sign off on it and build exactly as per that model,’ he explains. 

‘A big benefit for our client, and the end user, is that everything's been considered. They don’t find out that we forgot air-conditioning or whatever it might be, because all of that is part of the checklist.’

Whilst competitors have a range of viewers, MiTek 3D Viewer is collaborative, allowing you to manage bookmarks, model photo overlays, mark-ups, comments and more.

Efficiency equals profitability

By bringing all the information together into a single easy-to-read 3D plan, MiTek Viewer is easier for construction teams to work from than 2D drawings. ‘Builders report faster builds and fewer disputes when using the Viewer as site crews know exactly how the structure comes together,’ Shane explains. 

‘We’re finding that builders are increasingly seeking to partner with MiTek framing manufacturers, and that’s partly because MiTek Viewer makes life easier for everyone onsite and helps builders work faster and more accurately. It sets the standard for how they expect to work now.’

Visit MiTek 3D Viewer to find out how to streamline your building projects. Or contact MiTek on 1800 064 835 to find out more about partnering with a MiTek Fabricator. Mitek Mobile Viewer is available on Google play (for Android) and the App Store (for IOS).

First published on 15 December 2025