Sweetswisssteel, is this Newport by chance? I wouldn't be downgrading to a H2 in there. If you are in Newport, you made a wise decision. Regards Geo1

Great Idea Mark, was this ever set up? Let me know and I can assist. Geo1 (old pal)

Alex79 Unsure what the answer is but there does need to be something to protect those who opt to build or purchase a newly built house. To help others, I have uploaded original engineer's slab/footing design and main pages from Geotechnical report as unable to upload document. In Geotechnical repor...

Or a Pool might be a bit difficult to dig.

The whole point about building on highly reactive soils is to stabilise and keep moisture content even. That is why special care is required during construction and good maintenance after. Regardless, any dwelling on a reactive soil will be at risk of an "event" (leaking drains, overflowi...

Hi Geo1, I hope it's ok to reply to this thread from a few months ago. I'm about to start planning then building a 'tiny' home, then larger home (same land, 1 acre block lucky me) in a few years. I understand I need a geotech investigation and report for recommendations on the type of foundations t...

@Geo1 In this example here Single storey comparison Footing Detail M raft, H1 & Waffle the upgrade only adds $4K in materials + Labour + Builders Margin,etc,etc Upgrade engineering site work costs seems to be the biggest issue for new home builders..? Unfortunately without Plans, photos,etc it'...

Hi, I cannot comment on the cost or structural elements as I am neither a builder or structural engineer. StructuralBIMGuy, maybe better suited to give you some advise about that, however a passing comment is 30MPa concrete is not something I see often, generally either 25MPa or 32MPa on the AS2870 ...

Hi FirstHomeBuilder25, Can you indicate why the site was originally classified as Class "P"? This maybe something that others have overlooked? You have a relatively very stiff slab, so I am interested to understand whats the problem (i.e. you have indicated areas of cracking, degree of cra...

Thanks Geo1, I think I will just have to learn my lesson from this one. next time, get soil test done before buying land, me thinks. Diggi, I always get upset when people need to learn lessons when it costs money. If it didn't cost money would we learn? Unfortunately its the human way. We spend $40...

Hi Diggi, Firstly, I have quickly reviewed your classification of which you have kindly scanned and provided. I do know the company you have engaged as I know there lay out and they are one of my main competetors. However based on their results and your shrink/swell results (laboratory test results)...

The report says that the site is a class"P" but because the fill is controlled your design engineer can use a "M" type slab with some modifications. The fill has been compacted and is said to comply with the earthworks specifications therefore deemed ok to put a modified "M...

Doulton777 I assume you are in NSW. In QLD you may have had a few extra piers out the front to deal with the tree. Unless you had a large builders site cut/fill in which case all builders will pier their own fill as its never certified as "structural fill. For trees, we work off MATURE height ...

Ha that's a good one we never got a photo with our soil report, I was not awere that they take photo of your block of land, our reports were not even stamped or checked by the RBS go figure that out. I know the builder has a lot to answer for but the geotechnical engineers are just as bad, for not ...

Most soil test reports will include a photo of the block taken by the technician doing the test. Compare your photo to the one taken by the soil testing company they may have tested the wrong block by mistake. Many a time have we confused photos with job numbers..... It happens. Thankfully, 99% of ...

Good point from Geo1 about 5% of under performing builds. That is 5% of shattered lives in the community and with 25000/year builds = 1250 families/year affected. It is a regulatory failure on a Titanic scale to allow builds on estates with highly reactive soils without catchment for those owners w...

Mauromario, I am not familiar with the VCAT system unfortunately, as all my work comes from the east coast of AUS. But I am familiar with the QBCC system and I am sure its not that dissimilar than then of the VCAT one. I think in an early post I expressed that in VIC it was (and still is) not uncom...

insider, Thanks for the reply. I actually spent the day yesterday (early flight/late home to the kids interstate trip), talking to one of my main builders (major builder 2500+ homes a year), educating their following (of which I have been invited generally every 6 months depending on staff turn over...

Hi Mauromario, Thanks for the photo. Now i do understand your concerns, and I will concur I often get asked this same question from home owners who have engaged builders of which I work for. Hopefully the following will give you some answers/follow on questions you may ask of your builder; 1. We run...