Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 744Nov 25, 2015 6:35 pm Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 751Jan 28, 2016 8:45 am Here is a perfect example of why you need to ensure your damp proof course exits the building and your concrete should be at least a brick course above where the concrete starts. Otherwise...... where is this water going and how can you properly protect your foundation/house? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 752Jan 28, 2016 7:47 pm ![]() To answer OP question, I have been a builder for over 40 years and I don't know how to fix a slab heave. The reason is that when soil heaves up due to ingress of moisture is that it will stay up even after it dries out. It seems that in domestic construction the loads are not enough to push soil back down. In my reports I have recommended partial demolition and reconstruction of slab to get down to designed levels. It would be interesting if anyone else has different experience. What we are seeing now is when the soil dries out that there is a gap developing between the bottom of the slab and the soil surface.This means that the slab are probably permanently bend out of shape.The general slab design is now working against you and resisting settling back down.The soil will come back down but not to the same level as before, there are several reasons for this. If a slab heaves less then approx 25-30mm then it is possible that it will come back to close to the original level beyond this it will be bent out of shape.Most of the slab I have looked at are 40-60mm out of level and the occasional one up to 190mm. This situation may change in the future but that is what we are seeing at the moment. As far as returning the slab to the original level there is no simple solution so far domestically or internationally. Resin injection has been talked about where the rest of the house slab is brought up to the heaved edge level but this is complicated and has several potential long term problems. There are a few experimental techniques to be test this year with any luck. Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 753Jan 29, 2016 4:16 pm Thanks insider. I have seen dished slabs and you have now confirmed that elastic deflection has transitioned into creep and with no known remedy. Your at the coal face experience is invaluable. Thanks for sharing with us Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 754Jan 30, 2016 9:16 am Reading all of this makes me glad I have a timber home on stumps. The worst thing that happens is some small plaster cracking and from time to time a door might need a bit planed off it. Otherwise it can move up and down as much as it likes. I also don't mind the idea of screw piers with a slab designed to be essentially a suspended slab. Problem is it's not the cheapest way of building, and we all know what project builders like!! Building Services Engineer Renovating our 1960's modernist home in Brisbane https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=82091 Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 755Jan 30, 2016 10:18 am Great to hear Consumers affairs will be dealing with disputes in Vict. That is the way it is here over in the west where.... ultimately the buck stops with the Certifying Engineer. Mediations is costly ($500 p/hr per/p) and ![]() Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 756Jan 30, 2016 1:20 pm ![]() Great to hear Consumers affairs will be dealing with disputes in Vict. That is the way it is here over in the west where.... ultimately the buck stops with the Certifying Engineer. Mediations is costly ($500 p/hr per/p) and ![]() I think you are seriously delusional about Consumer Affairs and the importance of engineers in domestic construction. For a start CA has done nothing of substance for homeowners and many homeowners have come to me having wasted their time. Engineers do not feature in any statutory building inspection so they are not needed beyond design and certification of engineering work. As a developer, I decide which engineering company I engage, terms of engagement, the scope of service and specification of work to be done. So who is in control? As I said before, as much as I respect the profession they are ( invaluable) cog in the wheel, but not the wheel. Your depth of delusion is only exceeded by the shallowness of your pitch. There are other engineers on this forum who are worthier ambassadors for your profession. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 757Jan 30, 2016 1:56 pm ![]() .....There are other engineers on this forum who are worthier ambassadors for your profession. LOL.. worthy ambassador (Stop I am in stitches), clients come to me because I offer a complete trusted service on site contracting and fixing up Structural Non-compliance & F&^%$%s.... Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 758Jan 30, 2016 3:10 pm It's all pretty simple really. The problem is either a design fault or a construction fault. Working out if something is a design fault is easy enough to do in retrospect - numbers do not lie. A peer review from one or two independent engineers is enough to eliminate this as a cause. If it is a design fault then the engineer has professional indemnity insurance to cover rectification costs. If it is not a design fault then it is a construction fault. Either the structure was not built in accordance with the design, or there are other issues like site drainage, plumbing leaks etc. Either way it is the responsibility of the main contractor/builder. Full stop. The state needs an authority with some balls who will actually force a builder to do what it takes to fix the problem, instead of being a bunch of nancies and letting the builders off with a slap on the wrist. I think we are pretty lucky in Qld that we seem to have reasonably good consumer protection, although it hasn't always been the case. Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 759Jan 30, 2016 3:48 pm NSW seems pretty much the same as Vic in my experience. The Dept of Fair Trading is pretty much a toothless tiger and the same licensed tradesmen seem to get away with doing the same shonki work again and again with little or no sanction from them. To me it is bordering on criminal and the authorities just let the situation continue. Stewie Re: Has anyone rectified slab heave successfully 760Jan 30, 2016 4:06 pm You could write a comedy about it if it wasn't so tragic. Building Commission that was in charge of building control considered building industry a stakeholder even wining and dining them. That's like prisoners having a stake in running of the prison, no doubt they all get get out of jail card, just like some builders that should be in jail. Nothing has changed because of vested interests. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Shop around do your homework id talk to architects as well some of ghem have there own building teams and dont build on a wafflle pod slab. Its a desaster soon as water… 1 21464 Hi all, new to this group. Been watching the site for a while to get an idea of comments and help from everyone. Whilst our questions below are Plainland QLD specific,… 0 23545 ![]() Yes it is a take it or leave it contract, standard form contract. Can try and negotiate terms and conditions. Best to sit down with dictionary and read contract, read… 7 19243 |