Browse Forums General Discussion 1 May 30, 2020 6:39 pm Hello all, We are doing a KDR project with Henley. They took over the site in the first week of May and started the cut and fill process to prepare the site for the slab. However, on cutting, they advised they found too much water below the surface making the site too soft to continue working. Initially the site supervisor advised to wait for 2 weeks, but now after 4 weeks, they advising to wait until spring. (i.e. more than 3 months). Has anyone had a similar experience where the site was too wet and the builder had to stop the building process. Isn't there a way out to drain out the water? Is there an alternative approach to continue with the build? Thanks in advance.. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Site too wet to cut 2Jun 01, 2020 9:37 pm You need to talk to either a geotechnical engineer or a hydraulics engineer for advice. The builder may be right and anyone else here as well but unless they have either of the qualifications above, then it may be false or misleading advice. Some other info about your site like local topography around your site would help. Stewie Re: Site too wet to cut 4Jun 02, 2020 9:49 am Hi Sunny05 Seriously, the building Industry doesn't come to a halt in winter when it rains? Sounds like your builder has an alternate motivation to delaying your build, either way delays harms the owners. OT, I am curious as to whether the pending govt stimulus handout comes into play some way, incidentally there will be no assistance to struggling home owners Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Site too wet to cut 5Jun 02, 2020 10:06 am Not to existing homeowners Chris. It is designed to get the building industry moving by encouraging people who are thinking of building to actually sign up. More info two threads down... viewtopic.php?f=1&t=99086 Stewie Re: Site too wet to cut 6Jun 02, 2020 10:39 am Interesting times ahead, I hope they do more for Tradies and Small Builders as they are getting screwed ATM. As for DIYers, Owner builders and Suppliers like Bunnings hope they don't cop it in the arse. Where the $40K goes to increasing Big builders profits with no flow on to others. LOL, Treasury has already proven inept with big number$ Cheers Chris Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Site too wet to cut 8Jun 02, 2020 9:03 pm sunny05 Hello all, We are doing a KDR project with Henley. They took over the site in the first week of May and started the cut and fill process to prepare the site for the slab. However, on cutting, they advised they found too much water below the surface making the site too soft to continue working. Initially the site supervisor advised to wait for 2 weeks, but now after 4 weeks, they advising to wait until spring. (i.e. more than 3 months). Has anyone had a similar experience where the site was too wet and the builder had to stop the building process. Isn't there a way out to drain out the water? Is there an alternative approach to continue with the build? Thanks in advance.. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ What about an agi drain near the cut ? it looks like sand at the surface. If it was sand down deep then it should be free draining so I would suspect you have a clay layer under the surface sand and therefore a drain might work. What did the soil test say? Re: Site too wet to cut 11Jun 04, 2020 3:58 pm insider sunny05 Hello all, We are doing a KDR project with Henley. They took over the site in the first week of May and started the cut and fill process to prepare the site for the slab. However, on cutting, they advised they found too much water below the surface making the site too soft to continue working. Initially the site supervisor advised to wait for 2 weeks, but now after 4 weeks, they advising to wait until spring. (i.e. more than 3 months). Has anyone had a similar experience where the site was too wet and the builder had to stop the building process. Isn't there a way out to drain out the water? Is there an alternative approach to continue with the build? Thanks in advance.. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ What about an agi drain near the cut ? it looks like sand at the surface. If it was sand down deep then it should be free draining so I would suspect you have a clay layer under the surface sand and therefore a drain might work. What did the soil test say? Thank you all for the response There have been 2 soil reports done viz. before and after demolition and none of the soil reports mentioned anything about wet soil. The description in the soil report is Silty sandy CLAY, grey brown orange, moist, stiff-v.stiff. I have now been given an alternative approach by the builder i.e. to get rid of all the wet soil which will cost me a fortune or wait until spring and hope the site dries out. Re: Site too wet to cut 12Aug 12, 2020 9:01 am Hi sunny05 - what did you end up doing to address this issue? I am having a similar problem at a KDR site in Melbourne's east, there is waterlogged clay soil down to 700-900mm that is preventing the site cut from occurring. Seems to be due to the record rainfall we had in April - it was the wettest April since 1960. Given the cool temperatures and rainfall since, the soil is has not dried out beneath the surface. Current options are (1) wait 3-4 months for the soil to dry out; (2) suspend the entire slab on dozens of screwpiles so that it sits above the surface and minimal scrape is required ($30k); (3) trench and install a couple of agi drains about 500mm deep through the site and connect into stormwater to help drain away the moisture; (4) dig through some gypsum and lime to break up the clay and improve drainage. Currently looking at (4) and (5) in the hope that improved drainage will help the site dry out enough in 2-3 weeks to allow site cut to proceed. Re: Site too wet to cut 13Aug 12, 2020 9:54 am Hi legendary A solution is remove a layer of clay put down a dpm and a sand pad and drainage ask your Builder for an engineers report, data and costs... never believe what the new home salesman says ( always get it qualified in writing) Sounds like you are locked in and pushed back..? Goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Site too wet to cut 14Aug 12, 2020 11:47 am Thanks structuralBIMGuy - builder is small/medium and this is a custom build so we are having a collaborative discussion with them directly, not dealing with sales people thank goodness. Cost of the wet spoil excavation and removal is around $20k, looking at 400m3 to be removed and disposed off. Tip fees alone are $25m3 when it is wet. It is an option but an expensive one considering the site was fine when soil report was done in December. Will discuss it further with the builder again. Re: Site too wet to cut 15Aug 12, 2020 11:51 am StructuralBIMGuy Hi legendary A solution is remove a layer of clay put down a dpm and a sand pad and drainage ask your Builder for an engineers report, data and costs... never believe what the new home salesman says ( always get it qualified in writing) Sounds like you are locked in and pushed back..? Goodluck Hey Chris, dpm or geotextile? I am in for geotextile. Re: Site too wet to cut 16Aug 12, 2020 11:52 am Legendary Thanks structuralBIMGuy - builder is small/medium and this is a custom build so we are having a collaborative discussion with them directly, not dealing with sales people thank goodness. Cost of the wet spoil excavation and removal is around $20k, looking at 400m3 to be removed and disposed off. Tip fees alone are $25m3 when it is wet. It is an option but an expensive one considering the site was fine when soil report was done in December. Will discuss it further with the builder again. what is the building envelope size? 400 m3 sounds like too much On the other side, you can save tons on piles and reinforcement if you remove clay and replace it with compacted sand, sand will provide much better platform for your house. Re: Site too wet to cut 17Aug 12, 2020 12:10 pm The build is a 4bd family home with an integrated 2bd unit under the same roofline. So it's a 350m2 building footprint. Builder is saying 400m3 of soil removal is required to put down sand as the clay is too wet to compact or even hold sand until you excavate towards 800-1000mm. Re: Site too wet to cut 18Aug 12, 2020 12:22 pm I see, yes, you would need to remove/replace soil up to 1 meter off your perimeter. So may be giving it some time to drain is another option? Your sand would have to be professionally compacted in layers + tested for compaction as this will become engineered fill at 800-1000 mm. Re: Site too wet to cut 19Aug 13, 2020 9:14 am alexp79 Hey Chris, dpm or geotextile? I am in for geotextile. 200/250um polythene < $1/m2 and a 1m deep sand pad 2m beyond the house perimeter The site may be reduced from M to S check the geo report Thus allowing masonry construction.It'll still needs a lot of reinforcement though Cheers Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Site too wet to cut 20Aug 13, 2020 6:45 pm Legendary A sand pad won't work and it will make the drainage worse. All you are doing is creating a pool underneath your house.Water flows across the top of the natural clay then when you did a pit and then fill it with sand the water will pond in it leaving you with a water problem for the life of the house and you may get deep seated clay heave or shallow clay bearing capacity failure. The only option if you want to start construction soon is a properly constructed cut off drain and the agi drain they are suggesting won't work either. PM me your email. I have a build excavation calculator you can use based on your plans to double check what your builder is telling you. Cheers Simeon 1 10256 All sorted guys. Just needed to buy a blade with the correct bush. Dunno how to delete this post, can't find any help file. Cheers. 1 3667 Fine with me... just let 'em step in with some affordable (but good) gear... 12 5498 |