Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 17, 2015 5:52 pm Hi! I am hoping to get some advice, maybe from some of the builders or building experts on here??.... we have a block of land in eastern metro Victoria. It looks like we will start building first thing next year (which can't come soon enough - we waited two years to settle our land). We have signed off on the plans, elevations, colour selection, etc. The builder is preparing the paperwork for the permit which she assures me will be through before Christmas. The land has a slope of 2m from side to side. When looking at the property from the street frontage, the high side is on the left. There will be a cut into the land to make it flat for the slab. The soil test and site survey have been completed. To my surprise (as a lot of the estate has needed P class slabs due to lots of fill) ours came back as M class. It is noted that there is a small bit of fill on our block but it is not very deep i.e. 100mm (I did know this). The report notes that ‘an engineer designed footing system founded on controlled fill material is recommended’ with an M class waffle slab. In our site costs paperwork , it is noted: ‘Provide upgrade of foundations for a Class P/M slab including concrete, reinforcement, slab extension to porch, upgraded mesh and control bars in accordance with engineering report’. So… what exactly does this all mean? I am thinking that this means we may need piers under some, if not all, of our slab? Or am I wrong? I have asked my contact at the builder so many questions that I think I am driving her nuts . I asked her today if there was any other paperwork that we will see before starting, and she said no, but surely there is some sort of site planning done, which would show exactly what they are doing with the slab, how deep the cut is, if there are piers, etc? Or is this just all worked out ‘on the day?’…… or is this site planning something that does get done, but we don’t necessarily see/get given a copy? Any feedback/advice would be appreciated so if I do need to ask her more questions, or for copies of anything, at least I will have some more knowledge behind me. Thank you in advance!! My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Please help! - site/slab question (confused!!) 2Nov 17, 2015 6:32 pm The normal soil report is based on ground level during the testing remaining. The fact that you say there is going to be a considerable cut means that the actual ground that your house will be built on will be better than the initial soil report suggests. (It soulnds like the fill will be removed. My question would be is a retaining wall required next to the area of cut? and has this been costed? The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Please help! - site/slab question (confused!!) 3Nov 17, 2015 10:03 pm Yes the engineer will have plans which show everything to do with the drainage and footings, when I built I got a copy of these by requesting it. Although the contractors can make some adjustments 'on the day' if they feel extra strength is required. Re: Please help! - site/slab question (confused!!) 4Nov 18, 2015 7:31 am Thanks Man1, I will email the builder in a few weeks when I am sure that the engineering plans have been finished, and ask for a copy. Bashworth, yes there is a retaining wall and it has been costed, this seems ok so I am not really concerned about that, more in how the slab is going to be done. I think I got confused when our builder contact said that there was nothing else to sign off on . I took it that there was no other paperwork, when there clearly is, I just don't have to sign it off! Thanks for your help My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com If this is a custom build then I would expect the builder to set out the door frame closer to the wall to avoid the gap between architrave and the wall and or specify… 9 8352 We were lucky in that our old house was so small (86 square metres) compared to the new house, they were able to take enough readings around the old backyard house before… 8 37368 |