So, we are thinking about building in the western suburbs of Melbourne. I know that there is some debate about whether waffle slabs or rafts slabs are better on those reactive soils and I understand that the vast majority of volume builders will only do waffle slabs.
When speaking to the salespeople at those builders, they confidently say they will build what the engineers will recommend based on the soil test...does that mean that because they appoint the engineer as part of their contract they are confident that the engineer won’t recommend a raft slab, or am I being too cynical?
Or, do the engineers generally offer options (ie, which waffle type or which raft type in their report)?
I’m concerned that we will end up in a contract with a builder and that a raft slab would be best but will be locked in to a waffle slab.
Also, has there been advances in those waffle slabs, or how they are used, over time so they are less troublesome in the past? Or were past instances waffle slabs that were done incorrectly please?
Thanks!