search
  • The Importance of Soil Testing When Building a Home

    When you’re building a new home it’s easy to get caught up in planning all the fun details. The reality is that house builders Brisbane actually need to know more than what type of flooring you want to install. There’s lots of preparation involved with a building project, but one of the most important puzzle pieces is soil testing. The Importance of Soil Testing When Building a Home determines lots of things about how your home is designed and engineered, so it’s critical to the entire process.

    What is Soil Testing?

    Soil testing is a big part of the home building process. Most modern homes are built on concrete slabs laid directly over the ground beneath, so that means the quality of the soil has a big impact on the stability of your house. Soil testing is compulsory in most Australian states and is carried out by professional geotechnical engineers. The engineer will take samples from your block of land for testing and review, and they’ll return to you with a soil classification. That soil classification can then be used by your builder to design a slab, footing or other foundations for your home.

    How is Soil Testing Performed?

    Soil testing is performed by licensed geotechnical engineers. They visit your site and use specialised hollow drills to take “core” samples from the ground. These cylindrical samples of soil are then taken back to their facility for analysis and testing. The major benefit of this type of soil testing is that it reveals what’s going on underneath the ground. Depending on your needs, soil testing can be done at depths anywhere from 10 centimetres to several metres, although residential builds usually only take shallow samples.

    When performing soil sampling for a construction project, it’s important to take samples from all over the site. Soil composition can vary from one area to the next, so it’s common for engineers to take dozens of samples from every part of the block.

    Australian Soil Classifications

    The soil that’s taken away from your site will be tested and given a soil classification. Soil classifications are a measure of how reactive the ground is. That is, how much the ground changes or moves when it’s subject to external factors such as moisture absorption. Stable soil that shows less movement is considered less reactive, while highly reactive soils expand and contract noticeably with moisture absorption.

    Soil testing is a major part of the Australian construction industry and is regulated by Australian Standards. According to AS2870, Australian soils are grouped into several classifications:

    ClassificationSurface MovementSite Type
    ASandy or rocky sites that show little to no movement.
    S0mm to 20mmLow reactive clay sites that show small movements.
    M20mm to 40mmModerately reactive clay sites that show moderate amounts of movement.
    H140mm to 60mmVery reactive clay sites prone to lots of movement.
    H260mm to 75mmVery reactive clay sites which demonstrate lots of movement.
    E75mm or moreExtremely reactive sites. Usually unsuitable for building
    PProblematic sites. P grade sites are often composed of silt, soft sand or filled material and unusual water conditions.

    Other Soil Classification Factors

    Soil classifications aren’t the only thing house builders Brisbane pay attention to. To ensure your new home is stable and protected from shifts in the land underneath, builders also consider other factors:

    • Erosion – Soil classification is effectively a measure of how much soil shifts when it absorbs water. This creates an additional problem, because water causes soil to erode away over time. Eroding soils can hollow out support from underneath your slab, eventually leading to severe foundation cracking and other structural problems.
    • Bearing Capacity – The weight of a house pressing down on soil is significant. Bearing capacity is a measure of how much weight the soil in an area can safely hold. It’s possible for a soil to be low reactive but also have low bearing capacity. If that’s the case, the ground will require additional compaction or other treatments to stabilise the foundations.
    • Seasonal Changes – Rainy and drought periods can cause major shifts in soil. In areas that are prone to these seasonal changes, engineers need to pay attention to how much the ground shifts over time. In rainy periods the ground may swell and crack the foundations. In dry periods the ground may shrink and remove support away from vital footings. In either case, your building engineer will need to develop drainage and stabilisation systems that minimise the impact of seasonal changes.

    Farmhouse Designs in India: 15 Inspiring Styles To Know

    The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]

    Read More

    20 Designs For Kitchen Window Over Sink In India Homes

    When it comes to enhancing the kitchen window over the sink, various design ideas are possible to decorate Indian homes. From rooted in tradition to Western-style modular kitchens offer both functionality and attractive aesthetics. Apart from the sleek profile and raised breakfast counter, the kitchen window over sink is another spot to add appeal and […]

    Read More

    50 Timeless Pooja Room Door Design For Indian Homes

    Indian homes place equal importance on pooja room door designs as they do on main door designs. With diverse and unique ethnic backgrounds, every family strives to reflect their personalities and identities in their designs. These identities can encompass religious or spiritual interests, local contexts, or other personal elements. This series of blogs, featuring 50 […]

    Read More

    50 Indian Door Design For Main Door To Enhance the Curb Appeal

    The door design for main door is a defining feature of any Indian home, embodying both style and cultural significance. In a country rich with diverse architectural traditions, the entrance to your home reflects not only personal taste but also cultural heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate carvings of traditional Indian door designs or […]

    Read More

    50 Best Pillar Design Ideas And Inspirations For Indian Spaces

    Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]

    Read More

    50 Best Wall Moulding Design Inspirations For Your Interiors

    Wall Moulding Design is a great way to amp up your space and elevate the overall look of your home. There are a wide range of moulding designs that can add a distinct character to your space. Wall moulding design comes from different kinds of materials, such as PVC, plaster, wood, etc. The right choice […]

    Read More

    Rooftop Design Ideas – 20 Brilliant Ideas for your Indian Roofs

    Rooftop design ideas open up an interesting world for your roofs or terraces to be meaningful and beautiful at the same time. In India, rooftop design ideas hold immense potential to address critical challenges and enhance community well-being. By integrating solar energy generation, green spaces, and rainwater harvesting, rooftops can contribute significantly to sustainable urban […]

    Read More

    20 Screening Evergreen Trees for Indian Home Landscaping

    The integration of screening evergreen trees serves as an artful blend of practicality and natural beauty. These screening evergreen trees, with their lush foliage and diverse benefits, play a crucial role in enhancing privacy. It also blocks unwanted views, and contributes to the overall well-being of homeowners. From the majestic Jamun trees to the versatile […]

    Read More

    50 Magnificent Gate Design That Will Protect Your Home

    Gate Design is an important feature of any home. Numerous scopes for experimentation open up when delving into the design possibilities. Materials like wood and black steel are popular options in Indian homes. At the same time, designers also experiment with a combination of materials that suits their aesthetic. Buying mass-produced Sydney automated gates has […]

    Read More

    Transforming Spaces: 15 Painting Techniques for Walls to Inspire

    Embarking on a journey into the realm of interior design, our focus turns to the transformative realm of painting techniques for walls. In this exploration, we delve beyond traditional colour choices, uncovering a diverse palette of methods that redefine living spaces. Going beyond the conventional, these painting techniques redefine walls, introducing depth, texture, and individuality. […]

    Read More
  • 'Vanaja' The Courtyard House Is A Tribute To Our Culture And Heritage | VRIKSH

    A Composition Of Modern Luxury Furniture With Distinct Shapes And Lines | RUBY'S SIGNATURE