Types of Buildings

• Residential and Commercial Single Storey to six storey
• Multiple Units
• Apartments
• Retail
• Industrial sheds
• Warehouses

Type of Structures

• Retaining walls
• Cellars
• Mezzanine floors
• Carports
• Steel Frames
• Portal Frames
• Trusses
• Canopy

General Services

• Repurchase building inspections
• Bore hole reports and visual site classifications
• Wind classifications
• Earthquake design
• Slab on ground designs – waffle slab and conventional
• Suspended slab designs
• Strip and pad footing designs
• Steel and timber beam designs
• Building over sewer or adjacent to sewer designs to meet SA Water requirements or the local water authority
• Inspections of pier holes, slab reinforcement steel and steel beam and column installations
• Dilapidation reports
• General consultancy advice
• Inspection of remedial and/or rectification work
• First floor additional structural adequacy reports
• Online inspection booking service and retrieval of result
• Site supervision
• Forensic and expert witness

Civil and Stormwater Design

• Civil engineering design
• Storm water pipe systems to the street or soakage area
• Retention tanks, for reuse of water on site
• Detention tanks, for slow release of water from site
• Sump and pump out systems for low level sites
• Pavement levels to storm water run off
• Liaison with Councils, owner, Builder and Architect for planning and building rules consent – Building approval

Building Inspections and Certification:

• Pre-purchase inspections: This inspection assesses the property’s condition and a report is made up to cover everything you need to know about a building. It allows you to know what repairs are needed and their cost before buying a property. This inspection checks:
  • Structural issues: Checks compliance with building codes and structural integrity.
  • Insight to necessary repairs: Outlines required repairs and their costs.
  • Electrical wiring and smoke alarm tests: Ensures safety systems are functioning correctly.
  • Identification of other unsafe items: Identifies hazards like asbestos and missing balustrades.
  • Sundry structures evaluation: Checks all other structures including sheds, patios and pools.
• Insurance claims:
  • Inspect for pre-existing damage or defects (e.g., leaks, structural issues).
  • Help validate insurance claim and establish the extent of damage.
• Common defects found in building inspections are:
  • Cracks in walls, foundations and ceilings.
  • Structural issues inside and outside of the home such as walls, fences and carports.
  • Water damage and leaks.
  • Mould, moisture and dampness.
• Upper storey additions:
  • Evaluation of existing foundation and structure for load-bearing capacity.
  • Ensure the building can safely support an upper storey.
  • Compliance with building codes and regulations.
• Building inspections during construction phase look at elements such as:
  • Foundation and slabs
    • Checks footings and slabs for proper dimensions and plumbing.
  • Wall and roof framing
    • Ensures framing is built to specifications and to code.
  • Pre-lining/lock-up stage
    • Evaluates external work and checks plumbing, electrical and gas installations.
  • Final inspection
    • Reviews finished materials, ensuring everything matches plans and regulations.

Retaining Wall Designs

Site specific engineered tailored for situation and loads with or without fences over

• Moss rock walls
• Steel posts and concrete sleepers
• Concrete blocks
• Masonry walls, reinforced
• Reinforced concrete walls
• Gabion rock baskets
• Gravity or Mass retaining walls

Cracked Houses and Underpinning

Cracked Houses

• Unstable soil beneath homes causes structural shifting, leading to visible cracking.
• Older buildings may not have proper footings for the type of soil beneath them.
• High-reactivity soil causes soil to swell in wet conditions and shrink in dry conditions. This causes the house footings to shift and result in:
  • Cracks in internal and external walls
  • Uneven floors
  • Misaligned doors and frames.
• How we can help:
  • Assess the impact of soil movement.
  • Undertake reports on cracked and damaged houses.
  • Provide solutions to restore or minimize further damage of cracking.

Underpinning

• Underpinning is a common solution to close cracks and prevent them from reforming. It involves constructing stronger footings to support the foundation and fix faulty footings. This process includes:
  • Excavating original footings.
  • Reinforcing them with steel and concrete.
  • Lifting the house to make it level again, closing cracks and preventing future ones.
• Mass Pour Method:
  • Most common method.
  • Excavating in sections, pouring concrete into pits to reinforce footings.
  • Repeated until the entire area is underpinned.
  • May not be suitable for all buildings.
• Screws Piles and Brackets:
  • Used when deep excavation or piling rigs are impractical.
  • Screw piles provide tension and compression support.
  • Support brackets ensure structural integrity.
  • Faster to install with minimal vibrations, reducing surrounding damage.
• Piles and Beams:
  • Involves installing mini-piles on either side of the wall.
  • Needle beams connect piles to support the wall.
  • High load capacity and suitable for restricted access areas.
  • Faster than traditional underpinning with less disruption.
• Piled Rafting:
  • Used when the entire structure requires underpinning or foundations are too deep.
  • Piles are installed and needle beams reinforce the foundation.
  • Provides lateral and traverse ties across the structure.
  • Economical for depths greater than 1.5m and minimizes disruption to drainage systems.

Septic and Soakage Feasibility and Design

 

Registered Building Work Supervisor for Owner Builders

• Responsible for assisting owner builders in ensuring that construction projects are carried out safely, efficiently and in accordance with building standards.
• Provide advice and assist with issues that may arise such as cases of disputes, difficulties with materials, challenges with subcontractors or council requirements.
• Conduct staged inspections throughout the project:
  • Startup meeting: An on-site meeting to review the project details, identify potential risks and establish a clear plan for the work ahead.
  • Trench inspection: Ensures trenches are stable, safe and properly excavated to prevent collapse.
  • Reinforcement inspection: Checks the concrete slab for correct reinforcement to prevent structural issues.
  • Timber or steel framing inspection: Ensures framing is installed to meet safety and durability standards.
  • Waterproofing inspection: Checks the walls, foundation and roof for leaks and cracks to prevent water damage.
  • Final inspection: Ensures all safety systems are in place and that the structure meets the required standards.