The Hidden Costs of Footings for Buildings in Adelaide, Are You Paying Too Much?
When your footings have been designed by an Engineer and Council has granted Development Approval, it’s easy to assume the hard work is done. However, footing costs can sometimes blow out unexpectedly once construction begins. Hidden costs can catch homeowners off guard, but this blog will help you understand what influences footing expenses and how to avoid these surprises and be better prepared.
Why Footings Matter
Footings are the foundation of structural building. They start as excavated trenches installed with reinforcement and are filled with concrete. Variables such as soil type, trench depth and width, placement, and structure type should all be carefully considered to ensure the foundation and structure are supported without failure, settlement, or cracking. Without strong footings, you risk foundation movement and settlement, which can cause cracks in your walls and flooring in the future.
Why Costs Can Increase
Other situations arise when house packages are sold on land before the soil report is done, or when you sign a contract with a builder who estimates the footing sizes as nominally 500 mm deep. In reality, footings can be far deeper for most Adelaide soils, especially if large trees are nearby.
Key items that affect costs include the slope of the block, the amount of existing fill, how much additional fill is needed to create the bench level, and the type of soil on site. A sloping block consists of unlevel elevations and depending on the direction and severity of the slope, the footing design may require more cut and fill, which can become costly. Calculating the house bench level and obtaining a level or contour survey is therefore vital.
The Role of Soil and Fill
The soil report will show if you have reactive soil or rock in the soil profile, but knowing how much fill is on site can still be uncertain. Reactive soil in Adelaide requires deeper and stiffer footing beams to manage soil movement and prevent cracking of the structure. Determining the cut and fill will also require a level survey along with a site works and drainage plan, all of which may not be available if you purchase land from a sales team selling lots in bulk.
In addition to footing costs, earthworks can be expensive if the block is not flat or needs to be raised. Footings cost more in these cases because extra footing piers under the beams are required to bear onto firm natural soils.
How to Avoid Surprises
Before building, you will require soil logging, soil classification, a level survey, and a site works and drainage plan. It is important to do this before signing a building contract or even buying land. Spending this time with professionals like Epic Projects will help manage costs later and avoid mistakes and cost overruns that could take you out of budget.
Contact Epic Projects today to get expert guidance on your footings and site preparation.
Call now at (08) 8223 3009 and make sure your project starts on the right footing!