One of the things most builders tell my clients is that the construction of the concrete floor slab is engineer certified. Recently we were engaged by a client to monitor construction of their home. This service incliudes checking the floor slab reinforcing prior to concrete placement. In most cases a builder has an engineer check and certify the slab and reinforcing prior to pouring. The slab was the first phase of the clients home constructed by one of Australia's largest builders. Their independent engineer signed off documentation stating the reinforcing and waffle pod elements of the slab met their design requirements. This was far from the point as our independent inspection ident
Good drainage is an essential part of any homes performance. Building garden beds against the home can cause issues that are detrimental to your home. The Building Code of Australia requires a fall of 50mm in the first away from the base of external walls In this new home the builder has installed garden edging and stones that form a moat around the property filling with water when it rains. This will effect the homes future performance by causing excessive and increasing dampness to build up. In the long term it can lead to slab edge dampness, decaying base of wall framing, mould amd health issues. The water build up will also affect / negate the homes chemical termite barrier system.
