Yesterday my first contribution to ACA was aired. I was happy to assist the desperate complaint of people whose home building dream is ruined. Here are some clarifications:

1  There is nothing wrong with building on highly reactive clay soils providing precautions are taken at design and construction of the home, and the home is properly maintained. I have seen many instances of home foundation heave  but equally I have seen many more homes without problems.

2 The problem is that builders are not following geotechnical engineer’s recommendations, AS 2870 and their building site management practices are woeful. I have been complaining about this for years in my reports.

3 Most often it’s poor site drainage that is the cause of the slab heave but damaged, defective or leaking drainage is also often found

4 Concrete apron paving around home to protect foundation from water and dampness ingress is not and cannot be “optional extra”. As essential element of slab protection it must be constructed by builder to achieve “fitness for purpose ” under their legal warranty obligations.

Mladichek’s warranty test

Who is at fault? Our building control system.

Of course, our building control system is supervised by Building Commission

In reading this some of you may think that I am over the top but this is not the case. It’s balanced even if biased opinion and I have plenty to be biased about.

We are talking about failed dreams, failed marriages and failed health of people whose lives have been ruined.

We have a failed building  control system (read Clayton’s control system) that allows builders to get away with blue murder. Why?

Because it is cheaper for builders to keep making money (by continuing to skimp on management and control) and then fob off complaints and settle a few for a pittance than to invest and maintain functional control system.

That’s why