House Site Soil Testing

Overview

Getting your build off to a solid start

Before the slab goes down or footings are poured, the soil beneath a new house needs to be understood. House site soil testing combines on-site investigation — hand auger or borehole samples across the building footprint — with laboratory analysis of soil type, moisture and reactivity, so your builder and structural engineer can design a footing system that matches actual ground conditions.

This is closely related to (and often delivered alongside) AS 2870 site classification, but house site soil testing can also extend to bearing capacity checks for slab-on-ground designs, identification of fill or made ground, and advice on drainage or site preparation issues that could affect the build.

Getting this right at the start avoids two costly outcomes: an over-engineered footing that adds unnecessary cost, or an under-designed one that leads to cracking, doors that stick, or worse down the track.

What's included

• ✓ On-site borehole or hand auger investigation across the footprint
• ✓ Soil classification and reactivity testing
• ✓ Identification of fill, made ground or problem soils
• ✓ Bearing capacity guidance for slab and footing design
• ✓ Clear report for your builder, designer or certifier

Who this service is for

Owner-builders, builders and building designers preparing for a new home, granny flat, shed or major renovation who need reliable ground data before footing design and building approval.

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