Monitoring and Evidence3 min read
How to Make a Crack Map an Engineer Can Use
Make a crack map using a clear plan, stable issue IDs and named measuring points. Link photographs and related symptoms so an engineer can follow the record.
Engineering Insights
Expert insights on structural engineering, forensic investigations, and building assessments from Melbourne's leading forensic structural engineers.
Monitoring and Evidence4 min read
A Repeatable Crack Record How to Keep Measurements Comparable
Keep crack measurements comparable with fixed points, consistent methods, dates and photo references. Record uncertain readings and know when to request review.
Maintenance and prevention10 min read
What Foundation Maintenance Does a Homeowner Need to Keep Up With?
Keep drainage, ground changes and maintenance records together. Understand why a new subsoil drain on clay needs more thought than adding a pipe.
Perimeter and site drainage3 min read
What Should a Residential Site Drainage Plan Resolve Before Building?
Residential site drainage needs to be resolved with the footing layout and finished levels, not left as a final landscaping decision. Surface drainage needs to avoid ponding near footings, with several constraints affecting how that is achieved. A line saying drain away is not the same as a coordinated site proposal.
Surface and hidden water4 min read
Can New Paving Still Leave Water Trapped Beside the House?
Rainwater runoff is the part of a paving change you can see. Beneath an impermeable covering, less rain may reach the soil while less moisture may also escape by evaporation.
Trees and Vegetation5 min read
Trees Near Your House Root Pressure and Soil Drying Explained
Separate physical root pressure from moisture-related ground movement and identify the evidence needed before intervention.
Water Drains and Maintenance5 min read
Could a Leaking Drain Be Contributing to House Movement?
Distinguish the effects of escaping water, soil entering pipes and blockages when investigating movement around drains.
Ground and Foundation Movement5 min read
What can cause a building to settle and how are the causes investigated?
Understand the different ways ground support can change and what evidence separates the explanations.
Site classification3 min read
What Do Site Classes A, S, M, H1, H2 and E Mean?
A site class describes ground behaviour relevant to footing design. It is not a house-condition grade. Classes A, S, M, H1, H2 and E distinguish sites by their expected response to moisture under normal-site assumptions. The classification must be read with the soil profile, the depth of movement and the investigation findings.
Problem-site design3 min read
What Does a Class P Site Mean for a Home Building Project?
Class P means the site has a problem or condition that cannot be adequately described by the ordinary normal-site reactivity classification alone. It does not mean the house has failed, and it does not automatically mean piles or underpinning are required. The useful question is: why was this particular site classified P?
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