Soil, slabs and movement in Wyndham Vale VIC
Wyndham Vale sits on the eastern edge of the Western Volcanic Plain. The clay that forms over the basalt is commonly reactive, so it swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Slabs here are designed for that movement, but the design assumes the ground around the house stays at steady moisture. Poor grading, leaking downpipes and gardens against the slab all work against it.
The site class for your lot comes from your soil report, not the suburb.
Stiffening beams in a waffle slab are what deal with clay movement.
Ground must fall away from the house on every side.
Downpipes need to discharge into the stormwater system, not onto the clay.
Creek flats along Lollypop Creek can behave differently to higher ground.
More about Wyndham Vale
- Building a new home in Wyndham Vale VIC
- Buying a house in Wyndham Vale VIC
- Growth and development in Wyndham Vale VIC
- Permits, council and building disputes in Wyndham Vale VIC
- Termite risk and pest inspections in Wyndham Vale VIC
- What our inspectors find in Wyndham Vale VIC
- Wind, climate and planning overlays in Wyndham Vale VIC
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Wyndham Vale. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
