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When you’re building a new home, a long list of considerations is required before construction can even start.
From home design and layout to fencing, finishes and more, much research and planning is required to ensure you get the home of your dreams without blowing your budget.
But how much consideration have you given to the soil type you’ll be building on? For most, the answer is minimal, but what if we told you that the type of soil you’re building your foundation on can increase or decrease your home’s cost by thousands of dollars? Suddenly soil becomes a much higher priority.
We’ve put this article together to help you better understand soil types, how they affect your build and the specific soil type in The Glades.
Regardless of how a building is constructed, it can and often will move. This movement can be up, down, lateral or rotational, with the cause generally pointing to problems in the foundation soil.
To limit any problems in a home’s foundation, and prevent any possible movement, it’s important to classify the type of soil that’s being built on.
The soil classification is used by builders when designing the slab and the footings. If movement is expected, based on the soil type, the slab and footings need to be adjusted to allow for this. And that can be a costly exercise.
In fact, the higher the reactivity and movement in the soil, the more engineering is required, which can increase the cost of your home by thousands of dollars.
The first step in classifying an estate lot is to conduct a soil test.
Based on the soil test results, the soil will be classified with one of six letters (A, S, M, H, E, P) – each representing a soil type.
Houses can be built on all classifications but building costs will vary depending on the Site Classification.
| Soil Type | Stands For | Characteristics | Surface Movement |
| A | Acceptable | Little to no ground movement from moisture changes (not reactive); most sand and rock sites | 0mm |
| S | Satisfactory | Slightly reactive with only slight ground movement from moisture changes; clay sites | 0-20mm |
| M | Moderately Reactive | Moderately reactive with moderate ground movement from moisture changes; clay or silt sites | 20-40mm |
| H | Highly Reactive | Highly reactive with high ground movement from moisture changes; clay sites | 40-60mm |
| E | Extremely Reactive | Extremely reactive with extreme ground movement from moisture changes; clay sites | 60-75mm |
| P | Problem – or phenomenon | Includes soft soils, such as soft clay or silt or loose sands; landslip; mine subsidence; collapsing soils; soils subject to erosion; reactive sites subject to abnormal moisture conditions or sites which cannot be classified otherwise. | N/A |
After completing the required subdivision works, a geotechnical engineer designates all residential lots with a specific Site Classification.
The Site Classification is a rating that is dependent on several factors such as soil type and moisture content.
The most important factor is the type of soil used to complete the earthworks. The more reactive the soil, the higher the Site Classification, with sandy sites having the highest Site Classification.
The Glades at Byford estate has Class S soil. This soil type is slightly reactive with only slight ground movement from moisture changes (such as clay sites).
At The Glades, we do things differently to ensure there are no additional costs when it comes to your build.
Our earthworks and stormwater drainage designs are engineered in a way to remove the need for you to install soakwells. We do this by earthworking each lot to a Class ‘S’ classification and by providing each residential lot with an individual stormwater connection point. This connects your lot’s stormwater with the road stormwater drainage network. Your builder simply connects the internal PVC plumbing from your home’s downpipes to the stormwater connection point provided.
The combined result of our earthworks and stormwater drainage design will ensure your building costs are comparable to lots with a Class ‘A’ soil type*
All lots in The Glades are guaranteed to be constructed to achieve a Class ‘S’ site classification to meet Australian Standards.
For more information, check out our Glades Site Classification Guarantee flyer.
If you’re looking to build your dream forever home in Byford, see the current land for sale in The Glades to find your perfect block.
Disclaimer. *Reduction in siteworks costs is based on a comparison to Class ‘A’ lots that require the installation of soakwells. Siteworks costs are calculated by the builder and not by LWP and are subject to change depending on the builder and size of your lot. Although LWP has been advised by several project home builders that there is a reduction in siteworks costs based on the engineering design of The Glades as noted above, LWP provides no guarantee that there will be a net savings in siteworks costs when compared to Class ‘A’ lots that require the installation of soakwells. Please liaise with your builder to determine final siteworks costs.
