Foundations Data and their Importance in your building project

Before you commence construction on your residential property, there are a number of facts/information that will be required. Foundations data is the bedrock of your construction project. Many builders will refuse to provide a detailed quotation until the foundations data is obtained, so it might be worth getting this data early on in your project.

What Is Foundations Data

Foundations Data means information about the building site required to prepare footings design and, if required, concrete slab design for the site. It will include a soil test that outlines the type of soil on site and its volatility. A foundations data report will often recommend the depth of stumps or type of slab or strip footing required.

This is critical to working out the contract price. In most jurisdictions, the builder must have this information prior to signing a construction contract.

How to Get Foundations Data

Building companies will usually get the foundation data for you (at a cost), but you can get it yourself through your architect or designer, or by engaging a geotechnical engineer. This means you can give it to other builders, along with plans and specifications, to get accurate quotes.

Some builders will ask the homeowner to sign a preliminary agreement which covers the cost of the site survey and foundations data and gives the builder legal access to the site to carry out these works. This preliminary agreement is signed prior to a full construction contract being entered into.

Disputes About Foundations Data

One of the most common disputes in residential building relates to the cost of excavation and the removal of rock etc from the site at the time of footings and foundation. If a soil test and adequate foundations data have been obtained prior to contract, then there should not be any surprises as to whether there is rock on site. The removal of rock can substantially increase excavation costs on site, which can add thousands to the cost of your home.

There are rare times when the soil test may not have shown up rock (or other items such as used car parts) on site. In these instances, the additional costs can be passed onto the homeowner. If foundations data has not been obtained prior to contract, and there is a cost escalation, then most States and Territories make it illegal for the builder to pass these additional costs onto the owner.

Foundations data is an essential part (and a legal requirement) of any residential construction and obtaining this information will often be the first and most important step in progressing your project to construction.