When it comes to building a new home, it’s vital that you get it right from the ground up.

Ensuring the building site is properly prepared for your build is key to providing you with a home that will stand the test of time.

Not all slabs are created equal

It’s important to know that whilst every home will need to be built on a sturdy, level surface, not all concrete slabs are created equal. Soil samples are taken from a building site to make an informed decision about what class of slab is required. Soil types are classified based on how much surface movement is likely to occur.

In Melbourne, most sites are found to have highly reactive soil. This requires an H class slab that will deliver a higher level of reinforcement compared to an M class slab, which helps prevent cracking and movement of your new home over time.

Most builders include an M class slab in their base price — but this is only suitable for moderately reactive soil. This is a rarity in new home construction. Once soil tests confirm the need for an H class slab, it is not uncommon for some builders to then add thousands of dollars to the base price to cover the extra expense for the required slab.

The right foundation at no extra cost

At Fairhaven we recognise that the majority of Melbourne sites need an H1 class slab — that’s why we include this in our base price. This means you can proceed with confidence knowing that you will get the right foundation to support your home for years to come. Plus, you have clarity on your budget from the get-go and can allocate those extra funds elsewhere for your home. For added peace of mind, we also include 2-metre bored piers as part of our base price, so if your site needs stronger reinforcement, we’ve got you covered.

Bored piers are an additional building foundation support system that involves concrete piers that are drilled into the soil, to further reduce movement. A suitably strong foundation is a must and contributes to the structural integrity of your home. Providing you with a home that will last lifetimes is important to us.

There’s nothing worse than hidden costs and at Fairhaven, we pride ourselves on being upfront and transparent so that you can budget effectively to create the house of your dreams.