homes cracking in adelaide
Dec 26th 2002, 11:36 am
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: was london now glenelg sa
Posts: 455
homes cracking in adelaide
Hi, For any one moving to adelaide just read an article in advertiser warning of deteriation of cracking in homes in the area due to reduced moisture in the soil.Norwood and unley seem to be the worst with 70% of houses surveyed showing significant damage.This is a very high percentage and Ifind it very surprising.Ithink if your going to buy you must do your own research as well as having a full survey.Is there a list or survey of suburbs out there somewhere? jockney
Dec 26th 2002, 12:04 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: Flagstaff Hill Adelaide ex Manchester
Posts: 305
Re: homes cracking in adelaide
Originally posted by jockney
Hi, For any one moving to adelaide just read an article in advertiser warning of deteriation of cracking in homes in the area due to reduced moisture in the soil.Norwood and unley seem to be the worst with 70% of houses surveyed showing significant damage.This is a very high percentage and Ifind it very surprising.Ithink if your going to buy you must do your own research as well as having a full survey.Is there a list or survey of suburbs out there somewhere? jockney
Hi, For any one moving to adelaide just read an article in advertiser warning of deteriation of cracking in homes in the area due to reduced moisture in the soil.Norwood and unley seem to be the worst with 70% of houses surveyed showing significant damage.This is a very high percentage and Ifind it very surprising.Ithink if your going to buy you must do your own research as well as having a full survey.Is there a list or survey of suburbs out there somewhere? jockney
Hi we have been here since 02 Dec and viewed a few houses, and it has been mentioned about subsidence but they have been older houses and nothing was evident.
It doesn't seem such a big issue, was it splattered in the Advertiser or tucked away?
Paul
Dec 26th 2002, 4:07 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: was london now glenelg sa
Posts: 455
Re: homes cracking in adelaide
Originally posted by Snickers
Hi we have been here since 02 Dec and viewed a few houses, and it has been mentioned about subsidence but they have been older houses and nothing was evident.
It doesn't seem such a big issue, was it splattered in the Advertiser or tucked away?
Paul
Hi we have been here since 02 Dec and viewed a few houses, and it has been mentioned about subsidence but they have been older houses and nothing was evident.
It doesn't seem such a big issue, was it splattered in the Advertiser or tucked away?
Paul
Dec 27th 2002, 7:52 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Woodcroft, 25 kms south of Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 281
This is an old problem in Adelaide but you will find that the same article (or similar) appears in the Advertiser this time every year, and also on the TV. I think it's just something the media drag out when there is not much news about.
Yes, houses crack here because this is the driest city, in the driest State, in the driest continent in the world, so the ground dries out every summer and consequently cracks. It has been very hot here of late, and we are being advised to go easy on water usage, so the ground around the houses is not being kept as damp as usual and is therefore contracting.
I believe the soil is Biscay soil, otherwise known as reactive soil. The reason that the suburbs of Unley and Norwood are mentioned (as they are every year) is because they are older suburbs and in the days those house were built the foundations were not adapted to the conditions.
Nowadays when you buy a block and build, your builder will have extensive soil checks done and adjust the depth and strength of the foundations to be poured accordingly. This is usually an extra cost on top of the house price and can be in the $1000's. When we built in 1991 I think we paid $3600 extra for deeper foundations.
Regards Sharon
Yes, houses crack here because this is the driest city, in the driest State, in the driest continent in the world, so the ground dries out every summer and consequently cracks. It has been very hot here of late, and we are being advised to go easy on water usage, so the ground around the houses is not being kept as damp as usual and is therefore contracting.
I believe the soil is Biscay soil, otherwise known as reactive soil. The reason that the suburbs of Unley and Norwood are mentioned (as they are every year) is because they are older suburbs and in the days those house were built the foundations were not adapted to the conditions.
Nowadays when you buy a block and build, your builder will have extensive soil checks done and adjust the depth and strength of the foundations to be poured accordingly. This is usually an extra cost on top of the house price and can be in the $1000's. When we built in 1991 I think we paid $3600 extra for deeper foundations.
Regards Sharon
