Help Centre
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Help Centre
Straight answers to the questions Melbourne homeowners, builders and developers ask most about concrete, excavation, foundations and retaining walls.
Browse 609+ answered questions.
All Questions
Do bored piers need steel reinforcement inside them?
Yes, typically — a steel reinforcement cage is placed inside the drilled hole before concrete is poured, giving the pier genuine tensile…
Read Answer Bored PiersCan bored piers be affected by nearby tree roots?
Yes, potentially — significant tree roots can complicate drilling at a specific pier location, sometimes requiring pier position adjustment or additional care…
Read Answer Bored PiersHow long does a single bored pier take to install?
Drilling a single pier itself is often relatively quick — commonly well under an hour for straightforward ground conditions — though the…
Read Answer Screw PilesCan screw piles be installed close to an existing structure?
Yes, genuinely well suited to this — screw piles' low-vibration, mechanically-screwed installation makes them a particularly good option for work close to…
Read Answer Screw PilesDo screw piles rust over time?
Screw piles are typically galvanised, a genuine protective coating specifically designed to resist corrosion over the pile's expected service life, rather than…
Read Answer Screw PilesCan screw piles be used for a full house slab, not just decks?
Yes — while screw piles are commonly associated with decks and lighter structures, they're genuinely also used for main residential foundations, particularly…
Read Answer Retaining WallsCan a retaining wall be built in a single day?
For a genuinely small, straightforward wall, possibly — but most residential retaining walls take several days to a week or more, factoring…
Read Answer Retaining WallsDoes a retaining wall need a handrail or fence on top?
Often yes, above a certain height — building regulations commonly require a safety barrier where a retaining wall creates a genuine fall…
Read Answer Retaining WallsCan a retaining wall be curved?
Yes, though it genuinely depends on the material — modular systems like concrete sleepers are less naturally suited to tight curves than…
Read Answer Retaining WallsDoes a retaining wall need council approval even under the height threshold?
Not always for a building permit specifically, but genuinely worth checking — some councils have their own separate planning requirements for retaining…
Read Answer Soil RemovalWhat happens if more soil needs removing than originally quoted?
If actual excavated volume genuinely exceeds what was quoted — from a discrepancy between assumed and actual ground conditions, for instance —…
Read Answer Soil RemovalCan soil removal happen at the same time as the pour?
Generally no — soil removal needs to be genuinely complete, with the site properly prepared, before the pour begins, since the pour…
Read Answer Soil RemovalDoes soil removal cost more on a corner block?
Not inherently — a corner block doesn't automatically cost more for soil removal, though it can sometimes offer genuinely better truck access…
Read Answer Site CutsHow is site cut spoil different to normal excavation spoil?
Not genuinely different in how it's handled — spoil from a site cut is managed the same way as spoil from any…
Read Answer Site CutsDoes a site cut affect my street setback measurement?
Not directly — setback is a horizontal distance measurement from your boundary, genuinely separate from a site cut's vertical level changes, though…
Read Answer Site CutsCan a site cut be done without a soil report?
Not for a compliant building project — a soil report is genuinely required as part of your overall foundation design process, and…
Read Answer ExcavationDoes excavation include removing tree stumps?
Not automatically — this genuinely depends on your specific scope of work, and whether stump removal was identified and included when your…
Read Answer ExcavationWhat happens if groundwater is found during excavation?
If groundwater is encountered, your contractor typically needs to manage it through pumping or drainage to keep the excavation workable — a…
Read Answer ExcavationCan excavation be paused partway through a project?
Yes, though it's genuinely not ideal — weather, unexpected site conditions, or other project factors can require a pause, and a properly…
Read Answer ExcavationDoes excavation need council approval separately from a building permit?
Sometimes, yes — while excavation for a building project is often covered within the overall building permit, certain specific aspects (asset protection…
Read Answer Plain & Coloured ConcreteDoes coloured concrete need a different curing process?
The fundamental curing process is genuinely the same — coloured concrete still needs the same careful moisture management during the critical early…
Read Answer Plain & Coloured ConcreteCan coloured concrete be used indoors?
Yes — coloured, polished concrete floors are a genuinely popular contemporary indoor flooring choice, offering a distinctive look with different practical considerations…
Read Answer Plain & Coloured ConcreteDoes plain concrete need less maintenance than coloured concrete?
Broadly similar, genuinely — both benefit from periodic sealing and regular cleaning, with maintenance needs driven more by exposure and traffic than…
Read Answer Exposed AggregateIs exposed aggregate suitable for wheelchair access?
It can be, though the specific aggregate size and texture genuinely matters — a finer, less pronounced exposed finish is generally more…
Read Answer Exposed AggregateCan I choose exposed aggregate for just part of my driveway?
Yes — this is a genuine, achievable design approach, commonly used for borders, feature strips, or dividing a driveway from an adjoining…
Read Answer Exposed AggregateDoes exposed aggregate crack the same way as plain concrete?
Broadly yes — the underlying concrete beneath an exposed aggregate finish is subject to the same genuine shrinkage and structural cracking principles…
Read Answer Exposed AggregateCan exposed aggregate be laid over an existing plain slab?
Sometimes, via a genuine resurfacing overlay — but this depends heavily on your existing slab's condition, since an overlay is only as…
Read Answer Concrete DrivewaysCan I add drainage grates into my new driveway?
Yes — drainage grates (channel drains) are a genuine, commonly used solution for managing water at specific points, such as a low…
Read Answer Concrete DrivewaysDoes a shared driveway need a different type of contract?
Often yes — where a driveway serves multiple properties, having a clear arrangement between the properties involved (cost-sharing, scope agreement) before engaging…
Read Answer Concrete DrivewaysHow close to a tree can a driveway be poured?
There's no single universal distance — this genuinely depends on the specific tree's root system, size, and species, along with any local…
Read Answer Concrete DrivewaysDoes a driveway need to match my house’s colour scheme?
Not strictly, no — this is genuinely a personal design preference rather than a technical or compliance requirement, though many homeowners do…
Read Answer Concrete DrivewaysCan a driveway slope down to a below-street garage?
Yes, this is a genuine, achievable design for sites where the garage sits below street level — though it needs careful attention…
Read Answer Waffle SlabsCan a waffle slab support a swimming pool nearby?
A waffle slab itself doesn't directly "support" a nearby pool — the pool has its own independent structure — but proximity genuinely…
Read Answer Waffle SlabsDoes a waffle slab need a vapour barrier?
Yes, typically — a vapour barrier (a plastic membrane laid before pouring) is standard practice under a waffle slab, helping manage moisture…
Read Answer Waffle SlabsHow is a waffle slab inspected before pouring?
Before pouring, your building surveyor or supervising engineer inspects the pod layout, reinforcement placement, and formwork to confirm everything matches the engineered…
Read Answer Waffle SlabsCan a waffle slab be repaired if a pod is damaged during construction?
Yes — a damaged pod identified before the pour is typically simply replaced, a straightforward fix given pods are individual, readily available…
Read Answer Waffle SlabsDo waffle slabs need special formwork?
Standard perimeter formwork is used around a waffle slab's edges, similar to other slab types — the genuinely distinctive part is the…
Read Answer Raft SlabsWhat finish does the top of a raft slab have?
A raft slab's top surface is typically finished with a standard trowelled or floated finish, suitable as a base for whatever floor…
Read Answer Raft SlabsIs a raft slab suitable for a granny flat?
Often yes — a granny flat's typically smaller footprint and lighter loads compared to a full house can suit a raft slab…
Read Answer Raft SlabsCan a raft slab be extended later for a home addition?
Yes, in principle — an extension typically involves a new slab section properly joined to the existing raft slab, following the same…
Read Answer Raft SlabsDoes a raft slab need less reinforcement than a waffle slab?
Not necessarily less — reinforcement requirements genuinely depend on your specific soil conditions and building loads, not a general rule that one…
Read Answer Raft SlabsCan a raft slab support a two-storey home?
Yes, provided the design genuinely accounts for the additional loads a two-storey structure introduces — raft slabs are used for both single…
Read Answer House SlabsCan I get home insurance before my house slab is finished?
Yes — construction (or "works") insurance is genuinely available and important to have in place before and during construction, covering the property…
Read Answer House SlabsDoes a house slab need termite barriers built in?
Yes — termite protection measures, whether physical or chemical barriers, are a genuine, standard compliance requirement under the National Construction Code for…
Read Answer House SlabsWhat’s the minimum size for a house slab?
There's no genuine fixed minimum — your slab is sized to match your building's footprint, whatever that footprint genuinely is, from a…
Read Answer House SlabsCan a house slab be built in stages?
It can be, though a single continuous pour is generally preferred where practical, since it avoids the joints and potential inconsistencies that…
Read Answer House SlabsDoes a house slab need to be level with the street?
Not necessarily level, but your slab's finished floor level does need a genuine, calculated relationship to the street — usually somewhat higher,…
Read Answer Builder GuidesCan a builder request specific concrete strength testing?
Yes, genuinely — strength testing (typically via test cylinders taken at the time of the pour and tested at intervals, commonly 28…
Read Answer Builder GuidesWhat documentation should a concrete subcontractor provide a builder?
Genuinely expected documentation includes proof of insurance, relevant licensing, compliance certificates for completed work, and where applicable, concrete strength test results or…
Read Answer Builder GuidesCan a builder request a fixed schedule from a concrete contractor?
To a genuine, reasonable extent — a properly resourced concrete subcontractor can commit to a planned schedule as part of a builder's…
Read Answer Homeowner GuidesWhat paperwork should I keep after a concrete project?
Worth keeping: your original contract and quote, engineering certification and drawings, the building permit and any compliance/inspection certificates, and your contractor's warranty…
Read Answer Homeowner GuidesWhat should I do with pets during a concrete project?
Keeping pets securely away from the active work area is genuinely important, both for their safety around machinery and open excavation, and…
Read Answer Homeowner GuidesCan I live at home while concrete work happens outside?
Yes, generally — for outdoor projects like a driveway or landscaping-related concrete work, most homeowners genuinely continue living at home throughout, with…
Read Answer Construction ProcessCan I make changes once a concrete project has begun?
Sometimes, though it depends heavily on the stage — changes are far easier and less disruptive before excavation or reinforcement is complete…
Read Answer Construction ProcessWhat happens at final handover on a concrete project?
Final handover typically involves a walkthrough of the completed work, confirmation that everything matches what was agreed, and provision of any relevant…
Read Answer Construction ProcessCan I visit the site while concrete work is underway?
Generally yes, though it's worth coordinating timing with your contractor — some stages (an active pour, for instance) genuinely benefit from minimal…
Read Answer Pricing & QuotesDo free quotes come with any obligation to proceed?
No — a genuine free quote is exactly that, an estimate provided without obligation, giving you real information to help decide whether…
Read Answer Pricing & QuotesCan I negotiate a concrete quote?
To some extent, genuinely yes — there can be room for discussion, particularly around scope adjustments or specification choices, though pushing purely…
Read Answer Pricing & QuotesHow long is a concrete quote usually valid for?
Quotes commonly carry a validity period of around 30 days, though this genuinely varies between contractors — material and labour costs can…
Read Answer Pricing & QuotesCan a quoted price change once work has started?
A properly detailed quote should hold for the scope it describes — a genuine price change is generally only appropriate if actual…
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