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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: firefox on January 04, 2016, 11:41:52 AM

Title: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: firefox on January 04, 2016, 11:41:52 AM
Looking at land, just got soil report, looks like piers are required.. So thought i would see if there is a friendly Engineer that can look and say "run the other direction"..  ;D
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: achjimmy on January 04, 2016, 04:39:52 PM
Firefox whilst Iam not a engineer I have put in a pool and a shed and peered both myself. It's straight forward and with common sense and hard work nothing to worry about. The only time it did get complicated for me was when an engineer did get involved and over designed it!! Beat him up and he re did it much simpler.
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: GBC on January 04, 2016, 05:20:11 PM
What is the site classification type?
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: BaseCamp on January 04, 2016, 05:45:22 PM
Engineers always "over engineer".....     gives me the shxts....     They only do it "to cover themselves"....   

Geez guys - don't stick your neck out or anything - to assist your (paying) client....

Then in double sick - the client is also paying for the built-in cost - that is covering their indemnity / malpractice insurance -- hence covering themselves in 2 separate ways ... and costing their clients even more....

Regarding peering...  I saw something on Grand Designs the other night where they were using an "under pinning" system (tensioning); usually used to reinforce embankments etc ...  but now being used creatively - (in compression); for cheaper version peering. ....

FYI...

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Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: GeoffA on January 04, 2016, 05:51:16 PM
Engineers always "over engineer".....     gives me the shxts....     They only do it "to cover themselves".... 


In whose opinion? Are you qualified to judge?
Ever heard the term "Code Requirement"?

Geez guys - don't stick your neck out or anything.....

Why would they?? I bet you wouldn't......
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: BaseCamp on January 04, 2016, 06:07:21 PM
Answering your questions. ...   

I have had 2 structural engineering jobs - and 3 friends have engaged engineers on same....    In all these cases - examples of over-engineering ...  as was explained to us was the case ....These claims stated by other engineers and professionals;  (architects etc)...

These other professionals on the projects exclaiming things like....   "why the fxxk are they specifying this or that - so unnecessary" etc...

That's 100% - good enough evidence for me.....


I always try hard to do the right thing for my clients - trying to save them some money when legally and safety able to. ...   I do not "double load" the costs to cover my arse....   

Competence and a fair go should do that....

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Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: firefox on January 04, 2016, 06:14:59 PM
So I have a couple of pieces of land we are looking at.
I just got a soil test and it's a M but because of the cut fill its now a P.

We were always going to build a wooden pole home on stumps etc. and wanted it out over the edge a little. Our fear is that it's going to be very expensive for the foundation work.

We already have all the site works ie driveway and pad done not that we really needed it. My concern is the cost of the piers and core foundation.
The designer seems to think we will be ok as we can design and work around it.

My curiosity is I hear all these crazy figures about site works and I wouldn't buy the property if it was crazy site works figures. I have even considered just moving off the pad.

It seems someone is quoting 90/m per pier which means it would be OK, as I doubt we will have more then 30-40 foundation points on a smallish and light house.

We are only building something to call a home as we will continue to travel as much as we can.

So the question is.... Is doing this style of home more expensive. Apparently selling p class sites is very hard? We will build our house to suit the land etc, so am I up for stupid site foundation fees???
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: achjimmy on January 04, 2016, 09:48:16 PM
It's really hard to judge any site works FF. When I did our house I had a friend excavate it. Cost $5k and I asked what the going rate not mates rate was, he said prob $8-9k Max . Next door had half the amount excavated and it cost $25k. Really got do your homework which sounds like you have.
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: Meken on January 04, 2016, 10:11:40 PM
There are some very cost effective foundation systems for p sites. More info required - pole home - is there any slab on ground? Slab on ground on p sites is more expensive than elevated timber floor. If it's only the fill that's made it a p site then the   piers just need to be drilled down through the fill into natural ground (basically you want all of the house to found into the same material so any ground  movement has the same affect on all of the house)
Google Polyvoid for an alternative system to concrete piers (uses small screw piers)
Talk to your neighbours - find out who did the structural engineering for them - someone with local knowledge should be able to offer a better solution
Talk to bob at Polyvoid - he can do you a quote from your plans


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Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: Meken on January 04, 2016, 10:13:29 PM
Where is the site?


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Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: cheif carlos on January 05, 2016, 05:51:26 AM
We have a p class slab was about 8-10k for piering for a 2 storey. Think of being lucky my parents are cut and fill on mine subsidance and had 36 concrete trucks in a single storey in piers alone. Some up to 8m deep
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: GBC on January 05, 2016, 07:04:46 AM
You are getting a bit mixed up between under slab piering and installing your poles. There are a few options for doing pole homes on fill, Assuming you can get Machinery onto site. If it's remote then it'll be old school bored piers. Your site class will give you rough depths. Assuming you have less than 6 odd metres to natural, again no big deal. You won't have any load bearing 'slabs' in a pole home so no big expense per a slab on ground.
If you have plans and a site class, the engineering isn't very expensive. I have a couple of good ones in Brisbane if you need recommendations. Until you get your footings detailed no one can guess how much they will be.
Title: Re: Anybody a structural engineer
Post by: crappsy on January 05, 2016, 08:42:42 AM
What GBC said.