Slab movement in older homes around Werribee
How we read floor levels and cracks, and when a structural engineer should be called.
In short: A floor that is out of level does not always mean failure, but it always deserves a closer look.
What we measured
In one older home in Melbourne's west we found the ground floor slab out by about 30mm across its length, recorded at several test points. There were no structural cracks associated with it on the day.
Why clay matters
Clay soils on the western plains swell and shrink with moisture. If one side of a house gets wetter than the other, that side moves more.
Reading the signs
Doors that bind, cracks that taper, gaps at skirtings and sloping floors together suggest movement. One alone usually does not.
When to call an engineer
Where movement is measurable or cracking is significant, a structural engineer can assess whether it is stable and what, if anything, needs doing.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Werribee. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
