{"id":12046,"date":"2022-03-03T06:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T19:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/?p=12046"},"modified":"2023-01-25T20:36:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T09:36:50","slug":"melbourne-geology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/building-damages\/melbourne-geology\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Geology of Melbourne"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/<br \/>\n.e-container.e-container--row .elementor-spacer-inner{width:var(--spacer-size)}.e-container.e-container--column .elementor-spacer-inner,.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}<\/style><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever hired a builder or plumber to work on your property? If so, you might have been told at one point or another: \u201cYour house is moving.\u201d We\u2019ve actually had clients who have heard- and misunderstood this phrase so many times. This happened so often that they genuinely believed their house would end up on the next block!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a professional has ever uttered this phrase about your house, there\u2019s no need to worry. It\u2019s very common for footings to experience some extent of movement. This also is known as \u201cdifferential foundation movements,\u201d and is rarely lateral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reactive soil, common in Melbourne, can cause differential foundation movements. It can become serious from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-0ccabcf\" data-block-id=\"0ccabcf\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How and Why Reactive Soil Moves?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-bbda64f\" data-block-id=\"bbda64f\"><style>.stk-bbda64f{height:30px !important}<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDifferential foundation movements\u201d occur because the foundation which supports footings is only soil. The Melbourne soil has a clayey texture. It is made up of microscopic particles that interlock with each other to form plates. With clay, water collects between the plates, which is why it\u2019s always moist. Clayey foundation soil can certainly support your home\u2019s footings. But it can also be \u201creactive,\u201d due to its moist consistency. \u201cReactivity\u201d is the word used to describe the tendency of foundation soil to change its volume. It shrinks or swells due to the variation in moisture content.<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/&amp;amp;lt;br \/> .elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-3f4f7f4\" data-block-id=\"3f4f7f4\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Melbourne-geology-simplified.jpg\" alt=\"A map of Melbourne geology \" class=\"wp-image-22869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Melbourne-geology-simplified.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Melbourne-geology-simplified-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Melbourne-geology-simplified-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A map of Melbourne geology<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-e49c0d9\" data-block-id=\"e49c0d9\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When clay soil absorbs extra water, the water floats between the clay particles. Water pushes the particles apart causing the soil to expand. As the soil swells, it applies upward pressure to the footing causing a \u2018heave\u2019 to occur.\u00a0 On the other hand, clay soil shrinks when it loses water. this causes footings to collapse, ultimately leading to &#8220;settlement&#8221;. In this light, the more \u201creactive\u201d the soil is, the more your home\u2019s footing will move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-d4d67c8\" data-block-id=\"d4d67c8\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mfs6.jpg\" alt=\"Cracking in soil due to shrinkage of reactive soil\" class=\"wp-image-22868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mfs6.jpg 630w, https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mfs6-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shrinkage effects in reactive soil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-7d79bca\" data-block-id=\"7d79bca\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about effect of trees on footing&nbsp;<u><a href=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/building-damages\/effect-trees-footings\/\">Here<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you know that if a professional ever tells you that \u201cyour house is moving,\u201d all he means is that you have reactive foundation soil. Whilst slight footing movements are completely normal, excessive differential footing movements should be taken seriously and assessed properly by <a href=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/solutions\/homeowners-and-investors\/\">forensic engineers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/building-damages\/efflorescence-prevent\/\"><strong>What is Efflorescence and How to Prevent it (simplified) <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/<br \/>\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#2c2c2c;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider-separator{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin:0;direction:ltr}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:before{display:block;content:\"\";border-bottom:0;-webkit-box-flex:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{-webkit-box-flex:0;-ms-flex-positive:0;flex-grow:0;-ms-flex-negative:100;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{-webkit-box-flex:0;-ms-flex-positive:0;flex-grow:0;-ms-flex-negative:100;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}<\/style><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever hired a builder or plumber to work on your property? If so, you might have been told at one point or another: \u201cYour house is moving.\u201d We\u2019ve actually had clients who have heard- and misunderstood this phrase so many times. This happened so often that they genuinely believed their house would end [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":22853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wordproof_timestamp":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[11],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blog7.png",1146,685,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blog7-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blog7-300x179.png",300,179,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blog7-768x459.png",768,459,true],"large":["https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blog7-1024x612.png",1024,612,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blog7.png",1146,685,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blog7.png",1146,685,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable":"<p>Have you ever hired a builder or plumber to work on your property? If so, you might have been told at one point or another: \u201cYour house is moving.\u201d We\u2019ve actually had clients who have heard- and misunderstood this phrase so many times. This happened so often that they genuinely believed their house would end up on the next block! If a professional has ever uttered this phrase about your house, there\u2019s no need to worry. It\u2019s very common for footings to experience some extent of movement. This also is known as \u201cdifferential foundation movements,\u201d and is rarely lateral. Reactive&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list":"<a href=\"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/building-damages\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Building Damages<\/a>","author_info":{"name":"MFS Engineering","url":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/author\/mfs-engineering\/"},"comments_num":"0 comments","meta_box":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12046"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12046"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12046\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfsengineering.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}