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Site Preparation

Managing Soil and Rock Excavation Costs in Dural

Understand rock, soil, geotechnical reports, Class H footings and hidden site costs before building a custom home in Dural.

TL;DR Dural site costs can change quickly when soil, slope and rock are underestimated. Hawkesbury sandstone is common across parts of the Sydney region, and some sites may also involve reactive soils, deep footings, retaining walls, driveway excavation and stormwater complexity. A geotechnical report is essential before finalising the design and budget. If a soil report identifies Class H conditions, footing design and construction allowances need to respond properly. Introduction One of the biggest budget risks in Dural custom homes is what sits under the ground. A site can look simple from the street and still hide sandstone, fill, reactive clay, poor drainage, old structures, unrecorded services or difficult access. These issues can affect excavation, footings, retaining walls, drivewa…