If you're buying land, why not use our expertise?
We'll help you choose the right land to build on.
With more than 25 years’ experience in Canterbury, we’ve helped people save hundreds of thousands of dollars by avoiding costly mistakes.
On a site visit, we'll help you:
- See whether the land is a good fit for you
- Understand the potential costs of building on this section
- Avoid costly mistakes before you buy
Prefer to talk first? Contact us.
You have a vision in your mind of where you’d like to build. Maybe you want to live by the beach or in the hills. Maybe you want a large leafy section or the perfect school neighbourhood. You think you’ve found the perfect site…
But are there hidden costs that could blow your budget?
Many people don’t realize that the price of land is only part of the picture. The other part is how factors like the ground, slope, access, and orientation affect building costs.
You might save money on a more affordable section only to spend those savings on expensive foundations, earthworks, or construction.
Before you commit to buying, ask us for advice. We’ll come and look at it with you. It’s free; there’s no obligation to build with us.
The challenges of building in Canterbury
Canterbury has hills, flood zones, liquefaction, and other factors that add complications to your build. You need to know how much weight the ground can carry, because that shapes the foundation your home will need.
Even a geotechnical investigation can’t test every square metre. MBIE describes one Christchurch site where three test points within eight metres of each other found different ground at depths of four to six metres: loose sand, clay and silt, and gravelly sand.
If the ground is difficult, you may need deeper piles, ground improvement, retaining, major excavation or rock breaking, all of which add extra costs to your build.
Understanding TC1, TC2 and TC3
You’ve probably heard these terms before, but do you know what they mean to your home?
After the Canterbury earthquakes, MBIE and Christchurch authorities developed three Technical Categories. They show how likely the land is to be damaged by liquefaction, and they guide the type of foundation you’ll need.
TC1: liquefaction damage is unlikely. Standard foundations are generally acceptable, as long as the ground can carry the load. For standard foundations, that means a bearing capacity of at least 300 kPa.
TC2: minor to moderate damage is possible. You may need an enhanced foundation, such as a waffle slab: a concrete raft with polystyrene pods forming the gaps between a grid of concrete ribs. The pods don’t insulate; rather, they spread the load. That design needs ground with a bearing capacity of at least 200 kPa.
TC3: moderate to significant damage is possible. MBIE recommends one of three approaches: deep piles, improving the ground, or a raft or light structure on shallow foundations. Deep piles can go as far down as 20 metres, which can be expensive.
Building on the hills or by the water
Many people dream of a home with a view. But hills and coastal homes come with their own building considerations.
On a hill, the first question you need to ask is how good the ground is. Avoid rock where possible, but not all rock is created the same. Some you can cut through with a digger, while other types can take weeks to remove.
You also need to consider slope stability, drainage and groundwater, existing earthworks and retaining, construction access, and easements. Consider how equipment and materials will get onto the property. Is there good access?
Near the coast, flooding and coastal inundation are very real risks. Being in a flood zone not only affects your design but also may affect your ability to get insurance. For that reason, we tend to recommend against it.
Choosing the right location for a house
You may have a picture in your mind of where you want your house to sit. But have you thought through how building in that spot will affect your comfort?
West-facing homes can overheat in summer, while east-facing homes must deal with the prevailing winds. Some sites are more protected than others. In addition to orientation, take note of neighbours, trees, future development, views, and privacy.
That’s why we design each Energy Efficient Home around its section. It’s harder to make a house you’ve already chosen work on a section you’ve already bought.
Questions to ask before you buy
1 What is the land categorisation of the section?
2 Is there any flood management required?
3 Is there a chance of striking bedrock during pile installation?
4 What are the foundation design recommendations?
5 Are there access restrictions?
6 How is the section orientated?
7 Are there future developments that may affect the section?
8 What is the added cost of all of the above?
We build exclusively in Canterbury, so take advantage of our expertise.
We’ll come to the site and show you the pros and cons of building on that piece of land. You’ll leave with a greater understanding of how this particular property will impact your budget.
What a site visit is not:
A site visit doesn’t replace a geotechnical investigation, survey, or other specialist advice. But it could be the difference between spotting the perfect section and making an expensive mistake.