Inadequate Slab Edge Exposure
Inadequate Slab Edge Exposure is a high-severity soil & foundation defect SURE inspectors have documented across 1,593 inspection reports. Highest concentration in Ellenbrook.
Causes
- Concealment by external elements such as paths, paving, garden vegetation, or soil.
- Soil, garden beds, paths, paving, or other obstructions covering the slab edge
- Slab edge covered by garden beds, lawns, paths, pavers or other obstructions
- Paths, paving, garden vegetation, or soil covering the slab edge
- Slab edge covered by paths, paving, garden vegetation, or soil
Symptoms to look for
- Inability to conduct a thorough inspection for termite activity/entry points
- Slab edge has been covered by paths/paving/garden vegetation or soil
- Inability to visually inspect the slab edge for termite activity
- Slab edge not visible or exposed to the required minimum 75mm
- Slab edge not visible for at least 75mm above ground level.
Remedies
- Expose the slab edge to a minimum of 75mm by excavation or removal of obstructions to allow for thorough inspection for termite activity
- Expose the slab edge a minimum of 75mm so that a thorough inspection can be conducted for any termite infestation/entry points
- Expose the slab edge to a minimum of 75mm to allow a thorough inspection for any termite infestation/entry points.
- Expose at least 75mm of the slab edge to allow thorough inspection for termite activity/access points
- Expose the slab edge a minimum of 75mm to allow thorough inspection for weeps and pest ingress
Where we see this most
These suburbs show the highest concentration of inadequate slab edge exposure in our inspection data (minimum five observations). Click a suburb to see its full defect profile.
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Findings in this category skew high severity. If you are under contract, we can usually book inside the cooling-off window. Every inspection includes 12 months of free advice.
Curated entries in Soil & foundation
- Curated 1–4/5Trees in Close Proximity to Dwelling
Large trees within the foraging radius of the dwelling - typically any tree within 3 m for small species, or within 10 m for large eucalypts - introduce two distinct risks: root-driven soil moisture fluctuation that causes differential footing movement on reactive clay, and a direct termite foraging corridor between a timber food source in the crown or root system and the building structure. Neither defect is always present, but the proximity constitutes a conducive condition that warrants ongoing monitoring.
- Curated 2–5/5Reactive Clay Soil Movement Affecting Foundation
Seasonal expansion and contraction of reactive clay soils causing cyclical foundation movement, wall cracking, and floor level changes. Prevalent in Sydney Western Suburbs and some Perth clay zones. Severity depends on soil class (H, H1, H2, E) and footing design adequacy.