Australian homes are cracking under pressure – literally – as wild weather wreaks havoc on the ground beneath them.
Researchers are warning that current building standards are failing to protect properties from the damage caused by extreme rainfall and prolonged dry spells, leaving homeowners vulnerable to costly repairs.
The problem lies in clay soils, which swell during heavy rains and shrink during drought.
This movement destabilises foundations, cracks pipes, and damages roads, creating a nightmare for homeowners and insurers alike.
While building guidelines exist to mitigate soil movement, experts say they are inadequate to address the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
The hidden danger beneath your home
Professor Simon Beecham from the University of South Australia, who published research on the growing frequency and intensity of La Niña events and climate change, and how they could make structures unsafe in the Journal of Environmental Management, explained that the damage caused by shifting soil often appears long after the weather event has passed.
He said cracks generally develop very slowly and it could be several months or even years before the effects were seen.
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Modelling, verified by months of soil testing, has led researchers to warn Australia's building guidelines need to be rethought. Source: University of South Australia
He told Yahoo News that most of Australia’s capital cities experience problems with “shrink-swell soils” which cover roughly 20 per cent of the country.
Adelaide is the worst-affected major city, but Melbourne, and to a lesser degree Sydney and Brisbane, are also impacted.
“It’s a well-understood phenomenon, but at the moment, none of the codes (in Australia) allow for changes in that periodic drying and wetting. So climate change hasn’t been factored into any designs,” he said.
The Millennium Drought (1997–2009) was a stark example of the damage that dry conditions can inflict on homes.
Thousands of properties across Australia were left with cracked walls, uneven floors, and destabilised foundations.
Now, researchers warn that similar issues could become far more common as weather patterns shift.
Why your home could be next
For homeowners, the risks are significant.
The combination of heavy rains and dry spells creates a perfect storm for structural damage, with cracks in walls and foundations often appearing years after the initial weather event. Insurers are bracing for more claims as the problem worsens.
Source: University of South Australia
Dr Rajibul Karim, who co-authored the study published in the Journal of Environmental Management, said their modelling suggests ground movement could increase by up to 32 per cent before the end of the century.
“Whatever we’re using for designing today, we probably need to adapt or adjust so that structures remain resilient for their design life, which is typically 50 to 100 years,” he said.
Building stronger foundations
The solution may lie in constructing larger, thicker, or stiffer foundations for homes, but this would likely increase construction costs.
Researchers used data from Braybrook, a suburb in Melbourne’s western growth corridor, to validate their findings, highlighting the growing risks for new developments in high-risk areas.
Source: University of South Australia
For prospective buyers and current homeowners, understanding soil conditions and ensuring properties are built to withstand extreme weather is becoming increasingly critical.
As storms intensify and droughts persist, experts say Australia’s building codes must evolve to protect homes from the ground up.
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