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StopDigging!
This pensioner housing development for Kaipara District Council features fourteen 40m² self-contained modular units. Designed for high performance and energy efficiency, the units were constructed by Laminata Homes Ltd. in their Northland house factory using MiniCLT MCA treated panels, produced in the same facility at the Mt Pokaka Timber mill as part of the Logs to Homes initiative. StopDigging’s CodeMark certified groundscrew foundation system contributed to the rapid delivery of the homes by ensuring straightforward consenting and quick, efficient installation.
When choosing a foundation system for the modular units, a number of factors were considered. The system needed to suit the ground conditions which included a hard sandy pan with a few softer areas on an uneven site, and the council wanted the ability to relocate the units in future if needed. Construction efficiency was also crucial to keep the project on track. The StopDigging Groundscrew system ticked all these boxes.
The StopDigging system is a smart choice for modular and transportable buildings as it provides a permanent foundation solution, but the groundscrews can also be removed and re-used if needed. The system also eliminates ground disturbance and creates zero waste on site, resulting in greater efficiency compared to traditional foundations.
“The site was originally a bit undulating,” says Ringa Dalton, Project Manager, Laminata Homes “And being in Mangawhai it was predominantly sand based. StopDigging was chosen for that reason — it achieves tension and loading pretty quickly as opposed to engineered solutions which require deep footings.”
The StopDigging system helped to deliver foundations for the multi-unit project faster and with less fuss. As it is CodeMark certified, there was no additional engineering required, with StopDigging doing on-site testing to determine the correct sized screws for the site, and providing all documentation needed for consent.
Site Supervisor, Chris Davenport of Trigg Construction says this made the consenting process very straightforward. “They supplied documentation to assist the Designer to specify for building consent, and they didn’t need on-site council inspections. They completed pile testing and we just needed to submit all their paperwork, which the council were happy with.”
The StopDigging Northland team took care of the main installation in three days, working in with the construction programme, and then returned to site after the homes were landed to install deck piles.
“It was very quick,” says Chris. “The install was completed in stages — six units in the first lot, then two bunches of four, and then they came back in stages to do the deck piles. They were doing up to six foundations a day for these small 40m² units. You don’t often get to do that.”
Chris also appreciated the lack of disruption to the site, and the accuracy of the system. “The main advantage is the speed, but there’s also not a lot of mess, there’s no concrete, and they’re really accurate.”
Combining modular construction from Laminata NZ with StopDigging’s CodeMark certified groundscrew foundation system was a winning choice for the project. Being able to get the foundations consented smoothly, and installed quickly helped contribute to an incredibly efficient build.
“StopDigging were really easy to work with and really efficient at what they do,” says Ringa. “It’s an extremely quick process in comparison to a traditional foundation and it helps to reduce cost as you don’t need to engage engineers for inspection and council for monitoring. It makes scheduling a lot easier.”
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