24/03/2026
This is one of the biggest hidden costs in building... 👀
When you’re buying land, everyone looks at the price, location, size, frontage…
But what’s underneath the block? That’s what can really change everything. ⚠️
Today we’re talking about soil classes 🏗️
S Class soil is more reactive than standard A Class, meaning your home needs stronger, more engineered footings to handle movement.
And that’s where the cost comes in 💸
Same house. Same builder. Same design.
But depending on the soil… your site costs can jump significantly.
I’ve seen people secure what they thought was a “cheap” block… only to find out later it’s an extra $10k-$20k just to build on it 😬
And that’s just S Class.
Once you start getting into M, H or even E Class soils… you’re dealing with much higher ground movement and things can escalate quickly.
We’re talking:
- Retaining walls
- 100’s of cubic metres of imported sand
- Deepened footings, thicker slabs or even piling
That’s where costs can really blow out 🚨
That’s why I always help my clients understand the full picture, not just the land price, but what it actually costs to build properly.
Because surprises after you’ve signed up on your block of land? That’s the worst time to find out. 😳
If you’re looking at land or thinking about building your first home, send me a message 📩 I’ll walk you through everything before you commit so you can make the right move.
📲 Follow for more building tips most buyers miss.
Elliot Johnston
Building Homes With Elliot 🏡
