Getting the Foundations Right from the Ground Up
How Summit Homes builds it right from the ground up.
At Summit Homes, we believe the foundation of a house is the foundation of everything that comes next. It’s where the strength, shape and durability of your home begins. As Tony Clark, owner of Summit Homes, puts it, “Building a house is like a marriage, you have to get the foundations right. If the foundations aren’t correct the problems follow you right throughout the build and right out the front door.”
Most of the homes we build across South Auckland and North Waikato sit on a raft slab foundation. It’s a method that suits our local soils, helps with stability, and creates a strong, level base for the rest of your home. But it’s not just about the type of foundation. It’s about doing each step of the process carefully and correctly.
Here’s how we do it, and why each step matters.
The process of creating a raft floor foundation
Site Scrape and Level
Before anything goes in the ground, we start by preparing the site. This means scraping away the topsoil and getting the site level. A layer of compacted fines (a mix of sand and crushed aggregate) is then added to provide a stable, even surface. Getting the levels right at this stage helps ensure the rest of the slab goes in true and flat. If you get this wrong, it can throw out the floor levels and affect everything from door frames to rooflines.
Boxing the Slab
Once the site is levelled, we install the boxing. This is the timber framework that forms the shape of the slab. At Summit, we do all our own boxing. That means we have full control over how square and accurate it is. Good boxing means straight lines, tight corners, and no surprises when it’s time to frame the house.
Plumbing and Drainage Setout
Next comes the initial plumbing and drainage work. Pipes for kitchen sinks, bathrooms, toilets and showers are set into place before the concrete goes down. Getting this right is essential because once the slab is poured, there’s no easy way to move a pipe. The positions are double-checked and tested to make sure everything lines up with the plans.
Pod Floor and Steel Reinforcement
After the plumbing is in, we install the pod floor system. This involves placing polystyrene pods across the base of the slab area which help with thermal performance. Between the pods, we lay down a steel reinforcement mesh that gives the slab its strength.
Summit handles this part of the process in-house too. By keeping this work under our own team, we make sure every pod is placed correctly, every piece of steel is tied in right, and everything is ready for the pour.
Concrete Pour
With the pods and steel in place, it’s time to pour the concrete. This is a critical stage that requires precision and teamwork. The concrete is poured evenly across the slab and carefully guided into all the corners and gaps. Our team keeps a close eye on the flow to make sure there are no voids or uneven areas.
Screeding and Levelling
As the concrete is poured, it’s screeded and levelled. This involves smoothing out the surface and making sure the height is consistent across the slab. A level slab means the framing, windows and doors will all go in straight. It also avoids any dips or humps in your floor later on.
Boxing Removal and Preparation for Framing
Once the concrete has cured, the boxing is removed and the site is cleaned up. At this point, the slab is ready for the next stage of the build. The framing can begin, and the house starts to take shape.
Why It Matters
The foundation of a home affects everything that comes after it. A slab that’s even a few millimetres out of level can create problems with flooring, windows, cladding, and roofing. Plumbing that’s out of line can lead to major rework. That’s why we take the time to get this stage exactly right.
At Summit Homes, we don’t subcontract the key parts of the foundation stage. We do our own boxing, our own pod and steel placement, and we work with trusted concrete teams who know how to pour a slab that lasts. It’s all part of our approach to building homes with care, from the ground up.
If you’re thinking about building, take the time to understand how your builder handles the foundations. Ask questions, look at the process, and make sure they’re building on something solid.
Because when the foundation is right, everything else follows.
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