Author: Matthew Cornell

Matt Cornell is a structural engineer with 25 years experience in residential structural engineering. He lives in Northgate on the northern side of Brisbane, Australia.

Tips & Tricks

Beware Underpinning Rip-off

Post author By Matthew Cornell
Post date September 8, 2020

I was staggered this week.

It was just unbelievable.

A client came to me for a second opinion about a quote to underpin his residential property in Queensland. The quote was from a local builder for 25 underpins to an approximate depth of 2.5m in order to ‘stabilise a single level house.

The quote was based on an engineer’s assessment. A geotechnical engineer had also attended and provided the results of a soil investigation. Both good signs.

So on the face of it, everything seemed legitimate. However, once I dug deeper the justification for spending so much money was very thin.

Very thin.

So very thin.

So how do you, as a homeowner, evaluate a quote for underpinning from a builder and determine if you’re likely to get value for money.

Let’s go through my independent assessment process together.

Tips & Tricks

Solving Drainage Problems for Houses on Sloping Blocks

Post author By Matthew Cornell
Post date August 21, 2020

Have you got a house on a sloping block with drainage problems?

The queries we get go something like this:

Hi. My house is on a sloping site (slopes from the back towards the front) and water gets in under our house when it rains. The ground under our house gets wet and then takes ages to dry out. Sometimes the water gets into the downstairs rumpus room, storeroom, laundry, garage slab (pick one or two!).
How can I stop water getting under my house? Should I use an ag pipe and or should I install a better drain?

Tips & Tricks

Cornell Engineers and Palmview Homes Mackay

Post author By Matthew Cornell
Post date August 18, 2020

Steve Challen from Palmview Homes perusing a set of structural engineering plans by Cornell Engineers.

Palmview Homes Mackay creates the highest-quality house and land packages, new homes and investment properties.

This year, 2020, Cornell Engineers is pleased to celebrate 14 years of providing structural engineering design and drafting for Steve and the team at Palmview Homes Mackay.

This has been a relationship forged on trust, accountability and integrity and we are super-proud of our longstanding working relationship.

Cornell Engineers and Palmview Homes started working together during the development of Palmview Village – Mackay’s premier retirement village. The village wanted stylish, low-maintenance and well-built craftsman homes. Cornell Engineers was able to assist with compliant engineering designs and in-person site inspections during construction that ensured all the boxes were ticked.

A perfect relationship was born.

The high standards of quality home construction soon found a demand in a wasteland of knock-them-up high maintenance and low quality builds that were popping up in Mackay as it thrived.

People who wanted highly liveable homes that exceeded the minimum standards of design and were built by tradespeople very familiar with the requirements and demands of building in a cyclonic area soon heard of the quality the team at Palmview Homes were providing as standard.

So thank you for trusting us Palmview Homes. We look forward to continuing our great teamwork well into the future.

If you are looking to build a quality investment home in the Mackay area and you think that the home should be well-designed and wee built, give Steve and the team a call on 0417 212 218. Live life your way with Palmview Homes Mackay.

Tips & Tricks

CoronaVirus Forces New Work From Home Rules

Post author By Matthew Cornell
Post date March 18, 2020

Matt Cornell from Cornell Engineers working from home.

The coronavirus is taking a toll on our current, daily lives. We’ve been introduced very rapidly to the ideas of self-isolation, social distancing and the work from home concept in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.

We already understand that the virus spreads rapidly and that it is very important that we limit the spread of the virus so that our medical systems aren’t overwhelmed.

The changes that we’re accommodating, including the opportunity to work from home (even in organisations that never previously allowed it), are vital but will more than likely have the effect of making people feel isolated and alone.

New Homes

Structural Engineering for Your New Home That Won’t Send You Broke

Post author By Matthew Cornell
Post date March 9, 2020

Are you ready to build a new home?

You’re looking for a structural engineer to provide structural engineering for your new home.

But who can you trust?

You want a structural engineer who will do a quality job. You want someone that will communicate openly and clearly and you want a set of plans that makes it easy for your builder to give you an accurate quotation.

I think Cornell Engineers can help you and we really want to be the structural engineer for your new home project.

We’ve been providing structural engineering for new houses in Queensland and New South Wales since 2003 – so read on and let’s see how we can help you!