A solid foundation: Cook Costello
The Canterbury earthquake sequence highlighted the importance of geotechnical investigations followed by a good foundation design.
When building a new house or extension, there is as much engineering input required as there is architectural design.
A myriad of aspects needs to be considered, from the state of the land on which the house’s foundation sits, to whether the design itself is structurally sound and sustainable.
All these elements are integrated into what the multi-faceted engineering company, Cook Costello, can offer homeowners and has been doing so for more than 45 years. Cook Costello delivers a comprehensive package of undoubted quality, and at a competitive price.
With years of experience in providing specialist geotechnical services, Cook Costello recognises that a successful project starts with a good understanding of the ground.
The company, in partnership with its sister organisation GeoCivil, has its own IANZ-accredited soil testing laboratory that can provide clients with sound and reliable advice regarding land performance.
It’s one of the very few engineering consultancies in the South Island that has this testing capability in-house. Cook Costello has teams of experienced structural and geotechnical engineers who work together to design foundations that meet New Zealand standards.
There is a saying that a good foundation should go unnoticed, just like a good football referee. Investment in a thorough site investigation and the subsequent construction of a suitably robust foundation to suit the ground – where structural engineering expertise is required – will not be visible in the finished development. This investment, however, assures that a building has been constructed on a stable foundation, thereby reducing risk, increasing resilience for future earthquake events, and giving peace of mind to owners and occupants.
GeoCivil and Cook Costello provide the complete package of structural and geotechnical engineering combined with high-quality testing services from highly skilled and trained geotechnical technicians. Testing services are offered to cover a broad range of options, from shallow investigations using hand-held equipment to deep investigations using mechanical drilling rigs and more advanced laboratory testing for more challenging ground conditions.
Cook Costello will work with you to obtain a building consent. They will test the ground according to New Zealand standards and design site-specific, cost-effective and appropriate foundations.
If you have a building project in the future you can contact Cook Costello at 03 365 5960.
