Soil testing may be the last thing on your mind as excitement for building plans and innovative project renderings come to life. Before bringing in the bulldozers and laying down the foundation, sampling the soil ahead of time will prepare your project for success and ensure that your budget and timeline are respected. Since the ground underneath your site is one of the biggest variables that affect a successful build, here are several important reasons to invest in a subsurface investigation with lab-verified soil testing before breaking ground.
Investigate the Stability of Your Soil
A quality investigation with soil testing illuminates a variety of important details related to the fundamentals of every project. After comprehensive soil testing in NJ, you’ll discover important information about the structural load capacity of the terrain, areas of weakness on the property that need additional support, and factors like how slope and soil conditions may impact the site planning process.
Modern investigation and soil testing services are designed to paint a clear picture of the entire landscape. Many build sites have vastly different subsurface characteristics from one corner of the building site to the next. Using deep soil samples and multiple samples from various points a soil analysis team will document the integrity and load-bearing capacity across the entirety of the terrain.
Soil Analysis Leads to Efficient Structural Design
Before finalizing any plans, comprehensive soil analysis helps to ensure that your foundation and supporting structures are up to the task. If a corner of your building is on a slope or has underlying conditions affecting the strength of the terrain, your project may require soil replacement, soil modification or deep foundations to safely manage the structural load. Your team will have the subsurface information they need to make informed foundation design and proactively prevent project delays, wasted materials, and inadequate building plans.
Project Planning With the Future in Mind
Soil testing is one of the best ways to investigate the long-term safety of a building site. Over time, the soil may settle, swell, or erode due to natural elements, the weight of the building, and other contributing factors. While the surface may be stable today, a comprehensive soil test will outline upcoming factors that could cause structural instability down the line.
Following a detailed soil analysis, you can plan your project to deal with the subsurface conditions. Perhaps your project planning needs to incorporate a better drainage system to offset excess storm water or slope erosion. Other factors like erodibility and the potential for settlement should be accounted for during the planning phases. A thorough investigation with laboratory verified soil tests will help you prepare for these potential pitfalls that can impact your structure’s integrity, and is one of the most important steps to include in the planning phases of your project.
For geotechnical investigation, soil testing services, geotechnical design in Philadelphia, and more, contact Earth Engineering today.
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