What Is A Deep Foundation Inspection?

Construction can often be a difficult industry to navigate. On one hand, you want to make sure that you’re being as cost-effective as possible while simultaneously trying to make sure that projects are moving along at a quick pace. On the other hand, you know that there’s no margin for error. A minor mistake can lead to property damage, personal injury, and beyond.

This is why it’s important to emphasize practices like deep foundation inspections. If you’re looking to make sure that no corners are cut while you’re overseeing a construction project, let’s walk through what a deep foundation inspection is, the benefits it offers, and who you can rely on to provide the necessary support in this area of construction.

Deep Foundation Inspections

Some construction projects, like one-story single-family homes, may only require a shallow foundation to start the project. Larger projects like mid to high-rise buildings and industrial facilities, on the other hand, may require deep foundations. Deep foundations are those that are grounded deep in the subsurface layers of the earth to provide extra support to the structure above, helping it withstand structural forces and ensuring stability.

But with all this in mind, experienced construction managers know that mistakes can be made. If the foundation is not properly prepared, employees aren’t trained, the ground is not examined, and other precautions aren’t taken, the end results could be disastrous. A deep foundation inspection is designed to assess the quality, strength, and durability of various aspects of the deep foundation. Some types of deep foundation tests include visual inspections, lateral load tests, integrity tests, and Osterberg Cell load tests, just to name a few.

What Are the Benefits of a Deep Foundation Inspection?

The benefit of conducting a deep foundation inspection is clear; it allows you to minimize the potential for mistakes to be made that could potentially compromise the structure later on. With a deep foundation inspection, you can test pile-driving hammer performance, pile integrity, structural integrity, bearing capacity, and more. Conducting these tests will tell you whether or not the foundation has been constructed correctly and if it will be capable of supporting the structure. If anything happens during this test that indicates an error, you can quickly discover what this issue is and rectify it before the project continues.

Who Can I Turn to for Support With Deep Foundation Testing?

If you’re searching for foundation testing and consulting in Philadelphia, Earth Engineering Incorporated can provide you with the support and guidance you need throughout your construction project. We provide monitoring and consulting for all of the phases of your earthwork and foundation construction, leveraging our team of experienced inspectors and consultants with certifications from the NICET, ICC, and ACI to help you meet inspection requirements. From deep foundation testing to construction materials testing and beyond, you can rely on us to help you see your project through.

Contact us now to learn more about the next steps in testing your earthwork and foundation construction.