Soil testing is an important part of the development process for building a new home, or preparing for a development project. Soil testing involves collecting soil samples from different locations on your property and analysing them to make sure they are suitable for building. The results of this test will help determine what kind of foundation type you should use and what kinds of materials are necessary to build the house. This article discusses five steps involving soil testing and pre-development to reduce building costs and ensure proper construction.
Table of Contents
Schedule a Consultation with Your Local Engineer
In order to get your soil tested, you need an analysis of the site done by a professional soil testing technician who can determine what kind of foundation type is recommended for construction and assess any potential risks that could affect the foundation or structural integrity of the home once it’s built.
Pay for the Site Assessment and the Soil Testing Analysis
Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, paid the fee, and completed any necessary paperwork, it’s time to request soil testing from your state or local council. The length of this analysis will depend on what type of foundation you need for the construction. The cost will vary depending on your council.
Wait for Results
Wait for results and discuss site assessment with your technician and engineers once you receive your results back from the analysis, bring them to your project engineer to discuss the site assessment.
Determine the Type of your Foundation
Determine what foundation type is best for your site and hire an engineer. Once you have a plan of action from your site analysis, it’s time to hire an engineer who specializes in designing foundations that suit your needs. Determining what type of foundation will be the best suit editing your needs is the first step.
Develop Plans
Develop plans and hire contractors once you have an engineer, he or she will provide you with plans for the foundation. These are then submitted to a contractor who bids on the project. When hiring a contractor, make sure that they’re licensed and qualified in your state or county.
The Importance of Soil Testing and Pre-Development
Soil testing is a crucial step to pre-development. The soil’s composition will tell you what type of foundation needs to build, how wide it should be, and the best way for it to drain water away from your home. This information can also help reduce building costs by allowing engineers to save on material purchases. If you’re considering buying land, it’s worth the time and investment to get an engineer pre-development soil test.
Conclusion
Soil testing can be done by professionals or DIY with access to an auger, shovels, buckets, and safety goggles. However, it’s always best to consult professionals. Results must be sent off to a lab that will provide them within one week or at the agreed time.
If you are a homeowner, then soil testing may be necessary for your project. It’s important to know what kind of soil is on the property before beginning any construction or landscaping project. It can also help identify potential contaminants like heavy metals, fertilizers, insecticides, etc. Do you now understand why you must test your soil?
We spoke to a Gold Coast pre-development company and they said that “Soil testing for your property is an important step in the design phase of your new build, renovation or land purchase.”
