At its most basic, a soil test report for construction provides expertly gathered information on the proposed construction site’s soil and underlying bedrock. A soil survey report gives geologists, developers and other building professionals the information they need to decide if the site is going to be suitable for the proposed development. Where soil issues are flagged (for example contamination or methane), contractors can put in place suitable measures to alleviate any risks.
What does a soil test report consist of?
To compile a soil survey report, geotechnical engineers will take a variety of soil samples from the site. These are examined for a variety of characteristics. In some cases, samples will be sent for laboratory testing. Typically, a soil report for foundation determination will involve checking:
- Soil moisture
- pH
- Texture
- Types of soil (for example, a clay soil or sandy soils)
- Moisture level
- Drainage.
- Particle level.
- Amount of organic matter
- Presence of contaminants
All this information is presented as a soil report, providing developers, contractors and other partners with the data needed for informed decision-making.
What impact can a soil report have?
A high-grade soil report Melbourne developers can trust is able to provide plenty of key information about the site. In some instances, the soil profile may indicate that the proposed development is not going to be suitable for the site. In other circumstances, the presence of contaminants, unexpected water, the discovery of landfill (potentially resulting in the release of methane gas), flagged up by the survey, will be a signal to put in place remedial and safety measures.
What are the benefits of soil testing?
A soil test allows contractors to:
- Establish the type of foundations which are going to be best suited to the underlying soil.
- Identify any parts of the site where de-contamination work is required.
- Potentially trigger the inclusion of protective membranes, vents or similar site-dependent measures.
- Ensure that costs and timings accurately reflect any additional work that will be needed to bring the site up to standard.
- Enables different management strategies to be employed, depending on the soil conditions of each part of the site.
We include soil testing as part of the suite of services we provide during the development phase of a project.