Construction & Contractors Blog
Soil testing is very important to the integrity of a structure that is constructed on any site. This is because the structure is designed in accordance with the attributes of soil onto which it stands. This article discusses the specific ways through which soil test results influence construction.
Test Results Have a Bearing on the Size of the Building
Soil testing is very important because engineers base upon the test results to determine the size of the building that can be constructed on any site. For instance, if the soil test reveals that the soil is weak (can easily settle) then it would be unsafe to construct a high-rise building on that site because the weight of the building would be too much for the soil to support. Engineers would have to design a smaller building or come up with a way to shore up the foundation (by sinking pillars into the rock bed below) so that the building will be safe from collapsing once the weak soil settles.
Test Results Influence the Choice of Building Materials
Developers also use soil test results to decide which building materials to use. For instance, if the test results reveal that the soil contains plenty of sulfur, engineers will select a type of cement that is resistant to sulfur so that the foundation is safe from sulfur attack. Thus, soil testing is very important before construction begins.
Test Results Influence the Kind of Waterproofing Needed
Foundations require waterproofing so that water is prevented from damaging the foundation and walls of the structure. Soil test results help in determining the kind of waterproofing that will be best suited to that location. For instance, if the water table is high, the building will need drains within the foundation (in addition to internal waterproofing like using bitumen) in order to channel water away from the building; kota stone can suffice to waterproof a building whose soil is devoid of water.
Soil Stabilisation Requirements
Soil tests help engineers plan what kind of soil stabilisation is needed at the site. For instance, if the tests show that there is a lot of sand at the site, engineers can decide to ferry clay soil from another location in order to make the sand more firm so that the building is at no risk of settling.
As you can see, soil testing is very important before construction begins. The test results enable the developer to plan the building in such a way that it will stand the test of time. For more information, contact a business such as East Coast Group.
Share6 April 2015
Welcome to my blog! My name is Richard and my big passion in life is looking for old buildings to restore. My love of old buildings started when I was seven years old and I visited my grandparent's house in Alice Springs. It was a large Victorian building which looked magnificent even though it was in a bad state of repair. Once I grew up and made some money, I decided I would like to invest in old buildings to bring them back to life. I hire a range of different contractors to complete the work on my behalf but I take a keen interest and I have learnt a lot of things.