What is a Geotechnical Report and Why You Should Get Soil Surveys before BuildingOn Difficult Sites and Slopes?

A geotechnical report is vital before you begin any type of construction or building. It is a prerequisite prior to construction and even before house plans are determined. The geotechnical report includes a site analysis of the soil, rocks, bedrock properties and fault distribution. The investigation is done in order to determine the engineering properties of how the elements and constitutes will interact with a proposed construction.

A geotechnical report is comprised of a site analysis that is tested by a geotechnical engineer. A geotechnical engineer is also called a geotech and sometimes a mud doctor. The foremost reason for the test is to understand how ‘reactive’ the soil is. The test is also done to ensure that there are not any chemical or physical conditions that could damage or destroy the proposed construction.

Defining Soil Reactivity

Soil reactivity is in reference to how much the soil on the construction site is apt to contract, move or expand. Soil reactivity is generally due to changes in moisture content. If soil reactivity is present then it can be a major problem when building, especially when it comes to concrete slab subfloors or multi story houses.

Geotechnical Reports

In the beginning stages of planning, a geotechnical engineer will need to test the site you plan to build on. The report will specify the physical properties of the soil on your building site. It will also include the chemical composition of the soil, the stability of natural slopes, possible fault distributions and other necessary details of the construction site.

The Benefits of a Geotechnical Report for Construction

The quality of the soil on your building site is a key factor in the success or failure of your construction project. A geotechnical test and report will ascertain the characteristics of the soil to determine its capacity to support your building or structure. Proper soil testing enables you to evaluate the soils suitability for your project. The test will also provide you with important data so that you can make accurate building plans and knowledgeable decisions. In truth, a soil survey can provide numerous benefits for your building plans such as:

• Assess the soils impact on your construction project
• Categorise the different types of soil on your construction site and their locality
• Collect the data needed to support license applications and planning permissions
• Test the soil for compaction, strength, density, impurities, organics and sand content
• Define the suitability of the soil and determine if the soil is appropriate for your construction project
• Get detailed results so you are able to observe the change in the soil throughout the construction project for supreme safety and quality

Professional Geotechnical Reporting

For the success of your construction project it is important that you have a professional soil survey done before you start building. And instead of hiring numerous contractors for each project such as geotechnical testing, planning and building. Why not consider making the project a whole lot easier by hiring a proficient and experienced company that can do it all professionally?

Here at IKE Building in Melbourne, we undertake a complete service package from the original concept to completion. Our company does expert work on individual projects such as construction and we specialise in home building on difficult sites and slope. We have an extensive reputation as well as a network of professionals that can transform your first idea to the completion of your dream home.