Are you looking to begin a brand new construction project? Creating a good foundation for any type of building or structure (basically anything built on or in the ground) is essential, but this needs to start below your slab or footing at ground–or should we say, soil–level.
By having a professional geotechnical site investigation performed, you’ll be putting your project in the best possible position for success, in more ways than one.
Here are a few reasons why these types of geotechnical services are so critical for all Melbourne construction projects.
When organising for a geotechnical site investigation to be performed, there are a number of different assessments that may be undertaken. They should always be performed by professionally-trained staff (including geotechnical engineers), and will be used to obtain information on the physical properties of soil or rock at your worksite.
These can include a walkover survey to glean information regarding the current soil conditions and how any existing structures are currently performing.
Subsurface explorations of the soil can also include:
Experts in this field, like those from SITE Geotechnical, will advise you on what the most applicable tests will be for your construction site in particular.
Contact us for geotechnical services in Wyandham Vale, Donnybrook, Beveridge, or Melton.
Source: SITE Geotechnical Soil / Rock Profile Summaries
Now that you have an idea of some of the types of geotechnical site investigations we can perform, how important is it that you organise soil testing for your construction project in the future?
Here are three reasons why we believe the right geotechnical services should never be skipped.
Having the right soil investigation performed before you start can assist with the determination of your project’s needs, project viability and provide design information to assist with cost–a basic fundamental to any project built in or on the ground..
How will the soil you are building on behave after you begin to work? Will it compact, expand, move, or even be washed away? Understanding these questions means you can make sure whatever you are building, whether it is a road, open-air structure, or a fully enclosed property, won’t be affected by how the soil changes.
Ignore this, and you may find that your project (whether during the build or after its completion) forms cracks, sinks, is unstable, or may even collapse! These can be very dangerous or costly for everyone involved, so it’s vital that you have your soil’s properties explored thoroughly before starting to build.
Construction projects rarely go exactly to plan, and every bump in the road usually equates to extra costs that you have to pay, and hits to the budget are never pleasant. You may think that paying a geotechnical engineering company to test your soil is a cost you could cut to save money, but the long-term dollars you could save say otherwise.
Performing risk management through the right types of site investigations can actually help you save costs in the future, as the more that is known about a site, the better your ability to make the right decisions will be. The use of less accurate, more generic soil testing may save you a bit of money at the start, but the soil test is generally only a small fraction of your total project costs (often less than 1%).
Wrong, partial or conservative information provided at the soil testing stage may eventually result in greater costs to repair damages caused long-term. To get your building project off to the best start, and to lessen the chance of any issues or delays occurring later on, it is best to focus on getting a quality soil test completed by a reputable company.
Issues with your worksite may place blocks on your project that you didn’t expect. An unexpected reserve of groundwater, the presence of nearby wetlands, soil that is rich in clay, or a very rocky soil near the work surface can all mean you have to pivot the way you are building, use different building materials, or even completely change how you were planning on crafting the foundation of your project.
Because soil will always provide support for anything being built upon it, a soil test is vital for discovering any limitations for your design and identifying any constraints on construction. All of the information you’ll receive from a professional soil report will help your structural engineers design the most appropriate slabs, footings, or deep foundations (if required) to make sure your structure is safe and appropriately designed. This can make it less likely to crack, suffer from rising damp, or sink.
We are the expert choice for anyone needing geotechnical services in Mernda, the Mornington Peninsula, Gippsland, Tarneit, or Taylors Hill.
Source: SITE Geotechnical Bearing Capacity Assessments
All successful construction projects will start with a professional geotechnical site investigation. And here at SITE Geotechnical, these types of investigations are one of our specialties. As well as all of the investigations listed above, you can come to us for services like:
Soil testing for construction sites isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for all construction sites across Victoria. Contact SITE Geotechnical on 1300 557 260 or leave us a message using our online form, and we’ll return your query as soon as we can. With over twenty years of experience in geotechnical services, and over 10,000 projects completed across Melbourne, we are the smart choice for anyone in the industrial, civil, residential or commercial spheres wanting professional geotechnical site investigations.
Still need more information? Find out more about why a geotechnical investigation is very important before any structure is built here!
A successful building project starts with the soil foundation. Learn why conducting a geotechnical survey before construction is crucial for stability and efficiency.
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