What Is A Soil Investigation?
A soil investigation is a procedure that is carried out on unprepared ground. Soil investigations involve taking multiple samples of the soil and then conducting tests on it, which helps to determine the properties of the soil, contaminants, and any strengths and weaknesses it might have. The purpose of a soil investigation is to ensure the soil is suitable for use for your planned works; helping to ensure you can carry out work on or in the soil in a safe manner. Soil investigations are just a small part of geotechnical investigations.
Why Is A Soil Investigation Needed?
Soil investigations are needed as they help to ensure your construction site remains safe to be on during your construction project. If you didn't understand the properties of your soil, then your construction site could easily become a hazardous place to be, once construction work started. Without a thorough soil investigation, you could start building structures on soil that isn't stable enough to hold them, or even worse on contaminated land which could pose a long term threat to any future residents of the site. Without having a soil investigation carried out, things such as sinkholes and landslides could occur.
What Is Involved in A Soil Investigation?
When it comes to soil investigation, there are a number of tests that can be carried out prior to any construction work beginning. Some of the most common tests carried out during a soil investigation are; DCP Testing, Ground Bearing Tests, California Bearing Tests, Vane Shear Testing and Plate Load Testing. Depending on the type of soil you have, and your plans for the site, will depend on the type of soil investigation and tests required. We can provide advice and guidance to ensure all of the required soil testing is carried out.
During a soil investigation, samples are taken from multiple different sites and at different depths to ensure we gain a full understanding of the soil from across the whole area we are working with. You'd be surprised that soil can rapidly change on a site, in just a few hundred yards. Upon completion of our soil tests and investigation, you will be provided with all of the information in a detailed report.
Regardless of which tests are carried out on the soil, or the number of tests carried out on it, the data and results it produces will help you to make a more informed decision about how to handle your soil and construction project going forward.
Who Should Carry Out A Soil Investigation?
All soil investigations should be carried out by trained professionals, such as geologists, geotechnical engineers and specialist soil investigators. By using a trained professional, you will be ensuring that all tests are carried out correctly and in an appropriate manner. In addition to this, your detailed report at the end of the soil investigation will mean you have valid and legal documentation that states the properties of the soil, meaning you will know how to proceed best moving forward. At Solmek, we have a team of fully trained and highly skilled professionals who undertake all types of soil investigation work.
How Solmek Can Help With Soil investigation
If you're looking for a reputable and well-known company to carry out a soil investigation, then Solmek is the company for you. We have years of experience carrying out soil investigations for both domestic and commercial clients, and we also offer a wider range of geotechnical investigation services as well. No matter what type of soil you might have, or what your plans for it might be, we can carry out a thorough soil investigation for you. For more information or to book a soil investigation, simply get in touch with us. One of our team is always on hand to answer questions and deal with enquiries.