Common Mistakes to Avoid During Soil Testing
Soil testing is a critical pre-construction activity since structural engineers rely on the results to chart a way forward regarding a building's stability. Likewise, soil testing can reveal potential contaminants that might affect the health of neighbours should excavations proceed. That said, the reliability of soil test results depends on an expert's ability to avoid certain simple mistakes. This article highlights common mistakes that can render soil testing results useless and how to avoid them.
Failure to Label Samples Per Location
Taking samples from various locations on the same property is crucial when collecting soil for analysis. It is vital since taking samples from one location provides inaccurate results since soil properties vary significantly from one site to another. Thus, testing samples from different locations helps compile a thorough soil profile, which paints a clear picture of a lot's overall soil condition. Regrettably, it may be easy to forget to label samples tubes/containers regarding the location each was collected from. Unfortunately, these missteps will make interpreting test results challenging, which is the last thing you need, especially for major construction projects. Therefore, always have a pen and blank labels on hand to avoid mixing soil samples.
Failure to Match Depth to Construction Specs
The stability of a building depends on soil conditions and, most importantly, the foundation's integrity. Thus, the depth at which you collect soil samples should be guided by construction project specifications. For instance, the foundation of a three-storey duplex is deeper than the base of a single room because of the pressure and stress differences. While adhering to soil test depth guidelines is not negotiable, the requirements are only the bare minimum. Therefore, always let the specifications of a construction project guide the appropriate depth to collect soil samples.
Failure to Account for Site History
Construction sites have histories that should be accounted for as part of soil testing, and failure to do so raises more questions than answers. Notably, construction sites that have seen little to no activity for a long time offer few challenges regarding sample collection, testing, analysis and interpretation. In most cases, such sites have consistent soil attributes than locations that have seen numerous construction projects over the same period. Therefore, this information will have a significant impact on how a site is divided for sample collection purposes. Overall, it helps determine areas with a strong soil profile or contaminants with a high degree of accuracy.
To learn more, contact a soil testing company.
