soil-testing-construction-importance

Every project demands planning, and construction projects are no exemption. Proper planning helps minimize the risks of errors occurring while increasing the chances of obtaining excellent results. There are three stages in any construction project, namely the preconstruction stage, the construction stage, and the post-construction stage.

The preconstruction stage features the planning and several other measures taken concerning the construction. The construction stage Involves the actual building of the project, and the post-construction stage is the project in its finished state.

One measure employed in the preconstruction stage is soil testing. This article will highlight what soil testing is,  the different forms of soil testing, and the reasons for soil testing. Read on to discover more.

What is Soil Testing?

This procedure is done to obtain specific information about the soil’s properties before construction. Some of the information obtained includes:

  • The soil’s bearing capacity highlights the maximum and minimum load the soil can accommodate.
  • The Soil’s chemical properties: The Soil can contain chemical properties that react with some building resources; thus, soil testing helps determine these chemical properties.
  • The water table level: It helps determine the depth of the water table and the moisture content present in the soil.
  • The Soil’s particles behavior: Soil’s particles constantly oscillate, but the rate at which they oscillate increases when influenced by specific factors. Soil Testing helps determine the behavioral change of these Soil particles.

Forms of Soil Testing for Construction Projects

There are various forms of soil testing for construction projects, and these are some forms of soil testing:

  1. Gravity test: Gives an estimate of the value of soil gravity. This value depends on the soil’s grain size because different soils have different grain sizes.
  2. Moisture test: Gives an idea of the soil’s sturdiness when exposed to moisture. The test checks the sturdiness at different moisture levels contained in the soil.
  3. Dry density tests: The soil is collected in a dehydrated form to determine its weight and density.
  4. Proctor’s compaction test: This gives how well the soil can withstand pressure.
  5. Attenbergs limit tests: This helps determine the soil’s shrinkage limit and the behavioral change when transitioning between different states from semi-solid state to liquid state and plastic state.

Why Soil Testing is Important for Construction

The reasons soil testing is essential for construction are:

  1. Saves cost: Soil testing gives you an idea of the challenges to expect and how to overcome them, thus, saving costs.
  2. Influence your choice of equipment: Soil testing helps you choose equipment that is not reactive to the soil’s chemical properties for higher efficiency.
  3. Reduces Risks: Soil testing helps you determine the best methods to employ when constructing a project to avoid developing any future faults.
  4. Influence choice of foundation: Soil testing helps you determine the best foundation for a project and the perfect dimensions for the foundation.

Conclusion

Soil testing is an essential procedure for construction projects that can barely be overlooked or done away with.  This is little wonder professional contractors often recommend it before any construction. In this article, we have explained why soil testing is essential for construction projects. We have also highlighted some forms of soil testing for construction. If you require professional soil and water testing services, get in touch with The PSA Group.