Importance of Soil Testing in Construction

Importance of Soil Testing in Building Construction

Home is a frenzied dream of millions, but manifesting it is a laborious task, involving money, time, and proper execution. Many a time, we had discussed the process called construction and delved deep into the key points to be considered in designing, architecture, construction, interior designing, etc. Now, we are discussing a very relevant aspect in creating a home or any other type of space, and that is the importance of Soil Testing in Construction.
 
Most people think, is soil testing necessary? or is it simply a wastage of money? Some others believe that nothing will happen to the building even if the soil is not tested. But, in reality, this is not true. Soil testing is necessary for constructing a home. 

Soil Testing and Building Foundation

Soil testing displays the physical and engineering properties of soil like moisture content, mineral presence, density permeability, and bearing capacity (the soil bearing capacity is the capacity of the soil to support the superstructure load per unit area).

These properties of the soil decide which type of foundation should be used for construction. 

We all know that the foundation is the basement of any building and a defect in setting the foundation may result in the total collapse of the building.

The foundation has to be strong enough to effectively transfer the building weight to the soil underneath.

The foundation has to sustain and transmit the load from the building to the ground, without causing damage to the building or surrounding buildings. It is also directly related to the strength of the house, the number of stories, and the type of roofing.

So, soil testing is indispensable to identify the type of foundation.

Strong ground strata, like a rock, can support the entire weight of the building. But we cannot expect rocks to be found everywhere.
 
In some places, where the strata contain sand or clay, some reinforcement work is required to make the soil as strong as a rock.
 
To strengthen such weak strata and distribute the load, different types of foundations are used.
 
The primary know-how, whether it’s strong strata or weak strata, only comes from soil testing.
 
The nature and strength of soil differ from place to place. Some soil can support heavy loaded high rise structures, while some cannot even hold a small hut.
 
This is because we say, it is very important to check the bearing capacity of the ground before construction starts. 
Tips for Your New House Construction

Watch Video: Importance of Soil Testing in Construction

 
Watch a video by our CEO, Mr. Faizal. A. Asan, the best Civil Engineer in Kochi, detailing the various uses, costs of soil testing, and the importance of Soil Testing in Construction which will be very much useful for those who intend to build their sweet homes.

Reasons why Soil Testing is important before any construction

We have already discussed, in detail the importance of soil testing in setting up a suitable foundation for the building. 
 
Other than foundation, soil testing also determines what sort of materials are to be used for construction.  Soil testing also helps eliminate the various type of building failures.
The incredible uses of the Importance of Soil Testing in Construction can be summarized as:
 
1. Helps to identify suitable materials, used for construction.
 
2. Helps to identify the type of foundation needed.
 
3. Helps to identify corrosive soil.
 
4. Helps to avoid the foundation, being set in inadequate depth and reclaimed soil.
 
5. Helps to identify possibilities of soil liquefaction due to earthquakes.
 

Types of Soil Testing

Depending on the soil texture and quality, methods of soil test can be broadly categorized as Lab tests and Field test
Lab Test

The chief Lab Test includes:

  • Moisture Content Test
  • Atterberg Limits Test or Critical Water Content Test
  • Specific Gravity Test, Dry Density Test
  • Compaction Test
 
Field Test

The main Field Tests include:

  • Plate Bearing Test
  • Standard Penetration Test
  • Pressure Meter Test
  • Field Vane Shear Test

Cost of Soil Testing

Coming to the cost, when a client is ready to build a 3000 square feet house in 10 cents of land, he is spending nearly between Rs. 7500000 to Rs. 10000000. Compared to this amount, placing a single bore for field soil testing, which costs nearly Rs. 20000, is negligible, but the need is inevitable. It saves a big amount in the future, by safeguarding the building with a strong foundation and strong materials, if some unforeseen events happen.
 
Green Today Architects, a Prolific Builder, Architect, Interior Designer, and Construction company, that created exceptionally marvelous and well-built architectural pieces, in the forms of residential flats and villas, business apartments and offices, malls, and commercial complexes, government, and educational institutions, independent houses, etc. with unflinching technical brilliance, supreme quality control, world-class experience, and transparent formalities, endorses soil testing as an indispensable part and parcel of construction.
 
Only by conducting soil testing, Green Today Architects start in designing and construction procedures, even for a single-storied small house.
 
Only by setting a strong foundation, a strong building can be erected, where peace of mind rests on safety.

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