Finding your way back after business failure

Why You Need to Work With a Geotechnical Engineer

28 May 2020

Brittany Washington

When you are planning the construction of a building, you will think about how many floors you will need. You must consider how many rooms you will want and what the size of those rooms will be. Later you must think about what facilities you want in each room. These are all important things, but before you can determine any of these issues, you will need to think about the location of the building and, in particular, the type of soil on which you are building.

Is the earth important?

While architects will be happy to show you how you can maximise the use of space and create a beautiful design for your building, it is the geotechnical engineer who really ensures the stability of the building. Every building needs a strong foundation, but to create that foundation, you must know what type of soil you are dealing with. A geotechnical engineer will be responsible for collecting soil samples from across the site. While some of these samples may be taken from near the surface, the engineer will also need to drill down to see what the properties of the soil are deep underground. If the soil is found to lack the needed strength, then you will need to consider what type of foundation would be best under those conditions.

Dangers lurking below the surface

Sometimes poor soil conditions are obvious, but sometimes the problems that a geotechnical engineer finds are hidden deep below the surface. The engineer will look for evidence of previous activity on the site, including any building which is not present on official documents. He will also want to see whether there are any natural features, such as underground caves, that could impact upon the type of foundations that your building might need. In addition to past building work, a geotechnical engineer will be alert to the possibility of soil contamination which may require remediation before you can start to build.

The information provided by your geotechnical engineer will provide you with all the information you need to create the stable, enduring foundation that your new building will need to support it throughout its working life. Talk to your nearest firm offering geotechnical services and find out how their expertise can support your building project and ensure that the foundation of the structure you build will be fully compliant with all building regulations. Contact a geotechnical engineer in your area to learn more about their services.

Share

Search