Are you in the early stages of a building project? Are you planning to transform a piece of land for your business or renovate a corner of your city? Many people don’t realize that you need to do some excavation work before you can start building.
The excavation process includes everything from clearing away rocks, vegetation, and debris to removing large amounts of soil. The amount of work that you’ll need to do depends on your specific plans. But no matter how big your project is, you’ll want to avoid common excavation mistakes.
Keep reading below to learn more about how you can avoid a costly mistake. The more you know about common excavation issues, the better you’ll be at preventing them.
Poor Soil
Paying attention to your soil is the best way to avoid excavation issues. Soils that are high in clay are more problematic for building. Compared to gravelly or sandy soils, they do not drain well and might not be able to support heavy loads.
Rocky soils can also pose problems for construction, especially if the rocks are very large.
The ideal kind of soil to support new construction is called “loam.” It contains a balanced amount of sand, clay, and silt. It is absorbent but does not easily become water-logged.
Before you start your excavation project, you should have a professional take a look at your soil. They can tell you what kind of soil you are working with and can help you prepare for any additional steps you need to take to accommodate less-than-ideal soil types.
Water Levels
If your excavation site is near water or is located in a wet environment, you might run into water-related construction issues. Just as it’s important to have the right soil type, it’s also important to have the right water content in your soil.
The amount of water that you have to deal with depends on the state of the water table on your land. For help avoiding excavation mistakes, make sure to have an expert check your groundwater levels. If they are high, you might need to install pipes, trenches, pumps, or other drainage systems to protect your foundation.
Uneven Land
If your construction plot is not level, the excavation process might take longer. A sloped or hilly piece of land will need to be leveled before you can build on it. Extreme landscapes can lead to excavation problems and prolonged construction times.
Buildings can be built on grades of as much as 50%, so if you’re starting a project on sloped land, don’t panic. To accommodate slopes that can’t be leveled with excavation techniques, you might need to install retaining walls, specialized drainage systems, or other amenities.
Mistake Free Excavation
These excavation tips should help you look at your land and your excavation project with a fresh eye. For more professional help, reach out to our team at BuildPro. We are experts on all things related to excavation and land development.
Behind the scenes, our experts are working hard to make sure that you don’t run into any of the problems outlined above when you start your excavation project. Take the guesswork out of excavation and avoid making a mistake that will cost you time, money, and resources. Call us today to find out how we can help you!
