Agriculture Conservation Education Earthwork / Earth Movement Storm Water Urban Land Management Urban Streams

NEWSLETTERS & PUBLICATIONS

COMPLAINT / INQUIRY FORM

FEEDBACK & MAILING LIST

RESOURCE LINKS

Earth Movement

When should you call in a Soils / Geotechnical Engineer?  

Many builders, architects, and owners are reluctant to hire Geotechnical Engineers to perform subsurface investigations, and that is easy to understand. The cost of a house can go up a few thousand dollars. Despite the cost, there are circumstances where consulting a Soils Engineer is a wise investment in the project.

1. Evidence of previous earthwork at the site, especially filling, requires careful investigation. The site may contain uncontrolled fill soils and debris such as demolition rubble or abandoned vehicles. Any of these things can cause severe settlement problems.

2. Encountering groundwater or weak soil while excavating for foundations may indicate a potential for settlement in the future. The problem area should be carefully delineated and remedied by a Geotechnical Engineer.

3. If you are building a house on a lot with a steep slope, then you need a Geotechnical Engineer to determine the soil properties and to evaluate the stability of the slopes.

4. A local history of the presence of clay soils that are susceptible to shrinking and swelling with changes in moisture content also requires careful investigation.

If you are crossing your fingers and hoping the soil conditions won't cause a problem, you're probably right to be uneasy. Call in a specialist. To locate an Geotechnical Engineer in your area look at the yellow pages under Engineers or call Department of Public Works Earthwork Division.