When planning a residential construction project on an undeveloped lot, you could be thinking the only preparation that needs to be done is land clearing and levelling. Although these two steps are necessary before your contractors can break ground, you may not be aware of how critical a geotechnical investigation is before laying the foundation.

This phrase may sound confusing but in simple terms, it refers to testing the soil to determine how viable it is for your construction project. Once the results are in, your contractors can determine if stabilization and reinforcement are necessary or if you should look for another lot. To help you learn more about this process and its importance, here is what you need to know about soil testing your undeveloped lot pre-residential construction.

What is the importance of soil testing?

Soil testing is vital for a myriad of reasons. For starters, the condition of the soil is investigated to establish if it will be stable enough to accommodate the foundation and the structure. In addition to this, comprehensive testing determines the different types of soils on your lot. This information guides the construction process, as some parts of the property may be better suited to the project than others are.

The third reason why these investigations are crucial before undertaking in residential construction is to establish the various properties of the soil. For example knowing the density, strength, compaction and so on will help guide the construction process, as the contractors will have technical data about the site. Thus, they can decide whether they need to invest in footings much deeper than the standard options.

Not to mention, the results of the soil tests also inform the contractors on how the safe the site is so they can determine if measures need to be taken to keep the site and workers secure. Once the geotechnical investigation is concluded and the results are compiled, you get a better idea of what the project will cost, as the test will determine if additional investments need to be made to ensure the lot is viable for residential construction.

Can the seller pay for the soil testing?

A misassumption some property owners have regarding soil testing is that it is a mandatory expense they have to bear when purchasing a lot. In truth, you can have this test included in your purchase terms and base your offer contingent on the results being acceptable for your proposed project. Nonetheless, if you have already purchased the lot, the cost of this test will be part of your construction expenses.