The quality of the soil makes a big difference in the overall success of a construction project. Not only do you need to know about the topsoil, but the ground underneath can have a significant impact on the stability of the building. One of the best things that you can do is hire an experienced and knowledgeable New Jersey excavation contractor to help you avoid unexpected issues and expensive surprises during construction.
It’s essential to understand that soil type influences the difficulty of excavation, the equipment needed, the costs involved, and overall project safety. Ensuring a solid foundation begins with proper soil preparation before construction starts. Although correct soil prep is essential, you can never be entirely sure of what’s underground until digging begins. Unexpected conditions can affect both the budget and the strategy, which is why working with an experienced contractor—someone who communicates clearly and can adapt plans as necessary—is key to building a strong and successful foundation.
The truth is that soil is much more than just dirt. Depending on where your property is located, there are various factors in the soil that can affect construction, including the makeup, density, and moisture levels. Our team is here to help you get the best results possible by planning the right excavation strategies based on the type of soil we are working with.
Why Soil Type Matters in Excavation Projects
Did you know that different soil types behave differently under different conditions: pressure, weight, and weather? The behavior of the soil is directly related to the excavation speed, cost, and overall project safety.
For example, some types of soil hold water for longer while other types drain quickly. Certain types of soil, such as clay soil, will expand when wet and then contract when it dries, which can cause instability. These water-holding properties change the approach during excavation and drainage planning.
Make sure that you are proactive about soil preparation because if there are issues during the prep phase, then it increases the risk of delays, instability, and even long-term damage to the building. Our team is here to help you evaluate the soil composition. Hire a New Jersey excavation contractor, and we’ll look at the mix of sand, silt, and clay to see how this blend is going to impact water retention and even the load-bearing capacity for your building.
Common Soil Types & Their Impact on Excavation
Before we break ground, we always take a look at the type of soil so that we can take a proactive approach to reducing the risk of shifting or even collapse after construction. Soil testing is the most reliable solution to understand soil properties and know what we are dealing with. Here is a quick overview of some of the soil types and extra steps that might be required.
Clay
This type of soil is sticky and dense when it’s wet, then it hardens when it dries out. This change in soil consistency can increase the risk of excavation challenges. Since clay has high water retention properties, you need to keep expansion and contraction in mind because the soil will swell based on the current moisture content. This swelling can cause damage to the foundations, which is why we recommend soil conditioning to ensure stability before you start building.
Loam
This type of soil has a pretty good balance of sand, silt, and clay. In fact, many contractors will agree that it’s the ideal conditions for construction projects because of the way it supports strong compaction and doesn’t become waterlogged when it’s holding moisture. Loam is easier to work with compared to other types of soil and is considered cost-effective because it doesn’t need too much prep before construction begins.
Sand
One of the problems with soil that has too much sand is that it can shift easily when improperly compacted, which means that careful stabilization is necessary to avoid future issues. The water drains and doesn’t retain the moisture very well. This type of sandy soil is most common near bodies of water and coastlines.
Silt
With silt, there are small particles in the soil that hold water longer than sand, but it drains faster than clay. One of the challenges with silt is that it can become unstable if it’s wet, which increases the risk of erosion. So, it’s often recommended that reinforcement be added to the soil before construction begins.
Rock
There’s no question that rock offers excellent soil strength and is very stable after the foundation is set, but it also comes with a few challenges. Not only is rock difficult to work with, but it can be quite expensive to excavate because of the additional effort and tools that are needed. For example, it might be necessary to blast it or use heavy-duty machinery.
Key Factors Affecting Soil Behavior During Excavation
Our team has experience working with all types of soil in a variety of conditions. That being said, it’s vital to ensure that your excavation team understands the soil on your site before beginning the project. Depending on what we discover, an engineer or environmental firm might be brought in to help determine the path forward. We’ll want to evaluate:
- Whether the soil can retain moisture
- How drainage will affect construction
- How much weight can the ground hold before it starts shifting
- If weather conditions will cause soil expansion and contraction
- How do different layers of soil need to be handled
All of these factors will help us create the ideal excavation plan to help you have the best results possible with your construction project.
Consult an Experienced New Jersey Excavation Contractor
Hiring a New Jersey excavation contractor who understands the local soil conditions and terrain is one of the best investments you are going to make for your project. We are here to help with anything that you need, offering cost-effective solutions to protect your site and ensure success. Call Mikula today to schedule an excavation consultation.