A soils report tells you if the land is suitable for construction.
A soils report details the suitability of a site for construction, and your city or county likely requires one if you are attempting to build a permanent structure such as a home. It reports on the stability of the soil in the area and any issues such as floodplains, water tables and slopes. Soils reports are sometimes called geotechnical soils reports or just geotechnical reports. Does this Spark an idea?
Purposes
Construction companies and planning departments use soils reports to verify that building in an area is safe. When constructing a building, sewage system, roadway or other project, builders and engineers need to know if the soil can provide enough support or if it has the potential to give way. They also need to see if geological conditions--or previous fraudulent construction--poses a threat to the structures and anyone in them.
Timing
Check with the government agencies approving your project to see exactly what they require, as some localities, like the City of Issaquah, Washington, do not require soils reports for structures like carports, decks and utility sheds. The types of tests needed for different projects may vary, thus extending the time it takes for the soils report research to finish.
Construction vs. Garden
Soils reports are not the same as the soil test reports that analyze the dirt in your garden for nutrient deficiencies. Soils reports do not delve into the vitamin and mineral content of the area from a nutritional standpoint. Soil test reports are generally conducted by an agricultural office, while soils reports must be done by a qualified, licensed engineer.
Tags: soils report, soils reports, test reports
