A simple structure would not be safe, secure, and durable without a sturdy base. This is why the first thing an engineer or contractor should do is ensure that the construction site is viable for the kind of structure that is set to be built.
Proper construction site preparation will save your money as well as the lives of construction workers and the people who will utilise the building when it is done. Preparation will also determine what kind of job should be done before constructing the actual structure. For example, some construction sites in the United Kingdom need soil nailing to prevent slopes for collapsing.
Problems and alterations like this can be detected by construction site preparation. Here are three crucial steps that contractors should do before the building process:
Land clearing
Before performing any construction work, the contractor must start with a clean slate. This includes clearing out rubbish and demolishing any existing structure to make space for the new one. By having an empty and clean site, to begin with, the construction process will be more efficient.
Aside from demolition, this step could include clearing out the plants in the construction site, so weeds, trees, or vegetation present in the land will be cut out. This prevents disruptions in future processes of construction, saving you an awful lot of time and effort.
Soil testing
Soil testing is crucial to preparation because the knowledge of soil composition is essential to the security of the structure. In this step, the experts with test the soil’s capacity to carry the weight of the structure. They will also test soil absorption because it could change with the weather. Aside from these, the chemical and mineral components of the soil will be studies so that experts can analyse the kind of materials they should use for construction.
Knowing the soil composition will determine how deep the support, foundation, and pillars of the structures should go. It will also show what kind of technique will be done in constructing the foundation.
Underground mapping
Even though contractors may have the map of the plumbing, cables, and other pipes under the surface of the Earth, it is best to map it again to check for updates. This step is crucial, especially for construction workers. Through underground mapping, they will know where to till to avoid potential electrocution or plumbing problems that can also affect the neighbouring areas.
Experts and contractors can also change their plans to cater to any changes in the underground map, especially because altering these plans later will be more costly. Additionally, in urban areas, damaging a pipe or a cable underground may disrupt the functions of the city, and this could cost you a lawsuit.
When the safety of the people is in your hands, it pays to give ample time for site preparation. This will prevent you from overlooking damages and risks that will cost you time and money in the future. Therefore, underground mapping, land clearing, and soil testing should be conducted to make sure that the construction site can support the structure that is about to be built.
