Soil testing 101 for a house builder

[JCWilson]

What is the appropriate response to a prospective client who wants a house designed on a pier foundation? The house is located somewhere in the northeast area of Pennsylvania.

I want to be able to explain what types of testing are required, what tests are optional(if any) and how to go about getting it done, and of course how much they can expect to spend on it.

 

[gandersen]

Dear JCWilson:

Before making the decision to put the house on a deep foundation, it would be prudent to consult with a geotechnical engineer and to perform a soil subsurface exploration. The decision for a deep foundation on a home is really driven by the soil conditions. I would recommend that you contact a local geotechnical engineer and ask for a subsurface investigation and geotechnical report. I would imagine that you would be looking at a cost around the $2,000 range for that location.

Once having an understanding of the subsurface conditions, the geotechnical engineer can answer the remainder of your questions.

Good Luck