Guide to Soil Types
Soil type might not seem like the most obvious consideration when building a home. But the reality is, it’s crucial. The type of foundation you lay your house upon can have an impact on the stability and security of that house for decades to come. At Prime Building Projects we’re committed to the quality of our projects from concept to completion of the building process. We want the best for you each step of the way. That includes taking into consideration your soil and how it will affect the goal of building your dream home.
The Mornington Peninsula is a wonderful place to build a life. Our registered builders and tradies are locals who know the area intimately, including its soil, and can offer you their expert advice. We’ve already built comfortable and luxurious homes all over the Peninsula, and we have the skills to assess your soil situation and work with it.
There may be a number of questions on your mind. Why is my soil type important? What are the different categories of soil? Is my soil type the same as my next door neighbour’s? This blog post should clear up any confusion and bring you some answers.
Water and Reactive Soil
Having “reactive” soil doesn’t mean that soil is defective. Rather, the term refers to how likely the soil is to react to the amount of moisture in the ground. All soils have the potential to change volume and to move depending on how much water is in the ground at the time. The likelihood that a particular kind of soil is going to do so defines how “reactive” it is considered to be. Some soils will have little to no movement, while others are considered highly reactive and certain measures need to be in place when building your house on them.
Soil Types Guide – Soil Classification
There are six categories of classification based on soil reactivity:
SOIL TYPE 1: CLASS A – ACCEPTABLE (0-10mm)
These soils are composed mostly of sand and rock, and changes in the water content of the soil produce little to no movement.
SOIL TYPE 2: CLASS S – SATISFACTORY (10-20mm)
These sites are mildly reactive with only slight ground movement as the amount of moisture changes.
SOIL TYPE 3: CLASS M – MODERATE (20-40mm)
As the name of the category suggests, these sites may experience a moderate level of ground movement.
SOIL TYPE 4: CLASS H1 – HIGHLY REACTIVE (40-60mm)
These sites are highly reactive and may undergo a high level of ground movement.
SOIL TYPE 5: CLASS H2 – HIGHLY REACTIVE (60-75mm)
These sites are even more reactive and may experience an even greater level of ground movement.
SOIL TYPE 6: CLASS E – EXTREMELY REACTIVE (75+mm)
These sites go beyond a merely high level of reactivity to become extremely susceptible to ground movement.
CLASS P – PROBLEM
The load-bearing capacity of this soil is severely poor. These sites are usually affected by abnormal and unusual moisture conditions that can lead to drastic ground movements. Examples of this include soft soils, collapsing or eroding soils, or soils affected by unusual moisture conditions.
No matter the soil type, it’s necessary to build the proper foundation for it. For categories H1, H2, E or P, an engineer will have to assess the property and how to build a house on it without the risk of damage from soil moving.
The profile of the soil can change from property to property, as can the circumstances that affect it (more on that below). So it’s essential to have your own soil tested rather than simply asking your neighbours what kind of soil they have.
Unusual Soil Circumstances
Even with the right foundations in place for your soil type, certain circumstances can cause damage to the footings of your house. This occurs when these circumstances have an unusual impact on the amount of moisture in the soil and include:
* Extended wet or dry periods: During wet periods, especially without the benefit of decent drainage, water can pool and soak into the ground around your footing systems. By contrast, extended dry periods can cause the ground to dry out and water to shrivel away from your footing systems.
* Leaks: Stormwater and sewerage pipes under the house can cause problems, creating wet spots that can damage a property. The best prevention for this is to be vigilant about getting leaking pipes fixed as soon as you discover them.
* Air conditions and hot water systems. The problem with these common household systems lies in their outflow pipes. If the water they expel is not directed into the stormwater system it can create “hot spots” that activate reactive soils and cause the ground to rise up.
Soil Tests – Test Kit Color Chart
Here at Prime Building Projects our team can inspect your site and organise a soil test on the property. Soil tests cost around $500 and take around a fortnight to complete.
Whether you’ve already purchased your land or are still in the decision-making phase, we’ll offer you our expert advice as you make your choice. Once we know what kind of soil we’re working with, we can take the necessary steps to construct your dream home on it.
3 Comments. Leave new
[…] Home Buyers Guide to Soil Types […]
[…] Guide to Soil Types for New Homes […]
[…] Soil Type Guide for New Homes […]