Working with Construction Contractors

Excavation is a necessary step in a home construction project. Getting the foundation right is key to the structural success of your home. It doesn't matter how good your new custom home looks after construction if it sits on a poor foundation. As such, excavation might single-handedly be the most crucial part of your home building process. You want to know the excavation process to understand what is happening, including the challenges contractors face along the way and possible solutions. Here are three challenges you will likely face during foundation excavation and possible solutions. 

Sloped Construction Site

Building a home on a sloped lot presents many issues with stability, drainage and possible erosion in the coming years. Chances are you will need a deeper foundation which means increased excavation efforts to compact the fill and level out the ground. Depending on soil conditions and slope intensity, you are also likely to face challenges with maneuvering excavation equipment which calls for specialised hillside work. If the land presents a lot of challenges, you might want to forgo a traditional foundation for a beam foundation to ease the excavation process. 

Poor Soil Conditions 

Poor soil on your construction site presents some very specific challenges that make your build more costly and make excavation efforts more problematic. Soil lacking comprehensive strength or good drainage makes it harder to compact during excavation. Poor quality soil also can cause significant damage to the stability of the surrounding area. The good news is a competent contractor can build a foundation on any type of soil. Testing the soil before excavation work is crucial in determining the best excavation method and knowing where the soft ground sits to accommodate weaknesses that could cause a cave-in. Testing soil conditions also let your contractor know when not to leave excavated cuts too long and how to properly compact excavations for a stronger foundation. 

High Water Table Issues 

Groundwater or surface water and a foundation excavation are not the best combinations. Water creates three issues for your foundation: cost, safety and quality. Not only does a high-water table result in a moist foundation, but it also increases your construction budget and leads to extended construction time. The good news is dewatering techniques during excavation provide solutions for installing footing and foundation forms. 

No matter the size of your home, an experienced team is crucial in achieving the most reliable and cost-effective excavation solution for your land.