Aspects Considered During a Site Analysis
If you are looking to engage in construction on you property, it is prudent to have a site analysis done. This is a preliminary study carried out to discern the various environmental factors of your property that could affect the design as well as construction of your structure. However, not many individuals looking to construct a property know what is involved in the site analysis. The following are some of the various aspects that are considered when a site analysis is being carried out.
The type of soil on your property
One of the main tests carried out during a site analysis determines the type of soil on your property as well as its overall condition. The different kinds of soil, such as clay, laterite, sand and more, all have their unique properties. They will react differently when pressure is applied to them, when they absorb water and more. With a site analysis, your construction contractors and architect will have a clear idea of what the load bearing capacity of your individual soil is. This will then enable them to design the foundation of your structure in accordance the soil requirements.
The soil analysis will also enlighten your builders on whether they need to incorporate safety measures in the event that your property is exposed to flooding. For example, black cotton soil may be fine when dry, but it has the propensity to expand when it is flooded. This could cause slipping of your foundation if the right safety measures were not put into place.
The topography of your property
Another test that is carried out during a site analysis determines the topography of your property. The term topography refers to the level of your property as well as its inherent slope. It should be noted that constructing on sloping land tends to be much more difficult than constructing on level land. In addition to determining the slope of the land, the contractors will also create a contour map.
This contour map will have the locations of the different contours on the property as well as the space in between these contours. Knowing the individual contouring of your land enables the contractors to design the structure along the contours, thereby integrating them into the overall construction of the project. This may prove more economical than having to cut and fill the land with soil in an attempt to create a flat, levelled surface.
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