Loam – Loam is the best soil type for construction due to its ideal combination of silt, sand, and clay. It combines the best of all their qualities into the ideal balance for supporting a foundation. Loam generally does not shift, expand, or shrink drastically and handles the presence of water very well.

What is the strongest type of soil?

Clay Soil: Advantages and Disadvantages – Clay soils are the heaviest of soil types and are often considered the hardest to work with. They hold onto water and often take longer to warm in the spring. Soil compaction and cracking is also a big risk of clay soils. Ultimately this doesn’t just look ugly – but it also keeps plant roots from breaking through hard layers of clay.

• Clay soils hold onto nutrients so the plant has the food it needs
• Great for growing things that need a lot of water

Disadvantages of Clay Soils

• Holds onto water, slow to drain
• Slow to warm in the spring
• Compacts easily
• Tends to be alkaline

What soil is most preferred by engineers?

In both cities and the countryside, selection of sites with the best soil is an important engineering decision in the building process. Whether you live in a house, condo, or apartment, your home is connected to the soil. Your school, the building where you work, the stores you shop in—all of them are built on soil, and often with it.

• Building foundations need to be on stable and strong soils.
• Soils range in strength.
• Some soils are able to support a skyscraper, while other soils are not able to support the weight of a human.
• If the soil under a building is not stable, the foundation of the building could crack, sink, or worse–the building could fall! The strength and stability of soil depend on its physical properties.

Soil with good structure is more stable. Clay textures are often more stable than sand textures because they have better structure. However, a mix of particle sizes (and pore sizes) is best for engineering (just as it is best for growing crops). It is also important that soil is stable through wetting and drying cycles, so that expanding soil does not crack roads or foundations. Buildings crack when not placed on soil with proper qualities. Credit: L. Baldwin How does all this come together? Soil maps are a great tool to help engineers determine the best location for their design. Soil maps are created by soil scientists and present information such as: – the slope of the land surface – the soil’s biological, chemical, and physical properties – the potential for water runoff, drainage, or storage.

Soil maps are also available for public access from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service at the Web Soil Survey site. Few building sites start with ideal conditions. Good engineering designs incorporate corrective measures and management practices. For example, drainage can be added or land surfaces reshaped to direct water away from the site.

It is important to know what soil properties exist to avoid future problems. There are some well-known examples of structural failures that resulted from a lack of soil knowledge. One of the most famous is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The land underneath seemed stable during the dry season when building began, but the soil became unstable during the wet season and sank under the weight of the building.

• Even worse, it sank unevenly, resulting in a leaning tower.
• In addition to managing drainage, compacting and stabilizing the soil before construction may have reduced settling problems.
• Answered by: Larry F.
• Baldwin, CPSS / NCLSS, Land Management Group, Inc.
• Read more about cracked foundations, read this Soils Matter blog.

To learn more, view SSSA’s video, Soils Support Buildings and Infrastructure, To receive notices about future blogs, be sure to subscribe to Soils Matter by clicking on the Follow button on the upper right! Explore more on our webpage About Soils, There you will find more information about Soil Basics, Community Gardens, Green Infrastructure, Green Roofs, Soil Contaminants, materials for Teachers and more.

What are the 3 types of soil which is considered the best?

Important Questions and Answers about Soil – 1. State the classifications of soil. Soil can be classified into three primary types based on its texture – sand, silt and clay. However, the percentage of these can vary, resulting in more compound types of soil such as loamy sand, sandy clay, silty clay, etc.2.

State the characteristics of sandy soil. Sandy soil essentially consists of small particles formed by weathering rocks. It is also very low in nutrients and poor in holding water, which makes it one of the poorest types of soil for agriculture.3. Explain the significant features of silty soil. Silt has smaller particles compared to sand.

It is also made up of rock and other mineral particles. Furthermore, its fine quality holds water better than sand. Due to the above-mentioned features, it is also beneficial for agriculture.4. Explain the characteristic of Clay soil. Clay contains the smallest particles among the other two types of soil.

1. Particles are so densely packed that there is very little or no airspace.
2. Consequently, this property effectively retains water.
3. However, it also becomes hard for moisture and air to penetrate into it, thereby impeding the growth of plants.
4. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to know more about soil, its types and other interesting topics at,

Soil is usually referred to as the naturally occurring organic materials found on the earth’s surface. It is mainly composed of minerals, nutrients, water, other inorganic particles and some residues of plants and animals. There are different types of soil, and they are categorized mainly based on the size of the particles and the percentage of particles present in them—the three primary types of soil based on their texture are Sand, Loamy and Clay.

• Other types of soil are based on the percentage of particles, resulting in more compound types of soil: loamy sand, sandy clay, silty clay, etc.
• Apart from these, soils are also classified based on their colour- Red soil, Black soil and Brown Soil.
• Loam or Loamy soil is called the gardener’s best friend.

Loamy soil is suitable and the best soil for growing crops such as cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane, wheat, pulses, jute and other vegetables. Sand or sandy soil is formed by the smallest or fine particles of weathering rocks. This soil is known as the poorest type of soil for agriculture and growing plants as they have very low nutritional value and poor water holding capacity.

1. Clay or clay soil is mainly composed of the smallest particles of soil, which are densely packed with very little or no airspace and they effectively retain water.
2. This soil is not suitable for growing plants as it is harder for moisture and air to penetrate into the soil.
3. Loamy Soil is the mixture of clay, sand and silt soil which consists of additional organic matter and is very fertile compared to other types of soil.

It is well suited for cultivation as the plant roots get a sufficient amount of water and nutrients for their growth and development. Sandy soil is the preferable soil to grow coconut and melon. : Types Of Soil – Sandy Soil, Clay Soil, Silt Soil, And Loamy Soil

What is the best soil for land?

4. Loam Soil – This is the best soil for building foundations. Loam soil is also called agriculture soil because it is the best soil for planting. This is why it is found in areas where farming is very successful. It is the best and richest soil for planting crops because it contains sand, silt, clay, humus, and can retain moisture and nutrients.

It also has a higher calcium and pH level when compared to other types of soil. It is the ideal soil to build a foundation due to its sand, silt, and clay constituents, which are the right combination for construction. Loam soil handles moisture appropriately as it absorbs moisture and dries out at an even rate.

It also allows for air circulation and drains nicely. However, it should be filtered of undecomposed particles or materials before placing a structure on it. This is to avoid future disastrous consequences.

Is clay soil good for construction?

New research set out to improve the engineering quality of clay using waste materials and a secret binder ingredient. Clay is a natural material composed primarily of fine-grain minerals. It consists of tiny particles that have plastic and adhesive properties.

Clay also possesses small voids and pores, so it’s capable of retaining water. In this condition, it tends to expand and shrink, which can lead to settlement. When exposed to increments of water, clay tends to soften and liquefy. Clay often causes difficulties in construction with its low strength and stiffness.

This has caused serious problems in geotechnical engineering because weak soil may cause damage to the foundation of buildings and cracks along the road pavement. Due to the rapid growth development of infrastructures facilities in Malaysia, it is impossible to avoid constructing on clay.

1. Clay makes up 20% of the total soils in Peninsular Malaysia.
2. It can be found in the West and East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
3. This type of soil is generally classified as marine clay.
4. This clay originates from flooding during ancient times.
5. The sedimentation of seabed was very thick and can be up to 60 metres in depth, or roughly the height of a 20 storey-building.

Hence, the construction over clay may experience bearing capacity failure and excessive settlement. Stabilization of soil using cementitious material becomes optional to solve this problem. Cementitious materials are several binding materials that may mix with water to form a plastic paste.

• Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is used as a common cementitious binding agent.
• From a previous study, stabilization of soil using cement was one of the soil treatment applied to improve soil plasticity and workability.
• Therefore, this research focuses on determination of the strength that can be produced by using waste material ashes as part of the additive mixture.

This will decrease the use of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to help stabilize clay. By doing this, more economical soil mixes can be produced. The selected waste materials are bottom ash (BA) and fly ash (FA). They are a byproduct from electric power plant.

• These waste materials are disposed and generally have no economical value.
• BA is physically coarse, porous, glassy, granular, greyish and incombustible materials that are collected from the bottom of furnaces that burned coal whereas FA is grey in colour and dust-like material.
• It is found that they have pozzolonic properties which make it possible to replace cement in deep soil mixing.

On top of that, a secret ingredient has been added to promote better pozzolonic reactions between the additives and clay. This research was conducted for soil engineering properties and strength test for various inclusions of ashes into the clay soil.

The percentage of additives is 5%, 10% and 15% of each ash. Improvement levels were evaluated from the results of unconfined compression test (UCT) carried out at different curing times. Other soil characteristics like plasticity, particle density and compaction properties were also monitored. The results showed that by using these admixtures, the strength development can be increased over time.

This proved that these admixtures can be promising ingredients in deep soil mixing. By doing so, a high performance clay cement column can be produced in the near future. Story Source: Materials provided by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). “Improving the stability of clay for construction.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 July 2014. Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). (2014, July 8). Improving the stability of clay for construction. ScienceDaily, Retrieved December 7, 2022 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140708111011.htm Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

Is black soil good for construction?

Black cotton soil, a cohesive soil, is considered a problematic soil for civil engineers. It has characteristics of swelling during rains and shrinking during summer. In both the conditions, it poses problems. During swelling, structure has uplift pressure and produces heave in the foundations, plinth beams, bottom of floors of buildings and canals, roads surfaces etc.

And on shrinkage, cracks develop in walls, slabs, plinth protection, floors etc. Though, local construction technology has been developed traditionally in the places where such type of soil is found, still cracks are observed in the structures as sufficient precautions are not taken during construction and maintenance period of the buildings.

Various types of damages can occur in the buildings due to up lift forces and settlement caused by the expansive soils such as

Diagonal and vertical cracks in smaller direction of slab. Vertical cracks in internal and external walls. Horizontal cracks in slab as cantilever action is created in slab. Detachment of slab in outer walls towards outside. Bending action in outer walls towards outside. Detachment of plinth protection. Heave & settlement in floors.

B lack cotton soil cannot damage the structure if there is no change in its moisture content. The damages are caused by up heaving or settlement due to change in moisture content of the black cotton soil. It is the water which creates the uplift pressure which cause up heaving and when again it is the water which on removal from the soil causes settlement due to drying.

• Thus without water, even the black cotton soil cannot cause the damages to the buildings.
• There are two ways of preventing damages due to black cotton soils, one: replacement of black cotton soil and two: by prevention of water coming in contact with black cotton soil as given below; Replacement of Black Cotton Soil This is the easiest method in which black cotton soil is replaced with some other suitable soil like a mix of moorum and sand with cohesive soil to avoid shrinkage characteristics or water bound macadam mix and compacted at OMC.

It is often asked up to what depth, black cotton soil should be replaced? Simple answer to this question is – replace all the black cotton soil up to whatever depth it occurs. But there are two issues over this answer, one, whether it is economically feasible and two, whether it is technically required? Black cotton soil has the swelling and shrinkage characteristics up to a certain depth called active zone.

1. The soil of this zone only swells and shrinks.
2. In case, this soil is replaced with other type of suitable soil and the replaced soil is suitably compacted, the soil would not have swelling/shrinking characteristics.
3. Preventing Water Coming in Contact with Black Cotton Soil It is not always economically viable to replace all the black cotton soil.

Hence, damages need to be avoided by preventing water coming into contact with foundation soil or soil below floors. It is known that the soil which is 1.5 to 2 times of the width of foundation below footing level takes the load. Therefore, if width of foundation is 1.2 m and depth is 1.2 m, effect of pressure would be between 3 m to 3.6 m.

Water from rain water pipes. Water from open courtyards. Water from broken drains constructed near foundation of the buildings. Water from broken road side drains. Water entered through joint between plinth protection and the walls. Water coming into contact from the outside unpaved area. From the roots of plants/tress planted near foundation.

Hence, it is essential that the water coming on the surface and percolating into the soil below foundation or floors from above points is taken care in such a way that either water does not enter into the black cotton soil or flow path of the water is lengthened in a way that water does not enter into the active zone.

The water flow and length of flow path depends on various parameters like intensity of rain, quantity of water, permeability of the soil above footing level, length of horizontal flow path of water, length of vertical path of flow and the vegetation in the vicinity etc. Following are the measures by which water ingress into the soil can be avoided or length of flow path can be increased through following measures.

Plinth protection in the buildings is provided for preventing water entering into the foundation. In normal cases, 0.9 m to 1.2 m wide plinth protection is provided with brick bats. But in case of black cotton soils, due to expansion and drying characteristics of soil, such plinth protection gets damaged within a short time.

1. Rain water pipes are also left on plinth protection.
2. Plinth protection acts as very important barrier in the areas of black cotton soil to prevent water coming into contact with black cotton soils.
3. Thus plinth protection should be impervious and as wide as feasible.2 to 3 m wide plinth protection in such conditions is recommended considering site requirements, space availability and depth of black cotton soil.

RCC plinth protection with lime concrete as base concrete is recommended. No space should be left for planting trees or plants near plinth protection as the plantation requires water and such water is harmful to the structures. It should also be ensured that in no case, level of plinth protection is lower than the adjoining ground as there is a possibility of a crack between wall and plinth protection from where water can seep through.

Which soil is valuable for building materials?

As reported by laterite soil is suitable to be used for the construction material, this is because when laterites are dried out, irreversible hardening always occurs. Laterite soil are commonly used as road pavement materials to provide a better sub base, gravel for roads and base materials.

Which type of soil has highest bearing capacity?

Soil types Strength and Practical Methods for Measuring Soil Strength and Bearing Capacity For an average person, soil might just be nothing but dirt on which you walk and never pay attention. But for engineers it is a complex material that must be studied.

Soil is very important for any structure because the foundation carries the structure and the soil under the foundation carries both. Therefore, knowing the type of the soil you have on your lot before building your house is very crucial. There are thousands types of soils in the world. They can be combined under four main categories: gravel, sand, silt and clay.

The difference between them is basically their size. Most soils are mixtures of these main types and named accordingly such as “clayey sand,” “sandy silt,” etc. The type of soil is important because it gives us a indication of how the soil will react under the load.

This soil strength is called bearing capacity. Bearing capacity of soil is the ability of the soil to carry the loads applied to the ground without failing. For the stability of your structure, you would like to have soil that has good bearing capacity. Gravel and sand are the soils with higher bearing capacity while silts and clays typically have lower capacities.

In order to make sure of your soil and its strength, you need professional help. The best and most accurate option is sending a sample to a soil lab to be analyzed. This is required for commercial projects; however, some building departments do not necessitate on a “costly” soils report for residential projects.

Soil bearing capacities are often determined on site with special equipment. This is required in some cases and is very accurate but also costly. It is almost impossible to visually identify soil. It might look like it contains a lot of gravel and sand but still could contain clay. If it has more than 20% of clay, it would behave like clay and it can give your structure lots of problems.

Still there are some practical ways to learn more about your soil type. You can dig a small hole in your lot and take a handful of soil from the bottom of the hole and make a ball in your hands. If it crumbles after releasing, it means it has lots of sand and gravel in it.

1. If it holds, it is silt.
2. If it still stays in a ball shape after you drop it from 2-3 feet, it is more than likely clay.
3. If you don’t mind playing with the soil little more, you can try the worm test.
4. Roll the ball of soil with your hands in to a shape of a worm or a noodle.
5. If it becomes a pencil shape without getting crumbled, it is very likely to be clay, which is not very good news.

You need professional help if it is the case. Another practical way to measure your soil’s bearing capacity is using a hand penetrometer. It is a small and relatively inexpensive device. It gives decent results. Still, the results measured by a penetrometer should only be used as a guide in estimating soil strengths.

How many types of soil are there in construction?

Soil Types in Construction – Pros & Cons From the chalky grounds of Surrey to the clay based soils of central London, it is widely known that the construction process is never the same in two places at once. Soil structure is a widely used term throughout our industry as the definitive guideline for designing the structure of a building.

Whilst you may believe that this only matters for projects below ground, such as basement extension, it is important to understand that no matter what the size of your project, from a modest kitchen extension to a new build development, the type of soil your land rests upon will play a crucial role in its design and construction.

There are three main soil types: However, this material only makes up the initial 30% of the ground. Beneath this, there is a mixture of soil and aggregates, such as chalk, that make up the subsoil, followed by a layer of weathered rock and finally the bedrock level. Here at Extension Architecture, our project management team knows the in-and-outs of building on varying soil types, and are eager to help you understand what is required to ensure the structural integrity of your project, no matter what the scale. By conducting an initial site investigation prior to the beginning of construction, we are able to determine what needs to be done to avoid any surprises or arguments with your contractor when they begin to pour the concrete!

Soil Type	Pros	Cons
Clay	Foundations can be protected by lining the trenches.	Tendency to shift depending on water concentration. Generally deeper foundations are necessary. Absorbs water easily.
Silt	As a part of loamy soil in moderation provides positive qualities.	Prolonged retention of water. Tendancy to shift and expand.
Sand	Sand & aggregates allows water to drain well. High level of aeration.	Uncompacted sand is prone to being washed away.
Rock/Bedrock	High load-bearing capacity. More stable. Resistant to water damage.	Uneven surfaces can lead to issues with the foundations.

What is good quality soil?

Soil structure – Soil structure describes how the particles in the soil hang together – or don’t – in clumps known as aggregates. From a horticultural perspective, soil structure can be “good” or “bad” and can also be improved or degraded by how we treat the soil.

Good soil structure is soft and crumbly, with granular aggregates that hold together even in water. Soil structure can also be blocky, platy, columnar or structureless, such as a single-grain sand or a massive clay soil. Soil structure can be improved by the additional of organic matter – compost and mulch – and by preventing compaction and disturbance of the soil.

Tilling is a double-edged sword; although an initial tilling can help a compacted or poor-structured soil, repeated tilling destroys aggregates. Depending on the site, the existing soil structure will either need improvement or be worth preserving. A simple, inexpensive test of soil structure called the slake test is outlined in a publication from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRDC).

Is red soil good for construction?

The characteristics of red soil has a great impact on strength, imperviousness and anti pest control. After conducting all these tests, red soil is found suitable for concrete as an admixture of it which can be used in construction of buildings. Key Words- Red soil, River sand, Admixture, Partial replacement, Strength.

Why is sandy soil used for construction?

Construction – Sandy soil doesn’t get sticky. It is cohesionless. It has a light and loose structure. That’s why it can be easily used for construction purpose. Sandy soil can be a great for concrete. Also, it can be used as a construction material of aside,

What are the 4 soil types?

Soil Types | Environmental Safety Soil is a mixture of sand, gravel, silts, clay, water, and air. The amounts of these ingredients which determine its “cohesiveness”, or how well a soil will hold together. Cohesive soil does not crumble. It can be molded easily when wet, and is hard to break up when dry.

• Clay is a very fine grained soil, and is very cohesive.
• Sand and gravel are course grained soils, having little cohesiveness and often called granular,
• Generally speaking, the more clay that is in the soil being excavated, the better the trench walls will hold up.
• Another factor in soil cohesiveness is water.

Soil that is filled with water is termed saturated, Saturated soil does not hold together well, and is particularly dangerous in excavation work. However, the opposite can also be true. Soil that has little or no water in it, or oven-dry, can crumble easily, and will not hold together when excavated.

1. Soil is heavy.
2. A cubic foot can weigh as much as 114 pounds, and a cubic yard can weigh over 3,000 lb.
3. As much as a pick-up truck! Most workers don’t realize the force that will hit them when a cave in occurs.
4. A person buried under only a few feet of soil can experience enough pressure in the chest area to prevent the lungs from expanding.

Suffocation can take place in as little as three minutes. Heavier soils can crush and distort the body in a matter of seconds. It’s no wonder trench accidents involve so many deaths and permanently disabling injuries. OSHA classifies soils into four categories: Solid Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C.

• Solid Rock is the most stable, and Type C soil is the least stable.
• Soils are typed not only by how cohesive they are, but also by the conditions in which they are found.
• Stable rock is practically unachievable in the excavation of a trench.
• This is because the excavation of rock typically requires drilling and blasting, which fractures the rock, making it less stable.

Type A soil can be clay, silty clay, or sandy clay. A soil cannot be considered Type A if it is fissured (cracks) or other conditions exist that can adversely affect it, such as:

subject to vibration from heavy traffic, pile driving, or similar effects having been previously disturbed/excavated where it is part of a layered system, where less stable soil is near the bottom of the excavation, with the more stable soils on top. subject to other factors which would make it unstable-such as the presence of ground water, or freezing and thawing conditions.

Many OSHA compliance personnel believe that construction equipment at the site create enough vibrations to prevent any soil from being typed as “A”. If vibrations can be felt while standing next to an excavation, the competent person should consider downgrading Type A soil to Type B or C.

Type B soils include both cohesive and non-cohesive soils. They include silts, sandy loams, medium clays, and unstable rock. Soils that might be classified as A, but have fissures, or are subject to vibration, may also be classified as “B” soils. Type C soils are the most unstable (and therefore most dangerous) of the four soil types.

They are easily recognized by the continual sloughing of the sides of the walls of excavation. If soil is submerged, or water is seeping from the sides of an excavation, it’s probably “C” soil. Soil may be classified as Type C if an excavation is dug in “layered” soils, where different soil types lay on top of each other.

When an unstable soil type is underneath a stable soil type in an excavation, the “weakest link” will soon give way. In many construction projects, the soil that is being excavated has been previously disturbed, This means the soil has been dug up or moved in the past. This is another factor a competent person must consider when typing soils.

Previously disturbed soils are rarely as strong as undisturbed soils, and are usually typed as “C” soil. Previously disturbed soil is commonly found above existing utilities, such as water, sewer, electrical and gas lines. This makes work around these utilities more dangerous due to the unstable nature of the soil.

Much of the work performed in excavations are along right-of-ways, where the soil is almost always likely to be Type C. Because of where we dig, it’s important to understand that once soil has been excavated, it will never be returned to the way it was naturally formed. Per 1926 Subpart P, Appendix A (c)(2), a competent person must type soils by using at least one visual and one manual test.

A visual test can include inspecting the soil as it is being removed, and examining the spoil pile and the color and make-up of the excavation walls. A manual test means working with the soil with either your hands or with an instrument designed to measure soil strength.

1. For example, if you can roll the soil in your hands into a long “worm” or ribbon, the soil is cohesive and may be classified as A or B, depending on other conditions.
2. One useful instrument for measuring soil strength is a penetrometer,
3. When you press this instrument into a soil sample, it measures its unconfined compressive strength in tons per square foot (tsf).

Regardless of the methods used, the typing of soils must be done by the competent person prior anyone entering the excavation, The weaker the soil, the greater the need for protective systems. Note: If you are uncertain of the soil type, ALWAYS assume Type C soil.

What are the disadvantages of clay soil?

What are the Disadvantages of Clay Soil? – Clay soil can be very heavy and difficult to work with, especially when wet. Moreover, because this soil often suffers from poor drainage this is frequently the case. Clay soil can also be compacted easily, so you should avoid walking on it whenever possible.

What is black soil best for?

Which crops suitable for black soil? – Black soil gets its color from different salts or humus. Black soil contains a large amount of clay but is sandy as well in hillier regions and this soil contains moderate amounts of phosphorous but is poor in nitrogen.

This type of soil is used for rice, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton. It is additionally used to produce groundnut, millet, and oilseeds. Black soil is ideal for growing crops that are cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, wheat, millets, and oilseeds. Black soil is to be the best variety of soil for the cultivation of cotton,

Besides cotton, it is also suitable for producing cereals, oilseeds, citrus fruits and vegetables, tobacco and sugarcane. The moisture retentiveness makes them appropriate for dry farming, Because of their high fertility and retentivity of moisture, the black soils are generally used for producing several important crops.

How do you prepare soil for construction?

Download Article Download Article Before beginning construction, it is usually necessary to prepare the site. Here are some general steps to help accomplish this task.

1. 1 Survey the site you are going to build on. There are three things you need to carefully consider before beginning your site work.
   • Determine the property boundaries and encroachments such as underground utilities so you can legally proceed.
   • Determine if you will need permits and how clearing or modifying the grade will impact stormwater runoff and/or possible soil erosion.
   • Lay out the exact foot print of the area you plan to clear and grade.
2. 2 Obtain permits from any regulating authority. In some jurisdictions, grading projects may require permits, including stormwater management districts, zoning authorities, even your state or local department of the environment. For some sites, permits may be required from federal agencies like the U.S. EPA. Advertisement
3. 3 Mark any timber that will need to be removed. Merchantable timber may be sold, and logging companies may agree to purchase such timber, as well as removing stumps from large trees with their equipment, saving you lots of money and sweat.
4. 4 Decide whether you want to establish a haul route and permanent road onto the property. Once you begin clearing, maintaining access can be critical to successfully completing the project. Marking and maintaining a travel corridor should be done early in the process.
5. 5 Seek engineering help if needed. Geotechnical Engineers can investigate soil and subgrade conditions to determine whether they are suitable for building. Things like soil bearing, demucking, soil stabilization, and the permeability of the site may need consideration. Hauling out unsuitable fill and hauling in suitable fill dirt can cost a fortune, spending money on engineering services before beginning may save a lot, even on a small project.
6. 6 Begin work. You should have a grasp of the scope of your project if you have followed the previous steps. Usually, the first step of action grading and preparing soils for a building project involves clearing and grubbing. This means removing trees and vegetation, then grubbing out roots, organic materials, large rocks, and other impediments.
7. 7 Separate suitable fill materials as you grade your site. Some sites can be balanced, by scraping away topsoil and debris, then using existing subgrade material to level the site. Depending on your soil geology, you may have layers of sand, clay, gravel, or other soils/materials that can be stockpiled during clearing and placed back in a later step.
8. 8 Burn or haul off vegetative debris. Most often, unusable materials like limbs, roots, and other things should be removed or disposed of as soon as they are cleared. In some locations, burning is an economical option, but if it isn’t practical or permitted in your area, go ahead and get rid of them so they don’t become a breeding ground for pests.
9. 9 Establish the finished grade your project requires. This can be done by setting grade stakes or putting up batter boards with string lines so you can see how much additional material needs to be removed or hauled into your site.
10. 10 Level the whole area you are preparing. This is the purpose of setting the grades in the previous step. Once the area is leveled, you can calculate the amount (if any) of additional fill material you will need. For a building slab, plan on filling the backslope adjacent to the slab to the required grade, particularly if you are hauling a substantial amount of fill dirt for the slab itself.
11. 11 Compact the subgrade you have established in leveling your site. Proof rolling with a piece of heavy equipment is often used for this purpose, but a mechanical tamp or motorized tamp machine or compactor may be used, depending on how large the site is. A soil density report by a testing laboratory may be required at this point, check with your local zoning/inspection agency if you are building a permitted structure.
12. 12 Add fill dirt in lifts to reach your desired grade. Placing layers of fill dirt, usually 6-8 inches deep, and compacting each layer is a normal procedure. For dry or sandy material, wetting the fill dirt often improves compaction, but for non draining soils like clay, keep from drenching your fill material.
13. 13 Grade the building pad using a builder’s level or laser level or string lines to make sure it is within the desired tolerance (in respect to being level). Usually, a fine grade of plus or minus 1/2 inch is acceptable.

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• Consider climate when beginning this project. In some locations, a rainy season, or freezing conditions can make successfully grading and preparing soil almost impossible.
• Moving dirt (earthwork) is a heavy, demanding endeavor. Renting or hiring heavy equipment may be required if substantial amounts of grading are required.
• If your clearing project is near a public right of way, or there are possible underground utilities on the site, call for appropriate digging permits and utility locates before beginning.

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Managing erosion and stormwater runoff is often a legal requirement for this type of work, and failure to comply with local ordinances can result in stiff fines.

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Is black or red soil better?

Red Soil Red soil is a type of soil that is characterized by its reddish color. It is also known as Terra Rossa, which is Italian for “red earth.” Red soil is found in areas where the climate is warm and humid, such as in tropical and subtropical regions.

It is usually fertile and good for agriculture. Red soil is formed from the weathering of rocks that contain iron oxides. The most common type of rock that contributes to red soil is called basalt. The process of weathering breaks down the basalt into smaller pieces, and then the smaller pieces are broken down further into and clay.

The iron oxides in the rocks are what give the soil its reddish colour. The fertility of red soil is due to its high levels of organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are essential for plant growth. Red soil is also well-drained, which is important for agriculture.

What is the weakest soil type?

Soil Types | Environmental Safety Soil is a mixture of sand, gravel, silts, clay, water, and air. The amounts of these ingredients which determine its “cohesiveness”, or how well a soil will hold together. Cohesive soil does not crumble. It can be molded easily when wet, and is hard to break up when dry.

1. Clay is a very fine grained soil, and is very cohesive.
2. Sand and gravel are course grained soils, having little cohesiveness and often called granular,
3. Generally speaking, the more clay that is in the soil being excavated, the better the trench walls will hold up.
4. Another factor in soil cohesiveness is water.

Soil that is filled with water is termed saturated, Saturated soil does not hold together well, and is particularly dangerous in excavation work. However, the opposite can also be true. Soil that has little or no water in it, or oven-dry, can crumble easily, and will not hold together when excavated.

1. Soil is heavy.
2. A cubic foot can weigh as much as 114 pounds, and a cubic yard can weigh over 3,000 lb.
3. As much as a pick-up truck! Most workers don’t realize the force that will hit them when a cave in occurs.
4. A person buried under only a few feet of soil can experience enough pressure in the chest area to prevent the lungs from expanding.

Suffocation can take place in as little as three minutes. Heavier soils can crush and distort the body in a matter of seconds. It’s no wonder trench accidents involve so many deaths and permanently disabling injuries. OSHA classifies soils into four categories: Solid Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C.

Solid Rock is the most stable, and Type C soil is the least stable. Soils are typed not only by how cohesive they are, but also by the conditions in which they are found. Stable rock is practically unachievable in the excavation of a trench. This is because the excavation of rock typically requires drilling and blasting, which fractures the rock, making it less stable.

Type A soil can be clay, silty clay, or sandy clay. A soil cannot be considered Type A if it is fissured (cracks) or other conditions exist that can adversely affect it, such as:

subject to vibration from heavy traffic, pile driving, or similar effects having been previously disturbed/excavated where it is part of a layered system, where less stable soil is near the bottom of the excavation, with the more stable soils on top. subject to other factors which would make it unstable-such as the presence of ground water, or freezing and thawing conditions.

Many OSHA compliance personnel believe that construction equipment at the site create enough vibrations to prevent any soil from being typed as “A”. If vibrations can be felt while standing next to an excavation, the competent person should consider downgrading Type A soil to Type B or C.

Type B soils include both cohesive and non-cohesive soils. They include silts, sandy loams, medium clays, and unstable rock. Soils that might be classified as A, but have fissures, or are subject to vibration, may also be classified as “B” soils. Type C soils are the most unstable (and therefore most dangerous) of the four soil types.

They are easily recognized by the continual sloughing of the sides of the walls of excavation. If soil is submerged, or water is seeping from the sides of an excavation, it’s probably “C” soil. Soil may be classified as Type C if an excavation is dug in “layered” soils, where different soil types lay on top of each other.

• When an unstable soil type is underneath a stable soil type in an excavation, the “weakest link” will soon give way.
• In many construction projects, the soil that is being excavated has been previously disturbed,
• This means the soil has been dug up or moved in the past.
• This is another factor a competent person must consider when typing soils.

Previously disturbed soils are rarely as strong as undisturbed soils, and are usually typed as “C” soil. Previously disturbed soil is commonly found above existing utilities, such as water, sewer, electrical and gas lines. This makes work around these utilities more dangerous due to the unstable nature of the soil.

• Much of the work performed in excavations are along right-of-ways, where the soil is almost always likely to be Type C.
• Because of where we dig, it’s important to understand that once soil has been excavated, it will never be returned to the way it was naturally formed.
• Per 1926 Subpart P, Appendix A (c)(2), a competent person must type soils by using at least one visual and one manual test.

A visual test can include inspecting the soil as it is being removed, and examining the spoil pile and the color and make-up of the excavation walls. A manual test means working with the soil with either your hands or with an instrument designed to measure soil strength.

1. For example, if you can roll the soil in your hands into a long “worm” or ribbon, the soil is cohesive and may be classified as A or B, depending on other conditions.
2. One useful instrument for measuring soil strength is a penetrometer,
3. When you press this instrument into a soil sample, it measures its unconfined compressive strength in tons per square foot (tsf).

Regardless of the methods used, the typing of soils must be done by the competent person prior anyone entering the excavation, The weaker the soil, the greater the need for protective systems. Note: If you are uncertain of the soil type, ALWAYS assume Type C soil.

What type of soil is the thickest and heaviest?

2: Clay – Clay is one of the smallest of all natural soil particles, and it tends to pack tightly together with little air space. This lack of air space and high level of compaction make clay the heaviest and densest type of soil. Its density allows it to retain large amounts of water and nutrients, but this makes it difficult for air and moisture to penetrate the soil,

One of the keys to successfully gardening in clay soil is to work only under certain states and conditions. Dry clay is fairly smooth and soft, while wet clay is heavy and hard to work with. Try planting in autumn or spring when using clay, and avoid working on days when the soil is overly wet. To resist winter freezing, add compost or mulch to the top layer of clay each autumn, then leave the soil undisturbed until spring.

The added organic material should make planting easier, and will also help to improve drainage and air flow. The best plants for clay include richly colored flowers that require high levels of moisture. Try wisteria, rhododendrons and most flowering perennials,

Which soil is best and why?

Loamy soil is best for plant growth as it has high water retention capacity thus it retains water for long and also retains the nutrients which is required for plant growth.

What is the most unstable soil type?

Soil Classification | Transcript | Occupational Safety and Health Administration In the U.S., more than 800 construction workers die every year while on the job. One of the most dangerous types of construction work is trenching, which kills 40 construction workers every year.

Workers can suffer death or serious injury within minutes of being caught in a trench cave-in. But these deaths can be prevented. The video you are about to see shows one of the steps, classifying soil, that employers must follow so that trenching work can be done safely. This video is not intended to be a complete educational tool, instead it is meant as an introduction for people who want to know more.

Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and required protective equipment. You’ll learn how having the right information about a construction site can help save lives. Each employee who enters a trench must be protected from cave-ins by a protective system if the excavation is 5 feet or greater in depth, unless it is dug into stable rock.

A support system is not required if the trench is less than 5 feet in depth and examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in. One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car, 3,000 pounds, and comes in many varieties. Some types of soil are stable and some are not.

When digging a trench, it’s important to know the type of soil you’re working with so you know how to properly slope, bench, or shore the trench. This can help prevent a cave-in. OSHA requires that employers have a competent person to determine the soil type.

• A competent person is someone who can identify conditions that are hazardous to employees and who also has the authorization to correct these hazards.
• All trenches that are five feet or deeper must follow OSHA’s rules.
• The appendices of the OSHA Excavation Standard show the various types of support systems that may be used, up to a maximum depth of 20 feet.

Any excavation deeper than 20 feet must use a protective system approved by a professional engineer. For all excavations, a competent person must conduct a full investigation every day, or when any trench conditions change, to identify and remove any potential hazards.

In this video, you will see how a visual inspection of a construction site’s soil is performed. You will also see how to test the soil using three of the most common methods: the plasticity test, the thumb penetration test, and the pocket penetrometer test. For best results, OSHA recommends that the competent person use more than one of these methods to test the soil.

Knowing the type of soil makes it possible to determine the right protective system to keep workers safe when they’re working in an excavation. Soil can either be cohesive or granular. Cohesive soil contains fine particles and enough clay so that the soil will stick to itself.

• The more cohesive the soil, the more clay it has, and the less likely a cave-in will happen.
• Granular soils are made of coarse particles, such as sand or gravel.
• This type of soil will not stick to itself.
• The less cohesive the soil, the greater the measures needed to prevent a cave-in.
• OSHA uses a measurement called “unconfined compressive strength” to classify each type of soil.

This is the amount of pressure that will cause the soil to collapse. This value is usually reported in units of tons per square foot. Soils can be classified as Type A, Type B, or Type C. Type A soil is the most stable soil in which to excavate. Type C is the least stable soil.

It’s important to remember that a trench can be cut through more than one type of soil. Let’s look at each type of soil. Type A soil is cohesive and has a high unconfined compressive strength; 1.5 tons per square foot or greater. Examples of type A soil include clay, silty clay, sandy clay, and clay loam.

Soil can not be classified as type A if it is fissured, if it has been previously disturbed, if it has water seeping through it, or if it is subject to vibration from sources such as heavy traffic or pile drivers. Type B soil is cohesive and has often been cracked or disturbed, with pieces that don’t stick together as well as Type A soil.

Type B soil has medium unconfined compressive strength; between 0.5 and 1.5 tons per square foot. Examples of Type B soil include angular gravel, silt, silt loam, and soils that are fissured or near sources of vibration, but could otherwise be Type A. Type C soil is the least stable type of soil. Type C includes granular soils in which particles don’t stick together and cohesive soils with a low unconfined compressive strength; 0.5 tons per square foot or less.

Examples of Type C soil include gravel, and sand. Because it is not stable, soil with water seeping through it is also automatically classified as Type C soil, regardless of its other characteristics. Before testing the soil, it’s useful to perform a visual test of the construction site.

This will help determine if there are factors on site that will lower the strength of the soil. Here are some observations to make when performing a preliminary visual test of the soil around an excavation site: First, as the soil is being excavated, does it come out in clumps, or is it granular? Clumps mean that the soil is cohesive.

Are there sources of vibration near the excavation? Are there signs of previously disturbed soil, such as utility lines? Are there signs of water seeping through the soil? Is the soil fissured? Signs of fissuring include crack-like openings, or chunks of soil that crumble off the side of a vertical excavation wall.

• If any of these conditions are met, the soil cannot be classified as Type A.
• When performing a soil test, it’s important to choose a good soil sample.
• Soil samples should be typical of the surrounding soil in the excavation, and additional samples should be taken as the excavation gets deeper.
• While the excavation wall is one place to take samples, OSHA recommends taking a large clump from the excavated pile, as long as the soil in the pile is fresh and hasn’t been compacted.

Test results can change as the soil dries up, so for the best results, samples should be taken and tested as soon as practical. Now let’s look at the three main types of soil tests. The plasticity test, which is sometimes called the pencil test, is used to determine if the soil is cohesive.

1. This test is performed by rolling a moist soil sample into a thread that’s one-eighth of an inch thick and two inches long, resembling a short, slim pencil.
2. If the sample can be held at one end without breaking, it is cohesive.
3. Here’s an example of what the results will look like if the soil is cohesive.

Notice how the sample stays in one piece. Now look at what happens when the soil is not cohesive. The soil doesn’t have the strength to hold itself together. Any soil that is not cohesive is automatically classified as Type C, although some Type C soils are cohesive.

The thumb penetration test is used to quickly estimate the compressive strength of a cohesive soil sample. To perform the thumb penetration test, simply press the end of your thumb into a fresh clump of soil. If the soil sample is Type A, your thumb will only make an indentation in the soil with great effort, as you can see demonstrated here.

If the soil sample is Type B, your thumb will sink into the soil up to the end of your thumbnail, just like this. If the soil sample is Type C, your thumb will sink all the way into the soil clump, as you can see here. Your results for this test will probably be somewhere in between these results.

For a more numeric measurement, the pocket penetrometer test can be used. A soil’s compressive strength can be given a numeric value by using the pocket penetrometer test. There can be some variability in these results, so it’s a good idea to run this test on a few soil samples from the same part of the excavation, just to make sure your results are consistent.

A pocket penetrometer works much like a tire pressure gauge. A thin, metal piston is pushed into a soil sample, and the penetrometer records the compressive strength of the soil. Be sure that the scale indicator is inserted into the penetrometer body until only the “zero” mark is showing.

To conduct the test, push the piston into the soil until it reaches the engraved line. Then, simply take the reading from the scale indicator. It’s important to recognize that a penetrometer may give false results if the soil contains rocks or pebbles, which won’t compress. As you can see, Type A soil will measure at least 1.5 tons per square foot.

Be aware, however, that you can’t classify a soil as Type A if the excavation site didn’t meet all the conditions of the visual test: if it is granular, near a source of vibration, or there are signs of previously disturbed soil, water seepage, or fissured soil.

1. For Type B Soil, the reading will be between 0.5 and 1.5 tons per square foot.
2. Type C soils are equal to or less than 0.5 tons per square foot.
3. Let’s review the main points from the video.
4. OSHA classifies soils into three main groups: Type A, Type B, and Type C.
5. Type A is the most stable and Type C is the least stable soil.

To determine the soil type on a construction site, there are several tests that a competent person can use. After performing a visual test, you can use the plasticity test to determine if the soil is cohesive or granular. For cohesive soil, the thumb penetration and pocket penetrometer tests help determine the unconfined compressive strength.