The process for building new construction or performing utility installation at an existing construction site can be messy and require significant amounts of time and money. There are a number of things that can go wrong during the ground-disturbance phase of the project, including encountering unstable soil conditions, encountering ground conditions that require additional engineering or design considerations, encountering wet or frozen soil conditions that cannot be ground-loaded, or encountering conditions that require special permits or other regulatory approvals before ground-disturbing equipment can be operated.If any of these conditions are encountered, it is common for a construction project manager or other project team members to make mistakes related to the ground-disturbing phase of construction. There are several commonly made mistakes when ground-disturbing that can be easily avoided if you take the time to understand the process and the potential issues involved. In this blog post we discuss some common mistakes during the ground-disturbing phase of construction and what to do if you encounter any of these issues. If you have any additional questions after reading this blog post, feel free to comment below and we will get back to you!
Not knowing when to stop
One of the biggest mistakes in the ground-disturbing phase of construction is not knowing when to stop. If the ground conditions are unstable, you need to stop ground-disturbing as soon as possible. If the ground is frozen, it is important to know when the frost is likely to thaw in order to resume ground-disturbing as soon as possible. If you don't know when to stop, you may end up incurring unnecessary costs and encountering additional issues as your project progresses.
Not knowing how deep to dig
If you are not sure how deep to dig, it is easy to dig too deep and encounter unplanned issues. This can be avoided if you take the time to determine the appropriate depth to dig and the proper tools to use. If you are not sure how deep to dig, you can use a soil sampling hammer or a shovel to test the soil to see if it is soft, or you can have the ground-disturbing contractor test the soil at a certain point.
Forgetting to leave room for water and sewer
When you are digging a large hole for a new building, it is easy to forget to leave room for the water and sewer lines. However, this can lead to problems if the pipe lines are not large enough. If the lines are too small, they could be damaged when the ground is backfilled. This can be avoided by having the contractor test the soil to make sure it is capable of supporting the building and the underground utilities. If the soil is not capable of supporting the building and the utilities, you will need to either re-design the building location or have the contractor expand the hole size.
Forgetting to put in a proper cap and liner
When you are digging a hole and bringing back soil to fill it in, you need to put in a cap and liner to ensure that water does not come up through the soil and cause damage. If you forget to put in a cap and liner, a trench can be very messy and difficult to repair. This can be avoided by having the contractor test the soil to make sure it is capable of supporting the building and the underground utilities, or by designing a trench with a cap and lining it.
Forgetting to put in a proper cap and liner for utilities
If you are digging a trench for a new utility line, you need to put in a cap and lining. If you forget to put a cap and lining in, the utility line can come up through the soil and cause damage. This can be avoided by having the contractor test the soil to make sure it is capable of supporting the building and the underground utilities, or by designing a trench with a cap and lining it.
Not planning for the frost line or frost heave
If the frost line is close to the ground-disturbing area, you need to plan for how you will manage the soil above and below the frost line. If you do not plan for frost heave, the soil above and below the frost line can move independently of each other, causing the ground above the frost line to cave in or the ground below the frost line to rise up. This can be avoided by having the contractor test the frost line to make sure it is safe to disturb the soil, or by designing a trench that is large enough to accommodate the frost heave.
Conclusion
The ground-disturbing phase of construction can be a messy and difficult process, but it can also be an exciting time for a construction project as it is when mistakes are most easily avoided. There are a number of things to consider when ground-disturbing, including the frost line, the frost heave, and how to manage the soil above and below the frost line. If you take the time to understand these concepts and avoid common mistakes, you can reduce the amount of time and money you spend on your project.