Geotechnical Drilling Palm River-Clair Mel How and Why to Perform Geotechnical Drilling

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Palm River-Clair Mel area developers and property owners can benefit from the use of geotechnical drilling, which may be used to determine the suitability of a prospective building site or even reveal the presence of an underground void that could collapse into a sinkhole.

Geotechnical drilling is quite efficient in terms of time and expense. The cost of a geotechnical drilling project will depend upon the size of the site that’s being evaluated and the reasons for the drilling (which, in turn, determines how many drilling sites are required.)

Other factors that can determine cost include the depth of the drilling, along with the ground composition and density.

There are some additional measures that may be pursued based upon the results of the geotechnical drilling. Palm River-Clair Mel property owners or developers may need to use ground penetrating radar to evaluate the site more comprehensively. If signs of an underground void are located, you may need to perform sinkhole remediation. Efforts may include drilling into the void, which is then filled with cement to avoid a future collapse. In other cases, a structure could be reinforced by driving strong metal rods into the bedrock. The end of the rod at the ground’s surface is affixed to the foundation. This secures the building, so even if the ground gives way, the building will remain standing.

What is the Process for Performing Geotechnical Drilling?

Palm River-Clair Mel natives can expect the geotechnical drilling firm to arrive with one or more portable drilling rigs, which are placed in strategic locations.

Once drilling begins, a hollow rod is drilled into the ground to collect a sample of the various layers of earth. These samples, called core samples, are sent out to a laboratory for evaluation and testing. Large structures must be built atop stable, strong ground, so the laboratory analysis can reveal if the earth is suitable for a particular project. The analysts will examine a number of different attributes, including:

  • the composition of the ground layers;
  • the density and overall integrity of bedrock and stone;
  • the depth of the bedrock and various earth layers; and
  • the moisture content of the earth.

Based on the results of the geotechnical drilling, Palm River-Clair Mel property owners and developers can make informed decisions that will cut costs, while increasing overall safety in an existing or future structure.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*