Geotechnical Drilling Temple Terrace Hiring A Contractor to perform Geotechnical Drilling

Geotechnical drilling is a very effective way to determine the precise composition and integrity of the earth, usually in preparation for the construction of a new building, bridge or other large structure. When performing geotechnical drilling, Temple Terrace developers can determine the thickness of each layer of soil or stone, along with the integrity and quality of that earth.

Investigative measures such as geotechnical drilling are crucial in some areas of the country such as Florida, where a bed of limestone is overlaid by a layer of sandy soil. Limestone can dissolve when exposed to acidic water, resulting in the formation of underground voids that have a tendency to collapse, forming a potentially deadly sinkhole.

Temple Terrace developers can gain important insight into the precise ground composition through the extraction of cores.

When hiring a contractor to perform geotechnical drilling, Temple Terrace developers can expect the process to take anywhere from a day or two to several weeks or longer, depending upon the size of the site. Drilling rigs are used to extract core samples from the ground. These cores are then sent out for analysis and testing to determine the integrity and composition of the earth.

Multiple cores are extracted to give the developers an accurate idea of how the ground composition varies throughout the site.

The data revealed by the geotechnical drilling operation is then shared with architects, designers and engineers who join forces to plan a building that will be suitable for the location. The findings of the drilling operation can impact the structure’s size/layout and the materials that are used in the building. Special stabilization measures may also be required. In other cases, the developers may need to find a new location for the project.

Geotechnical drilling may also reveal whether there are underground voids that may form when acidic groundwater erodes and dissolves the limestone. If the erosion becomes extensive and/or a large structure is erected over the site, the void may collapse, resulting in a sinkhole.

Florida is especially prone to sinkholes due to the state’s unique rain patterns and limestone ground composition. This is one reason why local developers routinely perform geotechnical drilling.

Temple Terrace geotechnical drilling developers can also perform ground penetrating radar scans to investigate the ground’s integrity prior to the start of a construction project. If a structure is constructed atop unstable ground, it may gradually sink into the ground, causing cracks, structural damage and in extreme cases, collapse.

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