Every construction project should begin with a carefully planned foundation design. However, it’s crucial to recognize that foundation issues can still pose substantial risks, potentially leading to costly setbacks and liabilities for developers.
Even the most meticulously crafted plans rely on interpretation between ground investigation points, which can be 25 – 50m or more apart. So, strictly adhering to the foundation design may result in foundations that are too shallow, founded on unsuitable strata, and too deep or wider than anticipated.
These issues can be exacerbated when developing brownfield sites, where the geology is particularly variable in terms of composition or topography, or where groundwater is present.
Areas that GRM often see issues include:
- Variations in made ground thickness resulting in foundations being cast on unsuitable ground.
- Made ground or saturated granular deposits can result in short-term instability of the excavation, resulting in delays in cleaning out the foundation, additional concrete, and spoil disposal costs.
- Foundations deepened through competent strata to meet the design depth, resulting in unnecessary deepening.
- Identifying variable strata requiring either deepening or reinforcement to avoid differential settlement.
For developers, engaging independent foundation inspectors as early as possible in the construction process is imperative. That’s where GRM’s Foundation Inspection Team come into play. Our expert engineers and inspectors bring years of experience and are equipped to handle diverse soil types, groundwater levels, and geological complexities.
They conduct thorough assessments of actual ground conditions, ensuring your foundation aligns with the realities of the encountered ground conditions. These invaluable insights can help prevent costly issues and future remedial work, ultimately saving time and money in the long run.
By using GRM’s Foundation Inspection Team, you will benefit from:
Expertise: Our team boasts extensive experience in navigating a diverse range of ground conditions and foundation designs.
Efficiency: We streamline the inspection process, delivering timely results and actionable recommendations.
Cost Savings: Our experience may allow for adjustments to your foundation design, potentially reducing concrete usage and saving you money.
Peace of Mind: Foundations approved by GRM come backed by our Professional Indemnity Insurance, providing an added layer of assurance.
If you have any development or construction projects that involve foundation designs, please get in touch to find out how we can help save time and costs. Please use your main point of contact at GRM, or for new enquiries, email richard.upton@grm-uk.com or call 01283 551249.