Whats the BEST SOIL type to BUILD on?

Question

Hello, does anyone know what the best soil type is to build a bungalow on and what type of foundation would you recommend?

Answer 1

BEST is a pretty relative word. BEDROCK might be better than Sand? :)

Obviously in this era; many tract developments are FILLED; sigh.

Certainly depending on your design; and code issues regarding foundations; there are laws/rules/suggestions to follow. Bungalow; by some abstract definition might be anything from a camp cabin to a two story 7 room house.

Without knowing at all your location; or code issues; you might do a slab/ with footers? You might be allowed a "basement" or day basement? You might be allowed Pilings/pier block? In any case most of the planet has a Hard Pan at some depth; but water table issues are also a factor.

You'll pretty much get personal opinions in your Q; as is; and experience is one of the better teachers. Research your idea of where; first; and what is dictated or recommended for that WHERE.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

First it all depends on which area or region in live in. Not all areas have the same type of soil. If you are considering building a bungalow try searching in the Yellow pages for a Geotechical Engineer- all they do is engineer foundations for different soil type and they can tell you if the soil on your building site is good engough to support your building, if it not they will tell you what you should do either remove the soil or make recommendations on your foundations so your building does sink 5 years down the road. Here in NE geotechical Engineer i work with typ. charges 100-1k for soil bores and a report detailing your soil. And when your building you bungalow make sure to get Soil Density's of the soil below your foundation to make sure your soil is compacted and not to wet.

Answer 3

The best kind of soil would be, like above, pit run or sandy gravel. Its hard to dig footers and grade it for concrete, but its definately the best for settlement and water shed. Some people would lay down a foot or two of sand on top to grade, but it depends on your scenario.
As far as what type of foundation for a bungalo, you have a few of choices, if you are in the north and you have to get below the frost line, I would say you could dig footers down 4 ft and then come up with a block stem wall to grade and backfill, and cap it with a 3'' slab, that would be the most expensive, but probably the best. You could do a slab on grade, you dig your footers down 12-14'' , 12-14'' wide and then continue with a 3'' slab all in one poor, this would be the most common. Last you could do crawlspace and piling, put 8x8 posts down and cap it with a wood floor, this is great for raising a slab height without having to bring in fill.

Answer 4

A sandy or gravely soil that is well drained like decomposed granite or a soil that will bear the load of about 2000 lbs. / sq. ft. Try to avoid areas where there is layers of clay that shrink and swell with changes in moisture content. The foundation design depends on how the loads of the building are distributed to the foundation as well as local environmental conditions and building codes.