Before you can proceed with a major construction project, you need to bring in some experts to help you understand the challenge. In particular, you will need to talk with a structural engineer to know whether your plans have merit, given many factors that relate to the site itself. What are some of the key things to bear in mind before you proceed with your build?

Getting Ready

During your early planning stages, you may have talked with architects and designers who have helped you develop an outline plan. The structure will be built for a specific purpose, whether residential, commercial or industrial. You will need to target certain objectives and arrive at an ideal design based on many parameters.

Looking at the Site

First, however, you need to see if your plans are feasible from a structural and engineering point of view. Primarily, you need to know if the building can work in its given location, bearing in mind a variety of environmental and geological factors. A good structural engineer will look at your proposals and then conduct tests and other assessments to look at the worksite carefully.

Salt as a Risk

To begin with, the engineer will complete a salinity assessment. They will look at the salt content of the soil beneath and see how that may impact your development. After all, salt is ever-present in the soil across Australia, and if it is found in high quantities, it can corrode concrete or steel. This salt can originate from an underground body of water or weathering within the rock itself.

Sometimes, groundwater can gather salt from other areas and deposit it in greater quantities at a specific point. These tests will help you determine whether the salt level is acceptable at your building site or whether you run the risk of damage to your infrastructure through corrosion. The engineer will typically assess the electrical conductivity of the soil to help them arrive at a conclusion.

Comprehensive Report

Once they have assessed salinity levels, they can also look at other areas like soil erosion risk or slope stability. They'll gather all the information from these tests before they can come to a conclusion. They may suggest that your work can go ahead with certain modifications or safeguards but will, in any case, provide you with a complete report following their work.

Bringing in the Experts

Ensure that you bring in a structural engineer at the earliest stage of your project.

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