Real Estate
Sponsored by

Soil Report for New Home Build

3,335 Views | 20 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by ThreatLevel: Midnight
XXXVII
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:08p, 12/3/22
I'm looking into a new construction home with Ashton Woods, and since I'm doing my due diligence, I asked them if they could provide a soil plasticity report for the lot I'm interested in. I don't want foundation issues.

They said they do soil tests for every lot in order to properly design each slab, but they couldn't share the soil report with me for legal reasons. Is this normal to not share it?
Reply Quote
1
gratitudeandacceptance
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to XXXVII • 6:15p, 12/3/22
We received our soil report (Comal County).
Reply Quote
1
Beckdiesel03
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:38p, 12/3/22
AG
I work for a builder and if the homeowner wants to see it that is absolutely not a problem.
Reply Quote
7
ktownag08
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:28p, 12/3/22
AG
Ask them to do a table top review in lieu of being provided a copy.

In reality, it's a big box builder which means you don't have a lot specific report and they're lying to you.
Reply Quote
26
Animal Eight 84
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:41p, 12/3/22
AG
Tabletop review is a very reasonable compromise.
Specifically ask to see the section of the soil report with calculated Potential Vertical Rise (PVR) and how it was addressed in construction- did they excavate and backfill, did they install deep piers, etc.

- Verify the sample locations are representative for the location of your lot.

Also ask to see the foundation design drawing that was stamped by a PE.

If it is a post-tension slab, ask for any documentation verifying when slab was tensioned. Good luck on this one but I've heard horror stories of builders forgetting to pull tension.

I'm building a custom home and hired Gessner Engineering to perform soil analysis and foundation design. I received a detailed 30 page report and PE certified foundation drawings. Cost about $6K.
GC and concrete sub-contractor then followed the foundation design exactly as specified in the plans.
Since I had the foundation plans, I was able to verify the footing width& depth, rebar overlap, and rebar size & spacing prior to pour.
Reply Quote
10
2 edits
XXXVII
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:56p, 12/3/22
Ok the last two comments are great and also worry me a bit. What plasticity index and PVR number ranges should I hope to see in the report if they do allow a tabletop review?
Reply Quote
2
1 edit
mrmill3218
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to XXXVII • 3:35p, 12/4/22
AG
1" and under.
Reply Quote
XXXVII
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to mrmill3218 • 4:20p, 12/4/22
Is that PVR?

What about plasticity index?
Reply Quote
ktownag08
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:04p, 12/4/22
AG
Animal Eight 84 covered it well in his first paragraph i.e. it doesn't matter much so long as instructions from geotech and foundation engineers are followed.
Reply Quote
mrmill3218
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to ktownag08 • 8:55p, 12/4/22
AG
ktownag08 said:
Animal Eight 84 covered it well in his first paragraph i.e. it doesn't matter much so long as instructions from geotech and foundation engineers are followed.

Correct. They should treat the dirt so that whatever it is, it ends up being a PVR of 1" or less.
Reply Quote
OverR
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:27a, 12/5/22
AG
Pretty common to do multiple on a neighborhood and use the high average PI rating as your design minimum.

Reply Quote
ThreatLevel: Midnight
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:22p, 12/6/22
AG
Another option if they refuse all else:
tell them you are willing to have your own soil report generated and will provide the invoice to be deducted from the purchase price of the home.

Invoice to be provided only after final price is determined obviously.
Thanks & Gig 'Em
Reply Quote
Howdy Dammit
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:39p, 12/7/22
AG
Safe would be under 20-25
Reply Quote
tamc91
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:48p, 12/7/22
AG
I've seen some builders want to lock you into a pre-construction design coordination agreement. It basically says they own documents they help you coordinate and they don't have to share. Then the prices go up and your risk of leaving goes down because they own more of your project data.

I wanted to work with a designer to own the plans, and confirmed I could get copies of any engineering reports (septic, foundation, etc.). I understand they are in business, but some builders are good at helping you paint yourself into a corner.
Reply Quote
1 edit
busdriver88
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:21a, 12/8/22
AG
Oh man. This thread makes me nervous.

Wife and I bought a Bayfront lot in Rockport, plan on building in 4-5 years. I know nothing about the home building process.

Knowing I know nothing about this, what specifically do I need to be worried about in this area? What are the questions I need to ask? The lot is going to have to be built up 2 feet to comply with post Harvey building code changes, is that an issue?

I appreciate any input.
There may not be time to do the job right, but there is always time to do the job over!!
Reply Quote
Animal Eight 84
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to busdriver88 • 9:29p, 12/8/22
AG
busdriver88 said:
Oh man. This thread makes me nervous.

Wife and I bought a Bayfront lot in Rockport, plan on building in 4-5 years. I know nothing about the home building process.

Knowing I know nothing about this, what specifically do I need to be worried about in this area? What are the questions I need to ask? The lot is going to have to be built up 2 feet to comply with post Harvey building code changes, is that an issue?

I appreciate any input.


It won't be cheap but hire a builder that is used to having a PE to design foundation AND structure.
Pay for independent 3rd party inspection- typically the PE firm that did the design.

House will at least be Structurally sound.

Builder will have to follow Wind Storm Code to pass the State Insurance Inspection. That needs to be in the contract.

You may still get crappy quality unless you can find a custom builder that guards his reputation. A really good GC will usually have a long wait and will cost a little more.
Reply Quote
1 edit
Animal Eight 84
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Animal Eight 84 • 9:31p, 12/8/22
AG
Delete
Reply Quote
1 edit
Maybe Next Year
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to XXXVII • 10:23a, 12/14/22
AG
XXXVII said:
I'm looking into a new construction home with Ashton Woods, and since I'm doing my due diligence, I asked them if they could provide a soil plasticity report for the lot I'm interested in. I don't want foundation issues.

They said they do soil tests for every lot in order to properly design each slab, but they couldn't share the soil report with me for legal reasons. Is this normal to not share it?


Site work construction company owner here. This is wrong and alarming. If they have started the relationship in this fashion, only more lies to come. PM me if need be.
Reply Quote
5
XXXVII
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Maybe Next Year • 3:47p, 12/14/22
Yeah, we have started looking at other builders already. We'll see how it goes with them.
Reply Quote
1
sean00
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:56p, 12/14/22
AG
No large builder is going to share that. They will just sell to the next guy.
Reply Quote
1
ThreatLevel: Midnight
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to sean00 • 9:54p, 12/14/22
AG
sean00 said:
No large builder is going to share that. They will just sell to the next guy.


You might've been right about that last year. But it's a buyers market right now in production building. They are hurting for starts.
Thanks & Gig 'Em
Reply Quote
2
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.