Why is the Soil Mechanics Study mandatory in Chile?
Avoid cracks and structural damage. Know the price and importance of the soil study to guarantee a safe and eternal construction.
Quick Summary
Avoid cracks and structural damage. Know the price and importance of the soil study to guarantee a safe and eternal construction.
Soil Mechanics: Your Structural Life Insurance
"Why am I going to spend $600,000 on a hole if the neighbor built and nothing happened to him?" This phrase is famous... before the disaster.
The Soil Mechanics Study is the scientific analysis of your land's capacity to support the weight of your house.
What does the study tell us?
A geotechnical engineer performs a test pit (exploratory excavation) and takes samples for the laboratory. The report reveals:
- Soil Type: Is it expansive clay? Is it silty sand? Is it artificial fill (covered trash)?
- Support Capacity (Admissible): How many kilos each square centimeter of soil can hold. This defines how wide the foundations must be.
- Water Table: Is there groundwater 1 meter deep? If you don't know and build, your house will have dampness forever.
- Seismicity: Classifies the soil according to regulation NCh 433 (Type A, B, C, D, E). A type E soil (soft) amplifies earthquake waves much more than a type A (rock), forcing us to reinforce the structure.
Is it Mandatory?
- Legally: The OGUC sometimes allows skipping it in "minor works" or light single-family houses, BUT leaves civil and criminal responsibility in the hands of the architect and builder.
- At Canadian Houses: We require this study on sloping land, near watercourses, or in geographical zones known for bad soils (e.g., Chicureo, Lampa, fill zones).
The Cost of Not Doing It
Repairing a foundation that settled (differential settlement) implies:
- Hydraulic jacks to lift the house.
- Concrete injections underground.
- Repair of all wall cracks and squared-off windows.
The repair cost is usually 10 or 20 times higher than the study cost. It is literally the cheapest insurance you can buy to guarantee your investment is eternal.