1. Site Work

2. Major Topics Site Plans Earthwork Soil Foundations and Piles
Paving and Surfacing Materials

3. Site Plans Include: All information shown on a survey
Changes in topography or grade
Demolition of existing construction
Exact location of new construction

4. Surveys Legal description of a piece of land
Typically done by a registered land surveyor
Surveys include the boundaries and elevations of land plots and buildings (in text and drawings)

5. Topography or Grade Contour lines show elevation
Closer the contour lines are together- the steeper the slope
This information is critical in determining how much earth must be moved to prepare site for structure being built

6. Earthwork Involves some type of cut or fill
This phase of site work is referred to as “rough grading”
Soil testing is usually performed

7. Soil Testing Identify the materials on the site Determine Soil density
Moisture Content
Load-bearing capacity
Shear Strength
Plasticity index
Analyze the gain size of soil particles

8. Soil Types Division Description Value as a foundation material
Gravel and Gravelly Soils
Well-graded;
Gravel-sand mixtures; little or no fines
Excellent to good
Sand and Sandy Soils
Silty sands, sand-silt mixtures
Fair
Silts and Clays
Organic silt-clay of low plasticity
Poor to very poor

9. Primary Soil Considerations:
Dewatering-
Critical in sub-surface foundations (basement –earth sheltered)
Open-drain (French) & gravel used to lead water away
Pumps may also be used to remove excess water
Compaction – critical !! - to prevent uneven load settlement

10. Soil Considerations con’t:
Stabilization – use various additives to adjust the properties of soil
Poisoning- used to control termites * Note: certain chemicals are no longer used due to environmental concerns

11. Foundations and Piles Foundation
Any part of the building that is below the surface of the ground
Provides stability to the entire structure
Type of foundation used is determined by:
Soil present at site
Total load must be determined (live & dead loads)
Local building codes must be referenced to determine allowable type & bearing pressure

12. 3 Parts of Foundation:
Bed – the rock or soil the foundation rests upon
Footing – wide section of foundation resting on bed
Wall – rises from footing to above the ground (may also be a column or pedestal)

13. Common Types of Residential Foundations :
Continuous
Composed of a foundation wall & footing slab
Size of footing & thickness of wall determined by building codes
Grade-Beam
Composed of reinforced concrete beam around perimeter which is supported by concrete piers
Often used on sloping sites

14. Others Foundations: Spread Mat Caissons
Distribute the load so the load per sq. ft. will not exceed the bearing capacity of soil
May be flat, stepped, or sloped in design
Mat
Heavily reinforced concrete slab under entire building
Sometimes called a “floating foundation”
Caissons
Used when rock or suitable soil is deep below the surface

15. Piles Slender structural unit which transmits loads underground
Types include
Wood (Venice)
Structural Steel H
Pre-cast Concrete
Cast-in-place Concrete
Composite (combines wood & concrete)

16. Paving & Surfacing Different materials are used to perform each
Paving – uses concrete, stone, or brick
Surfacing – uses flexible and water-bound surfaces

17. Asphalt
Is a dark-brown to black, solid or semi-solid, mainly composed of Bitumens (a tarry mixture of hydrocarbons)
Bitumens also used in:
Water proofing coatings
Sheet Water proofing
Damp proofing below grade
Asphalt moves into a liquid state when heated
Coal Tar Pitch – greater water resistance than asphalt, good adhesive properties, unlike asphalt - contains very little bitumen