One of the most frequent questions we receive is whether a soils report — formally called a geotechnical investigation — is required before ordering a foundation engineering package. The short answer is no. We can design a foundation without one. But the longer answer is more nuanced, and understanding when a soils report helps can save you money, prevent construction problems, and avoid costly redesigns.
What a Soils Report Tells You
A geotechnical investigation involves drilling test borings at the project site and analyzing the soil samples in a laboratory. The resulting report provides several critical pieces of information.
Bearing capacity is the most important value. It tells the engineer how much load the soil can support per square foot, which directly determines the size of your footings. Higher bearing capacity means smaller, less expensive footings. Lower bearing capacity means larger footings with more concrete and reinforcing steel.
Groundwater depth matters because shallow groundwater affects excavation methods, may require dewatering during construction, and can influence long-term foundation performance.
The report identifies problematic soils such as expansive clay that swells when wet, organic layers that compress under load, or loose sandy soils susceptible to liquefaction in seismic events.
Frost depth recommendations ensure the foundation extends below the seasonal frost line to prevent heaving.
When You Don't Need One
For many standard metal building projects, a geotechnical report is not necessary.
If the site has been previously built on and the existing structures show no signs of settlement or foundation distress, the soil conditions are likely adequate for a similar building.
If the local building code provides presumptive bearing values for the soil type in the area, the engineer can design to those values without a site-specific investigation. Most jurisdictions allow presumptive values in the range of 1,500 to 2,000 PSF for standard soil conditions.
For small to mid-size metal buildings on sites with no known soil problems, designing to conservative presumptive values is common practice and accepted by building departments across the country.
When You Should Get One
There are situations where a soils report is strongly recommended or required.
If the site has known problem soils — expansive clay, high water table, fill material, or organic deposits — a geotechnical investigation tells the engineer exactly what they are dealing with so they can design accordingly rather than guessing.
If the building department requires it, you have no choice. Some jurisdictions require a geotechnical report for any new commercial foundation regardless of size. Others only require it above certain building sizes or in mapped problem areas.
For large buildings with heavy column loads, a soils report can actually save money. If the actual bearing capacity is higher than the conservative presumptive value, the engineer can design smaller footings. On a large building with dozens of footings, the concrete savings can exceed the cost of the report.
On undeveloped sites with no construction history, the soil conditions are unknown. A geotechnical investigation removes the guesswork and gives the engineer real data to work with.
In seismic zones where soil liquefaction is a concern, a geotechnical investigation is essential for confirming whether the site soils are susceptible and what mitigation measures may be required.
How FoundationPE Handles It
When you submit a project to FoundationPE, include the geotechnical report if you have one. Our system will extract the relevant parameters — bearing capacity, frost depth, groundwater depth, and any special recommendations — and incorporate them directly into the foundation design.
If you do not have a soils report, we design to conservative presumptive values based on the project location and applicable building code. This approach is accepted by building departments in the vast majority of jurisdictions for standard metal building foundations.
If we review the project parameters and determine that a geotechnical investigation is advisable — due to building size, known site conditions, or local requirements — we will flag it early in the process rather than letting you find out during permit review.
A typical geotechnical investigation for a metal building site costs between $1,500 and $4,000 depending on the number of borings, the depth, and the laboratory testing required. It is not always necessary, but when it is, the investment pays for itself in a better-designed and more cost-effective foundation.