ᐅ Comparison of Soil Investigation Quotes

Created on: 13 May 2013 20:47
C
CharlieBrown
Good evening everyone,

We are planning to purchase a plot of land in the HS district. It is not yet decided whether we will build with or without a basement.

I have requested soil investigation quotes from two companies. One offer is clearly more detailed and also more expensive. As a layperson, the main points seem to be:

Offer A:
- Two dynamic core drillings with a diameter of 36/50 mm (1.4/2 inches), including identification and description of the soil by the operator, drilling depths up to 5.0 m (16.4 ft)
- Ten soil sample collections, geological assessment of the bore material as well as organoleptically detectable contamination
- One dynamic probing of 5 m (16.4 ft) according to DIN EN ISO 22476-2
- Evaluation including recording of bore points, allowable soil bearing capacity, design groundwater level, foundation recommendation, waterproofing, bedding modulus

Offer B is much shorter in description but also less expensive:
- Site investigation including travel, two small dynamic drillings, tabular evaluation, and topographic site survey.
- Additionally, "light dynamic probing" can be booked for 100 euros each.
There is no information on depths or soil samples.

Could anyone help evaluate these two offers?

Thanks and best regards
A
aicpr
2 Sep 2014 08:29
Hello, I’d like to join the discussion on this topic.
I’m building on a slope with a total height difference of about 15m (49 feet). The area where the house is located has a height difference of approximately 3.5m (11.5 feet).

I have received three quotes for a geotechnical site investigation. Two of them, as mentioned above, are 2+1 and 3+1 point tests and cost between €1450 and €1700. A third quote includes 8 dynamic cone penetration tests and 3 heavy dynamic probing tests, priced at around €3100.

I understand that I might have to spend a bit more on a site investigation when building on a slope, but is the last offer somewhat excessive, or is it the only reasonable one that provides a comprehensive examination?

Thank you very much in advance for your answers.