Find out what earthworks involve and why soil compaction and levelling are important.
Earthworks are the operations through which the ground is cut, filled, levelled and compacted to build a structure, platform, path or road.
The main earthworks
- Clearing the plot
- Removing vegetation
- Stripping the topsoil
- Excavating
- Moving soil
- Filling
- Levelling
- Compacting
- Forming the slopes
- Preparing the final platform
Stripping the topsoil
The topsoil contains organic matter and is not suitable as support for foundations or platforms. It can be stored separately and reused for green areas.
Fills
Fills must be made with suitable materials and laid in successive layers. Each layer must be compacted according to the design requirements.
Why compaction matters
Insufficient compaction can cause:
- Settlement
- Cracks
- Unevenness
- Degradation of paths
- Damage to platforms
- Problems around the foundation
Forming the slopes
The ground must be shaped so that water is directed in a controlled way, without pooling near the building.
Quality control
Depending on the design, checks may be needed on:
- The levels
- The thickness of the layers
- The materials used
- The degree of compaction
- The slopes
- The drainage
Where earthworks are needed
- Houses
- Halls
- Car parks
- Industrial platforms
- Access roads
- Courtyards
- Pools
- Retaining walls
- Utility networks
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