Investigation of the natural water content in soil assessment

Hello everyone,

for our house construction project (single-family house) we first want to have a soil survey carried out. We now have several offers, which differ in some points. Here are the following questions:

[*]Unfortunately, our preferred offer does not include the examination of the natural water content. When we asked this geotechnical office, we were told that this investigation is not obvious to them and they do not consider the examination necessary. After a bit of googling, however, I found information stating that the natural water content allows conclusions to be drawn about the load-bearing capacity of the soil. Now the question: Do you consider the investigation of the natural water content necessary when building a house?
[*]In the immediate neighborhood there is a chemical company and there used to be an aluminum smelting plant. Would you have the soil tested according to the parameter scope of the VwV Boden (recycling of soil material classified as waste) right away? At least that is what the geotechnical office recommends. However, this is quite an expensive matter.

Thanks for your feedback
Best regards
S’Mauldaeschle

Now the question: Do you see the examination of the natural water content as necessary in house construction?

The added value is more than manageable.

In the immediate neighborhood there is a chemical company and there used to be an aluminum smelter.

For me, it would be essential to have the soil tested for pollutants. Also the groundwater. I don’t want to stand under the sprinkler/in the pool and have arsenic (or whatever) in the water. The same applies to fruit and vegetables from the garden.

Thank you for the feedback, nordanney.

What would be an added value? That the new house then possibly does not settle because you know more about the soil? Or is this investigation possibly only carried out in certain areas?

What would be an added value? That the new house might not settle because one knows more about the soil? Or is this investigation possibly only conducted in certain areas?

No idea, I have never seen an investigation about the "natural moisture content of the soil" for single-family houses. I also don't understand what that should achieve; for normal foundations, a standard soil survey is sufficient. If there are possibly special conditions in your area, then it might make sense. But only someone who already knows the soils in your region can say that.