When you are building a home, it’s important to consider the depth of foundation digging required. This will determine how deep the trench needs to be and how much soil needs to be removed during the excavation process. The depth of foundation digging will depend on your area, the ground conditions and if there is any requirement for retaining walls.
The depth of trench foundation digging is between 500mm -1500mm below the ground level. Trenching can be done in different soil profiles, depending on how deep you want your foundations to be. The depth of the trench depends on whether you have a slab or an open foundation and whether there is any requirement for retaining walls.
The common soil profiles found in South Africa are:
- Dry Sand
- Loose Clay
- Firm Clay
The depth of a foundation trench is a decision made by the builder, developer and/or engineer. The minimum depth to which foundations are required to be excavated depends on the type of soil found in the area where they will be constructed.
