GROUND CONDITION GUIDE
Clay soils: establish ground conditions before foundation conclusions.
Clay soils can vary across a site and with depth. Moisture, drainage, vegetation, site history, weathering and the interpreted ground model may all matter to project-specific design. A general clay-soil label cannot establish bearing capacity, settlement, foundation depth or a suitable construction route.
Investigation evidence: base decisions on suitable factual and interpretative information rather than a broad online soil category.
Moisture context: record drainage, landscaping, vegetation and surface-water conditions for competent site-specific review.
Variability: allow for differences in strata, weathering and site history; do not assume uniform conditions from a single description.
Decision boundary: a screening response cannot verify capacity, settlement, heave protection, foundation dimensions or construction requirements.