Boreholes & Test Pits

Metra Consultation provides borehole drilling and test-pit investigation services for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, municipal, and infrastructure projects throughout Québec.

Boreholes and test pits allow our geotechnical engineers to directly investigate subsurface conditions, obtain representative samples, identify groundwater, and collect the information required for foundation, pavement, excavation, drainage, and earthwork design.

Borehole Investigations

Boreholes are commonly used when information is required at greater depths or when the project involves buildings, deep excavations, heavy loads, slopes, retaining structures, or significant infrastructure.

Borehole investigations may include:

  • Soil and fill identification

  • Standard Penetration Testing (SPT)

  • Disturbed and relatively undisturbed sampling

  • Bedrock confirmation and coring

  • Groundwater observations

  • Installation of monitoring wells or piezometers

  • Detailed soil and rock logging

  • Collection of samples for laboratory testing

The number, location, and depth of boreholes are established according to the proposed construction, anticipated loads, site variability, and project risks.

Test-Pit Investigations

Test pits provide a larger visual exposure of near-surface materials and are particularly useful for shallow foundations, pavements, retaining walls, drainage systems, earthworks, and existing-building investigations.

Test pits may be used to:

  • Confirm the depth and type of fill

  • Examine shallow soil stratigraphy

  • Expose existing foundations

  • Verify pavement construction

  • Assess soil reuse potential

  • Observe groundwater or seepage

  • Investigate localized settlement or distress

  • Collect bulk samples

  • Evaluate potential infiltration conditions

Test-pit locations and excavation depths must consider access, underground utilities, neighbouring structures, and excavation safety.

Planning and Coordination

Before fieldwork, our team reviews available plans, geological information, proposed construction, and site constraints. We coordinate drilling or excavation access, utility clearances, equipment requirements, sampling, and reinstatement expectations.

Where required, laboratory testing may include soil classification, moisture content, grain-size distribution, Atterberg limits, compaction, shear strength, consolidation, permeability, or other project-specific testing.

Deliverables

The investigation results may be incorporated into a geotechnical report containing:

  • Borehole or test-pit logs

  • Description of soil, fill, bedrock, and groundwater conditions

  • Laboratory results

  • Foundation and settlement recommendations

  • Excavation and groundwater guidance

  • Earthwork and compaction requirements

  • Pavement or infiltration recommendations

  • Identified geotechnical risks and construction considerations

Integrated Engineering Support

Our geotechnical team coordinates the findings with Metra Consultation’s structural, civil, and BIM professionals. This allows subsurface information to be applied directly to foundation design, site servicing, grading, drainage, pavement, excavation, and construction planning.

Contact Us

Contact Metra Consultation to develop a borehole or test-pit investigation program suited to your project, site conditions, and engineering requirements.