According to table 3.1 of HUD's prescriptive ICF construction manual, the  minimum load bearing of the soil capacity determines the width of the footer required.  How do you determine the soil's bearing capacity?  I would assume a soil engineer to be the answer, so I got a quote from one to see what the cost would be.  Their bid was close to $3,000.  They were going to do four bores to a depth of 20 feet and test the cores from those drillings.

Is hiring a soil's engineer the way you all handle this?  If so, is this fee in the same ballpark that you've experienced?  If not, how do you handle getting the bearing capacity?

Thanks,
Bruce

The bid seems quite elevated? Where are you located?
20 feet deep ? Did you ask others around you whom have built about all this? That would the first thing i'd do cause more than often your neighbours are the most ressourceful for water quality, water depth, soil materials ,etc.

Survey several local builders who commonly build the type of product you want.
Also, you can talk to local materials suppliers, especially foundation products (concrete, cmu's, etc,.)
Finally, if all else fails, talk to the local building codes people.

Can't you just buy a hand penetrometer for $60 and test it yourself? Compare to the load capacity based on soil type and use the lower figure. Check a few feet below your footing depth but don't worry about 20' down (by that point, the load is so distributed that it doesn't matter). Maybe - or maybe you will start digging and find disturbed wet peat on one end and gravel on the other and I'm trying to make your house sink :-). http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/footing_fundamentals/why_soils_matter.htm

Jonr, thank you for that link. That is exactly the information I needed.

Jonr, thank you for that link. When I looked for a pocket penetrometer, the description says, "Should not replace laboratory testing or field analysis, or be used to produce foundation design data."

Thagreen, I’m located in the Indianapolis Indiana area. This was just the first bid. I’ll check around with people in the area.

Wes, the building inspector said they see if the footing is wider by four inched on each side of the basement wall. I’ll check with other builders and see how they handle it.

I really appreciate all the suggestions.

Thanks,
Bruce