Frequently Asked Questions
WHY DOES THIS COST SO MUCH?
Payment is due before I arrive to map. I charge a little lower than the market rate. Yet, soil scientists are rare and our experience takes time and perseverance. It takes a certain type of person to develop years of scientific knowledge to dig holes for a living. While you think I charge an arm and a leg, I barely ask for an arm. Costs vary greatly due to circumstances of the property.
The price you are quoted fairly reflects my equipment and operation costs to cover hours of driving and time spent on your site. Most importantly, it covers the liability of my work. In my business, soil scientists tend to get more lawsuits than the septic installers, developers, bad seed contractors, or the State. So, I charge more to cover the possibility of you suing me for turn(s) of events in which I have no fault. In the words of Sailor Jerry,
“Good work ain’t cheap. Cheap work ain’t good.”
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAP SOILS?
I aim to map your soils within 2 weeks of our initial contact. Once I have visited your property, I strive to mail you copies of the map within 1 week. I want to provide the best client satisfaction. For Soil Map, that means high quality work that truly helps you rather than rushed jobs that require multiple visits.
WHEN DO I NEED A SURVEYOR?
If you are subdividing the property, or "separating off a piece of land to sell", then I always recommend having a soil scientist out beforehand. When you survey off the parcel without consulting a soil scientist, you risk creating a parcel that has no soil site. This will be a waste of your resources as well as the surveyors' time. If a soil scientist goes out before a surveyor, not only will you have a soil site, but the soil site will be included on the final plat in one site visit. This creates the ultimate value for you.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF A CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC SYSTEM CANNOT BE USED?
When I initially map for wastewater treatment or septic systems, I try to find the best soils that work for a conventional septic system. I also try to accommodate the house location by finding the soils downslope from the house. This makes for the least costly installation and creates a septic system that will last longer without repairs.
If I cannot find soils on your property that do not accommodate a conventional septic system (where a tank has effluent pumped or gravity fed into PVC pipes on gravel beds or chamber field lines beneath the soil surface) then I will reach out and let you know by a report that costs less than a soil map. This report will state your options.
In Tennessee, acceptable alternatives are low pressure pipe systems, mound systems, waste stabilization lagoons, or subsurface drip systems. I encourage you to search these terms to become familiar with them. If you pursue these alternative systems, an Extra High Intensity soil map will be required. This requires a surveyor to create a 50 ft or 25 ft grid and a soil scientist to describe soils at 25 ft intervals on the grid. This is a time consuming and expensive undertaking compared to a normal (High Intensity) soil map. Expect to pay 2-3 times the normal cost of a conventional septic system.
WHY ARE YOU NOT ANSWERING THE PHONE?
Through the day, I am in the field. Please don’t get frustrated! When a client has paid for me to be on their property, they deserve my undivided care and attention. Hopefully, you will be that client and appreciate my dedication. In the meantime, this website and email is my preferred means of communication. The emails help my memory!
WHO ELSE CAN PROVIDE A SOIL MAP?
I look forward to helping you. Yet, if I cannot provide the service you need, the State-maintained roster of Tennessee approved soil scientists is accessible here: