We're based in Nanaimo and work from Yellow Point up to Parksville. Here's what the ground is usually like in each spot, from BC's public well records.
Rocky ground. About 53% of logs hit bedrock within 3 m, and the typical depth to rock is 1.8 m. Solid footing, slower digging: plan for rock on basements and deep trenches.
Deep soil. Rock is usually around 12 m down, well below normal digging depth. Sand and gravel show up near the surface in about 44% of logs, which drains well and digs easily; clay turns up in the top 3 m in about 19% of logs, and clay holds water.
A mix. Rock is typically around 5.5 m down, but about 21% of logs hit it within 3 m. Sand and gravel show up near the surface in about 34% of logs, which drains well and digs easily; clay turns up in the top 3 m in about 23% of logs, and clay holds water.
Deep soil. Rock is usually around 14 m down, well below normal digging depth. Sand and gravel show up near the surface in about 41% of logs, which drains well and digs easily; clay turns up in the top 3 m in about 25% of logs, and clay holds water.
Rocky ground. About 64% of logs hit bedrock within 3 m, and the typical depth to rock is 1.5 m. Solid footing, slower digging: plan for rock on basements and deep trenches. Clay turns up in the top 3 m in about 21% of logs, and clay holds water.
Counts are BC well logs (GWELLS) within the distance shown of each town centre. Typical depth to bedrock is the median of logs that reached rock. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – British Columbia. Ground changes fast, so treat this as a heads-up, not a site assessment.
Somewhere else on the Island? Ask anyway.
We work out of Nanaimo and cover the Mid-Island, from Yellow Point up to Parksville. If you can see the job from the Island Highway, we can probably get a machine to it.
Somewhere else on Vancouver Island? Call (250) 668-2521 and ask.
Tell us about the job. Corben or Jackson will get back to you, usually within one business day.
