The most suitable soil type for filling water logged lands (or lands with high water table) to make it stronger and stable enough to sustain foundations or sub-structures to be constructed over it is any highly draining soil like sharp sand. The common practice which is to fill with only Laterite (or red soils) then construct a concrete slab or foundation or interlocking pavers directly over it often yield in poor results; hence the reasons for the depressions that shows up at various portions on the surface of a poorly sand filled land which may consequently affect the overlying structure.

Unlike Laterite or red soil, highly draining soils like sharp sand barely retain surface and ground water, and do not behave abnormal across seasons (from dry to wet or vice-versa). For instance, because of the plastic nature of clay/red soils, they behave stable during the dry season and unstable during the wet (or rainy season).

Therefore if a foundation or floor is constructed directly over it in an area with high water table even with hardcore filling on it, it is most likely to start settling in-differentially or failing horizontally throughout its surface or longitudinal bearing and vertically downwards at various portions as we migrate from one season to another leading to visible cracks on the floor or from the foundation up to the roof after a period of time.

These cracks are often persistent and will continue to resurface until proper re-work is done. If left unattended to, it may degenerate into collapse of the structure over time. Sharp sands or suitable equivalents also perform well with changes in ground and surface temperatures in the day and at night giving the foundation or floor greater resistance in the face of extreme temperature or weather conditions.

However because of the cost implication of using sharp sand or its equivalent as the only filling material for the site, the suitable alternative practice is to first fill the land from the depth of suitable sub-soil or from the existing depth to a reasonable level with Laterite or smooth sand which is relatively cheaper before introducing sharp sand to complete the fill up to the marked out level which is often above the water table and road or drainage level.

This way, the stiffening advantage of Laterite or smooth sand combines with the merits or good qualities of sharp sand to give an acceptable degree of strength, resistance and stability.
It is instructive to note that when filling a land, precaution should be taken to ensure that the filling sand or material is well leveled and compacted to allow natural flow of surface water to the drains and to prevent excess air voids or gaps respectively in order to function to full potentials. This process can be done manually or mechanically or chemically or a combination of any of the trio depending on the nature of the project. It is better to get it right at the sub-structure level before constructing the super-structure to avoid re-works and to reduce maintenance cost in the future.

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

Everyone wants a piece of land. It’s the only sure investment, it can never depreciate like a car or a washing machine.” Russel Sage

The philosophy of the rich and the poor is this: the rich invest their money and spend what is left. The poor spend their money and invest what is left.” Robert Kiyosaki

“It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful. It’s artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate.” ~Donald Trump

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

“Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

“Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

“It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful. It’s artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate.” ~Donald Trump

The philosophy of the rich and the poor is this: the rich invest their money and spend what is left. The poor spend their money and invest what is left.” Robert Kiyosaki

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

The philosophy of the rich and the poor is this: the rich invest their money and spend what is left. The poor spend their money and invest what is left.” Robert Kiyosaki

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security”.
Suze Orman

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

“Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security”.
Suze Orman

“It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful. It’s artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate.” ~Donald Trump

“The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

Land monopoly is not only monopoly, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies; it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other forms of monopoly.”
-Winston Churchill

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“Landlords grow rich in their sleep without working, risking or economising",John Stuart Mill, English philosopher and economist

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

“Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.”
-Theodore Roosevelt