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Expansive Soils 101: Everything You Need to Know

expansive soil in a pile

Expansive soils are widely distributed and costly geologic hazards. Each year, these soils cause more financial loss to homeowners in the U.S. than floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes combined.

Building experts call them hidden disasters, as they’re behind structural damage and home repairs.

While expansive soils are not rampant in some regions, it’s good to know whether the soil below your home has the potential to swell in the presence of moisture. Read on to understand the nature of expansive soils, how to identify them, and measures you can take to protect your home or property.

What Are Expansive Soils?

dry, cracked soil

Expansive soils are clay-rich soils that swell when they absorb moisture and shrink when they dry out.

Expansive soils, commonly found in regions with fluctuating moisture levels, require special construction techniques and foundation designs to mitigate potential damage. If you’re dealing with expansive soils, it’s crucial to consult with a professional at Innovative Basement Authority to ensure your structures are properly protected.

Problems Associated with Expansive Soils

Expansive soils can cause significant damage to your foundation during both wet and dry periods:

hydrostatic pressure causing cracking and bowing basement wall

Swelling: Wet Period

Contraction: Dry Periods

Both swelling and contraction cycles contribute to ongoing stress and deterioration, necessitating careful monitoring and proactive measures to protect your foundation.

How to Fix Expansive Soils

Fixing expansive soil problems might seem like removing all the problematic soil is the best answer, but this option is extremely disruptive and costly. Instead, stabilize your foundation by bypassing the expansive soils and using piers, wall anchors, and braces.

These methods anchor the foundation to the solid bedrock beyond the problematic soil, ensuring stability:

Innovative Basement Authority employee installing foundation piers
  • Piers: Driven deep into the ground to reach stable soil or bedrock.
  • Wall Anchors: Provide additional support to prevent movement.
  • Wall Braces: Reinforce the foundation against shifting and damage.

These techniques effectively protect your foundation from the effects of expansive soils.

Why It’s Crucial to Address Expansive Soil Issues Now

It’s important to repair foundations struggling with expansive soil issues, as the problem will only worsen and become more costly over time.

Ignoring these issues can lead to severe structural damage and increased repair expenses. Innovative Basement Authority offers proven engineered solutions backed by nearly 20 years of experience in your area.

Our expertise ensures your foundation is stabilized effectively. Don’t wait for the damage to escalate—book a free inspection today to protect your home and ensure long-term stability.

Soil FAQs

Yes, but the choice of pier type may depend on the soil’s condition and the structure’s needs.

Yes, different types of soil, especially expansive clay, can expand when wet and shrink when dry, leading to foundation movement and damage. Understanding your soil type can help in implementing the right solutions to protect your foundation.

No, removing expansive soil is extremely disruptive and costly. Stabilizing the foundation is usually more effective.

Leah Leitow

Leah Leitow

Content Writer

Leah is a Content Writer for Groundworks with nearly ten years of experience working in the foundation repair industry. Her experience ranges from working with homeowners to find the right solution to training inspectors and staff. In her background as a Michigan journalist, she gained invaluable insight into people's lives throughout our state. Leah lives in metro Detroit with her husband and two sons.

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