In many parts of the country, the
stability of the soil is greatly affected by the amount of moisture it can hold.
Given too little rainfall, the soil will dry and crack. On the other hand, too
much water will cause the ground to swell and sometimes wash away. A
stable amount of moisture in the ground will determine a solid, stable ground.
During long, dry summers, the soil can shrink as much as 40% in some areas,
enough to crack a home's foundation. Please read our page on
signs of foundation problems to find
out if your home is having foundation problems.
Soils with high clay content cause major financial losses every year to foundations, swimming pools, slabs, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks. The damage caused is second only to termite in home repairs. Expansive soils can shrink and swell as much as 30% when they are exposed to seasonal changes in rainfall and temperature. During the winter months, clay soils soak up moisture and expand. In hot summer months, soils are baked by the sun and shrunk. Any movement greater than 5% can cause structural damage. Many homes in Texas are affected by this problem.
The good news is that if the sub-surface soils are treated, they will not encounter the fluctuation. The expansion can be controlled by altering the clay mineral. To read more about the solution to this problem click here.