How Does Soil Type Affect Your Foundation?

When constructing a home or business structure in central Texas, there are several factors to consider. There’s the cost, the climate, the location, and the sort of soil your project should be built on.

A robust and secure foundation is critical to your building’s durability and structural integrity. However, the type of soil on which you lay your foundation can have a considerable impact on its strength and stability. The load-bearing capacity and moisture content of different soil types affect how a foundation settles and moves over time.

The soil type in your location is determined by the local climate, geography, terrain, and plant life. Clay, rocky, and sandy loam are the three main soil types. Each soil type has unique engineering qualities that might affect the performance of your foundation.

The following is a summary of how each type of soil might affect your foundation:

Soil made of clay
There are different types of clay soil in northern Texas. These clays have limited permeability, which means they don’t drain properly. They also tend to grow with water and contract without it. This propensity, along with the severe heat of summer in Texas, can place significant strain on foundations in the area.

During hot, dry summers, the clay soil in the area might shrink to the point that it shifts the location of your home’s foundation. Wet clay can force the foundation up or down in particular communities, creating pressure and damage.

Rock
Rocky soil comes in a variety of forms, including limestone, bedrock, sandstone, hard chalk, and shale. The most frequent type of rock in North Texas is limestone. It is an excellent foundation material due to its strong load-bearing capacity, low compressibility, and outstanding drainage qualities.

However, rock soils have drawbacks. Trees may not always have sufficient soil depth to thrive. Houses built on slopes may require bracing for added support and safety, especially if the soil contains a high shale percentage, which may cause sliding.

Sandy Soil
Sandy loam is frequently composed of clay, sand, and silt. In your fingertips, it feels dry, crumbly, and soft. Unlike rock or clay soils, loam soils retain and drain water proportionally. It’s perfect for sustaining building foundations and growing tree gardens.

Sand stays together quite well when saturated and compacted, but because it does not retain moisture, sand particles might wash away over time, leaving gaps beneath the foundation. This implies that, while sandy loam is drier, it might cause higher subsurface water flow, which is crucial to remember.

The only issue with foundations built on loamy soils is the possibility of erosion. You may avoid this by growing plants to keep them in place.

Take Care of Your Foundation Issues
Early discovery of foundation problems can save you money and time. If you have a problem with your foundation, don’t wait until it gets out of hand; our skilled staff is here to help.

RLM Retrofit Foundation is a California-based company that specializes in the slab, pier, and beam foundation assessment and repair. We can assist you with modest Foundation Inspection Near Me Pacific Palisades and repairs all the way up to the most sophisticated. Make an appointment for a consultation with us today.

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