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Expansive Clay Soil
The climate of the south central USA is cyclic. Summers are hot and dry, while late fall and early winter often see sufficient rainfall. This makes Expansive Clay Soils more active, but it can also affect other areas of the country. Expansive clay is an arid type of soil that develops when drought conditions hit a region. In areas with Expansive clay, the drought can affect a wide range of crops, including the soil. More about expansive clay soils.
A crack in the foundation of a house in an expansive clay soil can make your home sink or sag. This condition can occur due to a variety of causes, including a lack of water. Excessive watering can also cause the soil to contract and affect the fortitude of your foundation. If you notice that your foundation has a crack, you should contact a contractor who is experienced in foundation repair.
To counteract the damage caused by expansive clay soil, you can water your foundation on a regular basis. However, be sure to follow a professional’s recommendations regarding how often to water. In addition, it is helpful to know which sides of the house receive the most sunlight and shade. If you notice that the crack is worse on the north side of your house, you may want to look for other ways to counteract this damage.
The best way to find out if you have a foundation crack in expansive clay soil is to contact a foundation repair contractor and have them inspect your property. They will be able to identify the problem and take the necessary steps to prevent further damage. However, if your foundation is a concrete slab foundation, a crack in expansive clay soil should be addressed by a professional. There are many things you can do to prevent a foundation crack in expansive clay soil.
If you’re considering a home or a structure built on expansive clay soils, you might want to consider foundation heave in expansive clay soils. If you notice a crack in the concrete slab, it may be indicative of expansive soil heave. It can break or push up a 4″ concrete slab without breaking it, and you might also notice that the concrete overlay has failed. Although floor overlays are a quick and temporary fix, they don’t provide long term protection.
While other soil types expand and contract with the changing conditions, expansive clay soils can expand ten percent or more. This expansion causes foundation wall cracks and foundation heave. In fact, these cracks may form as much as three inches deep. In addition to wall and floor cracks, doors may stick in expansive clay soil. Fortunately, it’s easy to prevent extensive damage with proper foundation monitoring.
When foundations expand and contract, they exert different forces on the wooden bones beneath the slab. Expansive clay soils can lift or shift a foundation upwards by two to five inches. As a result, it can impede your quality of life and interfere with your home’s functionality. The best solution for fixing this problem is to install helical piers or a slab that has more rigid support.
In places such as Texas, Kansas, and Colorado, expansive clay soils cause foundation problems. Soils that are too expansive expand and contract in different proportions, just as in colder climates. Often, the expansion of expansive clay soils will not manifest itself until the foundation is a few inches away from its surface. When this happens, cracks or other structural problems develop. This article will discuss the issues associated with expansive clay soils, as well as how to avoid them.
One of the main causes of expansive clay soils is that water does not penetrate them well. Because clay-rich soils are expansive, they shrink and contract as they dry. This causes concrete foundation walls to crack. Clay-rich soils are also prone to pulling away from their foundation wall. The result is a large gap around the foundation, which fills with debris. Foundation problems caused by expansive clay soils can be difficult to address and can cost you thousands of dollars.
When homeowners have foundation problems with expansive clay soils, they should seek help as soon as possible. Delay in calling a professional can lead to further damages. While many of these issues can be prevented, repairing them could become costly. This is why it is essential to seek help from a reputable foundation contractor as soon as you notice any problems. So, it is important to avoid expanding clay soils whenever possible. You may find that your home will need more support in the form of walls, floors, crawl spaces, or other structural components.
The structural soundness of your home depends heavily on the soil type. Expansive clay soils are prone to foundation settlement problems. This soil type expands and contracts at different ratios depending on the moisture content. Constant changes in the amount of water in the soil can result in cracks and other foundation problems. Fortunately, there are many solutions available. Follow these tips for preventing foundation settlement problems. But remember that it takes time to re-hydrate seriously dry clay soils.
The first step in identifying expansive clay soils is to identify the exact location of these expansive soils. A regional map will show which areas have expansive clay. Alternatively, site-specific testing will help you determine whether your soil is affected by expansive clay. Expansive clay soils are treated to produce a stable base. However, if you’re concerned about expanding clay, you should begin your project with soil testing. Particle size analysis is an important early assessment.
In addition to a geotechnical engineer’s assessment, you should be aware of the specific causes of expansion of expansive soils. If you suspect that your home has expansive soil, you can get a structural engineer to assess the foundation. Afterward, consult with a foundation repair contractor to discuss the piering options and wall reinforcement measures available for your home. You may even end up saving a lot of money in the long run.
Clay soils can expand and contract, causing the walls of a home to crack and collapse. This phenomenon is common in the Desert Southwest and can damage foundations, roads, pipelines, and more. Expansive clay soils in Arizona are often classified as problem soils. Expansive clay soils contain microscopic-sized minerals that cause them to expand and contract, causing cracks in homes and other structures. The expansive clay soils in Arizona are also known as caliche, which is an insoluble, solid rock consisting of calcium carbonate.
If you are planning to build a new home in Arizona, it is important to know the types of expansive clay soils you are dealing with. The expansive clay soils in Arizona can support heavy material up to the surface, but a building sitting on this soil without any stabilizing system will experience foundation heave. This problem can be very difficult to fix. The following information will help you better understand the expansive clay soils in Arizona.
These soils behave differently in the desert and other arid regions. In general, clay soils east of the Cascade Mountains tend to be more compact than those west of the Rocky Mountains. However, Arizona clay soils are some of the driest soils in the U.S., which makes it an ideal location for building homes. If you plan to build on these types of soils, make sure to check your local government’s website for more information.
Expansive soil is one of the most significant geologic hazards in the USA, and it has the potential to cause more damage to homes and other structures than any other natural disaster. The soil can be up to 50% expansive, and this problem is responsible for more losses than floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters combined. In the United States, expansive soils are found in all 50 states. In fact, the soils in the Front Range are about 50 percent expansive. Other high-risk states include North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Texas. And in southern Louisiana, these soils are almost entirely expansive.
Expansive soils occur worldwide, and they are present in every US state. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, they cause billions of dollars in property damage each year. According to the organization, nearly one-quarter of homes in the USA suffer at least some damage caused by expansive soil. These soils have the potential to cause more damage and cost more money to property owners than any other natural disaster combined.
Soils formed from residual environments are the most commonly expanded clays in the United States. They form from Colorado to Florida. The USGS published a map of these soils in 1989, titled “Swelling Clays Map of the Conterminous United States.” Once constructed, these soils must undergo a period of exposure to changes in moisture conditions to avoid settling. For existing structures, moisture control may be an option. For new construction, moisture control may be a design requirement. A geotechnical solution may include the removal and replacement of expansive material, capping or burying, or treatment with hydrated lime.
Soils made from these clays are extremely variable. Some are much more expansive than others. Expansive soils are common throughout the United States, although they may not be found everywhere. In many places, these soils will expand during wet weather conditions and contract when it’s dry. The NRCS has an online tool to help you find expansive soils in your area. If you think you have a site with expansive soils, consider getting a geotechnical assessment to make sure that you know how to use the soil.