Many home builders have never heard about Arizona’s expansive clay soil and how it can challenge your home’s foundation. Are they present on your home’s lot? That can be hard to discover without a foundation inspection Phoenix, AZ
By contacting the Concrete Repairman, you can learn if these types of soils would be present in your area. The problem with many Phoenix homes is that many have expansive soil. The Concrete Repairman can help a realtor learn if that type of soil will make home building difficult. More about expansive clay soil.
Floor Heave Cracks are NOT caused by Expansive Soil. Here Why………
What is The Problem with Expansive Soils?
Bentonite and other active soils serve as expansive clay soils with fine particles. This can be annoying because they will easily absorb moisture when it rains (or you go to water your flowers). As the clay soil absorbs the moisture, it will expand, meaning it will swell. You might be thinking, “How is this going to have an impact on my heavy home?” The problem is that as they swell, it creates insane pressure on what opposes it. For example, your house’s foundation could be in the direct line of fire. If it has been wrongly constructed or exposed, that can cause the foundation to lift and crack. You must understand how to build houses on these soils to avoid paying $12,000 repair bills later.
How to Avoid Homes with Expansive Soils and High Foundation Repair Costs?
First, check the area of the home you will be buying online. Does the area suffer from expansive soils? If you live in or near one of these places, you should have your lot tested before committing to a purchase. The Concrete Repairman can help you identify expansive soils in your lot. We can also inspect your home before buying to ensure you do not buy a home with foundation damage.
How Expansive Soil Testing Works
To determine if expansive soil has any issues, it should be tested by an independent and experienced specialist. The specialist will take a variety of soil samples to test. These tests will tell you what areas may have issues associated with the characteristics of expansive soil. With that information in hand, you can take the necessary steps to avoid future problems caused by expansive soil.
Other Things to Understand with Expansive Soil
Building on expansive soil, you must take care in advance to protect your foundation. This will protect your home from potential damage. You need to ensure that the ground has been carefully graded and that the water will drain away from your home’s foundation. If the water gets inside the concrete, it causes it to crack, which will eventually cause damage to your home. Avoid creating a foundation that has a higher likelihood of holding moisture.
About the Arizona Area
If you are just moving to the Arizona area, you might be surprised to learn about the natural and geological hazards of the area. The Arizona soils have been known to create a lot of trouble for homeowners in Southern and Central Arizona. Many homes have suffered from foundation cracking or cracking in the walls because of collapsible and expansive soils. While it can simply be a minor nuisance, other times, it can lead to serious damage to a home. A lot of the collapsible soils in Arizona will have fine grain, and they will contain little gravel. Silt and clay particles can create a honeycomb framework for supporting material. Still, when a new home sits on top of it with moisture, it increases the chances of that honeycomb collapsing. That can do a lot of damage to your home’s foundation.
How To Protect Your Foundation From Expansive Soil Problems
To protect your home’s foundation, we recommend choosing native plants over non-native plants because they require less water. As a result, you do not have to worry as much about the soil absorbing the water used for your plants. You also want to avoid deep watering your plants when you are near your home’s foundation. Many homes in Arizona do not have rain gutters. You can buy them online to keep the water from saturating the soil around your foundation.
Soil Treatment for Expansive Soil
If you are a realtor or builder and a soil inspection uncovered issues with the soil, you can treat the problem by applying large amounts of water followed by weeks or even months of letting the soil settle. You can also use a large weight to compact the soil before fully building a home there. Despite these efforts, however, sinking and settling can still happen later in the life of a home.
Whether you plan to build or buy a home, having the property inspected by a certified foundation expert in advance can be useful. Possible signs of expansive soil include cracks in the walls and misaligned doors or windows. Your floor may also show signs of heaving or cracking. Understanding these indicators and what is causing them can prevent more costly repairs and expenses.
