Building Foundations on Clay-Rich Soil


If you own a home that was built on top of clay-rich soils or are considering building in a space that has clay soil, there may be some complications that you will run into. It is possible to build on that type of soil, but it requires special considerations and accommodations due to the things that can go wrong.

Below we will take a look at some of the issues that can arise as well as precautions that you can take to avoid foundation failure.

Soil Analysis

One of the first things you want to do is have your soil analyzed. Identifying clay-rich soils is the first step to dealing with it. There are at home soil testing kits that you can use with ease to figure out your soil configurations.

Potential Issues

One issue you can run into with clay soil is called subsidence. This is where the clay shrinks due to moisture changes and causes the foundation to sink. Sometimes this is caused by trees that are nearby whose roots are sucking up the excess moisture from the ground.

Another problem is soil heave, which is sort of the opposite of subsidence. It’s where the soil expands and pushes the building up, causing shifts in the foundation that can lead to cracks. This can be caused by a range of things, but the main issue is that there is excess moisture coming from somewhere that it shouldn’t be.

Precautions to Take

One precaution you can take is to build with brick veneer rather than the double brick method. Brick veneer can withstand the changes from the soil better and will hold up longer on clay-rich soils.

It is also wise to monitor the area you plan to build for potential moisture change issues. If you’re going to build on clay soil you want to make sure that the soil will be able to maintain a somewhat consistent level of moisture to keep the foundation from moving up or down.

Reach Out to a Foundation Repair Company

If you already live in a home built on clay soil and you are having problems with your foundation, reach out to a foundation repair company. They can come assess your home and help you to figure out your next move.


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