Types of Soil and the Effect They Have on Your House Foundation
Understanding the Effects of Soils on Foundation
Soil is an often overlooked aspect of construction, but it can play a huge role in the durability of your home. There are many different types of soils and they all have their own unique properties. It is worth taking some time to understand what these soils do so that you can be sure that you are building on the right land for your needs. The Norman Foundation Repair company will teach you about some common soils and how each one affects foundation, as well as giving tips for choosing the perfect location for your new home!
The first thing to know is that soil can have a significant impact on the strength of your foundation. This means that if you are building in an area with weak soils, it will be much more likely to give way over time. On the other hand, strong soils make for very durable foundations and homes built upon them tend to hold up better over time.
An important thing about different types of soil is how compressible they are under pressure or weight placed on top of them. Soil compresses when there is not enough water content within it to support something heavy like a house being built above it. The amount of compression varies depending on what type of soil you’re looking at but generally speaking clay-rich dirt has stronger compression than sandier earths do.
The presence of water is also a big determining factor in how strong or weak your soil will be. When the ground becomes too saturated with water, it can cause soils to become even weaker than they would normally be. This means that you should only ever build on dirt when it has dried out after rainstorms and during droughts so as not to create any issues with foundation strength later down the line. Remember this if you are planning on building near lakes or ponds because these areas may flood often!
One thing to remember about different types of soil is that sandy earths tend to erode faster than other kinds do under pressure placed upon them by buildings and houses constructed atop them. They’re great for good foundations but their lack of durability can cause problems in the future when it comes to erosion and damage caused by water.
Finally, clay-rich soils are often considered some of the best you can find for building houses on because they compress very well under pressure and hold up over time. They’re not as susceptible to washouts or other types of soil movement that may be caused by excess moisture like sandy earths tend to be. That is why many homes built along rivers and lakes use this type of dirt! It is also important to note that these soils usually need a lot more testing before construction begins due to how easily they become saturated with excess rainwater making them difficult if not impossible to build upon at times during certain seasons.