A Guide to Expansive Soil Issues: Everything You Need to Know

Do you know what’s underneath your house? The ground, obviously. But what about the condition of that ground? Does it feel solid?

If your home was built on top of expansive soil, it will likely experience some type of damage. Concrete settling, cracks, bent door frames, flooding issues, and other structural damage are largely caused by soil expansion.

Despite this, there is a lot you can do with help from foundation repair professionals to work around the soil under your foundation to preserve your home. Understanding the causes of soil expansion will give you the necessary knowledge to avoid the pitfalls of expansive soils.

1. Precipitation

Water from rain and snowmelt contributes to significant soil saturation.

Cities throughout Central and Southern Indiana typically receive approximately 40 inches of rain and 20 inches of snow every year. That’s a lot of water for the soil to handle, particularly clay-based soils.

Oftentimes, this water collects next to the foundation and leaks inside, or floods yards.

2. Exterior Drainage

Your home needs exterior measures in place to handle all this rainwater. This includes properly functioning gutters and downspouts.

If either system is clogged or damaged, runoff quickly spills over and drains directly next to your foundation. This not only contributes to expansive soil, but it allows water to leak inside your home.

3. Soil Grading

The yard grade, or the slope of your property, plays a crucial role in preventing soil expansion.

Your yard should have a positive grade, meaning it slopes down and away from the house, allowing water to flow the same way. Conversely, a negative grade indicates that water does not drain away from the home because the soil slopes towards the house.

Properties with a negative grade are susceptible to water pooling around the house, water intrusion, and foundation problems.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is the force exerted by stationary water, such as the groundwater surrounding your home’s foundation.

This pressure acts in both outward and downward directions, constantly pressing against your basement walls, potentially leading to significant water damage and structural issues.

Basement Symptoms

• Cracking basement walls
• Bowing basement walls
• Shearing basement walls
• Cracking basement floor
• Water in the basement
• Basement mold growth

Other Foundation Symptoms

• Drywall cracks or nail pops
• Sticking windows and doors
• Uneven Floor
• Foundation wall cracks
• Brick cracks
• Leaning chimney

• Maintain Gutters and Downspouts: Ensure gutters and downspouts are in good working order, free of damage and clogs, and direct water away from your foundation.
• Regrade Your Yard: Improve your yard grade so it allows water to drain away from your house.
• Reinforce Basement Walls: Counteract hydrostatic pressure with wall repair solutions like wall anchors, channel anchors, wall braces, or carbon fiber supports.
• Waterproof Your Basement: Keep water intrusion at bay with basement water management solutions, including interior drains, a sump pump, a wall vapor barrier, and a dehumidifier.
• Encapsulate Your Crawl Space: If you have a crawl space instead of a basement, coupling water management with full encapsulation with a vapor barrier ensures a dry crawl space.
• Stabilize Your Foundation: Foundation piers permanently stabilize your foundation and can help lift settling sections back to their original positions.