How Expansive Soils Damage Your Foundation
Clay soils, common in Western Washington homes, often expand when exposed to moisture, increasing the risk of foundation settlement and cracks. Addressing this problem now protects your family and prevents more expensive repairs.
If you have expansive soil under your home, don’t panic. Matvey Foundation Repair can protect and repair your home’s foundation with our custom-engineered solutions.
What are Expansive Soils?
Expansive soils containing clay or silt minerals expand up to 15 times their dry volume when they encounter excess moisture. This puts pressure on your foundation and might cause it to sink, crack, or heave upward.
Another concern is that expansive soils contract and shrink when they dry out, usually during warm weather. This process can wear away at your foundation in different ways.
Why Does Clay Soil Expand?
When clay soil absorbs water from rainfall and snowmelt, its particles swell. Clay particles have a high surface area and negative charge, so they hold water molecules more tightly than sand and other soils.
Signs of Expansive Clay Soil
The following problem signs indicate you have expansive clay soil under your home:
Should You Worry about Expansive Clay Soils?
Expansive clay soil is one of the biggest causes of foundation damage, so you should tackle this problem immediately. Otherwise, you risk your family’s safety.
Matvey Foundation Repair has various solutions to protect you against expansive clay soil. With more than 20 years of experience, we can ensure the stability of your home and prevent more pricey repairs in the future.
How We Fix Expansive Clay Soils
Removing clay soil and replacing it with topsoil is invasive and expensive. Matvey Foundation Repair suggests the following solutions to prevent damage to your home:
- Drainage Systems: We can install an interior drainage system in your basement to stop excess water from putting pressure on your foundation walls.
- Wall Stabilization: If expansive soils are causing your foundation walls to bow, we can install wall anchors, steel I-beams, and other wall stabilization tools.
We also recommend proper grading, which can direct water away from your structures and avoid water accumulation.
Contact Matvey Foundation Repair to Save Your Foundation
Expansive clay soils might damage your property, so it’s best to act now. Our team can assess your soil and foundation and recommend the best repair solutions based on your needs.
FAQs
Basement wall cracks, drywall cracks, uneven floors, and other problems indicate expansive clay soil on your property. To know for sure, contact a professional like Matvey Foundation Repair, who can inspect your soil for free.
You risk damaging your home. Expansive soils can put stress on your foundation and cause it to sink or crack.
Replacing clay soil is costly, so consider an interior drainage system to prevent water from damaging your foundation. Wall stabilization tools might help if expansive soil is causing your foundation walls to bow.
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Service Areas
18915 16th Ave S
SeaTac, Washington 98188