Consideration should be given to the type of soil under your home. This is especially important to the contractor if you are considering building as it may affect the materials used. If you are in a home now, it may give you a possible cause of any problems which may have occurred.
Soil maps that show the types of soils, their general characteristics, and suitability for various uses have been developed for many parts of the U.S. They are available from the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On site soil inspection will show you which soil you have at your home.
The most common types of soil are:
Boulders – rocks that are over 8 inches in size. They are usually in other types of soil. If there are large boulders in the way of the foundation, they should be removed to avoid creating hard spots, which could cause the foundation to crack.
Gravel – consists of rock fragments varying from 1/8 inch to 8 inches. It is usually mixed with other types and is good for bearing weight and absorption.
Sand – rock particles or grains varying from 0.05 millimeters (approximately 1/25 of an inch) to 1/8 inch. Care must be taken that the sand layer is deep and not just a thin layer underlain by weak soil. Very fine sand should be evaluated with great caution since water may convert it into quicksand, causing the foundation to fail.
Silt – consists of particles that are between sand and clay (0.005 to 0.05 millimeters). Inorganic silt has little plasticity, if you add water to it, and the paste does not deform without cracking. Organic silt is mixed with particles of organic matters such as decayed vegetables, shells, etc. Silt is not very good in bearing weight, however, it can support the weight of a house. Its absorption characteristics are poor.
Clay – consists of very fine particles less than 0.005 millimeters in size. It is plastic when wet and hardens and cracks when dried. When loaded, stiff clay takes years to settle, because it loses its moisture content very slowly. This is why homes built on stiff clay will crack plaster or drywall for a period of years after construction. This does not mean the house will fall. Clay is good in bearing but poor in absorption.
Loam – consists of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. When dry it forms a cast that can be handled. When wet it is plastic and can be handled without breaking. Loam has some bearing and absorption capabilities.
Sandy Loam – mostly sand, but has some silt and clay in it. It has some bearing and absorption capabilities.
Silty Loam – has a large percentage of silt and a small percentage of sand and clay. Natural lumps can turn to soft powder with little pressure. It has poor bearing and absorption capabilities.
Clayey Loam – includes a large amount of clay and small amount of sand and silt. It has bearing capability but poor absorption.
As always, I wish you good fortune and success solving your waterproofing problems. Take a deep breath and try not to get discouraged if things don’t go quickly and easily, as is often the case. Don’t take it personally. Remember, nearly every solution which now exist was acquired by trial and error by someone who was frustrated before you. Persevere, you’ll get the job done and feel very good about it.
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