11/28/2018 Different Soils & How They Affect Foundations

 888.330.2597 ENGINEER RESOURCES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT US

HOME FOUNDATION REPAIR 101 RAM JACK SOLUTIONS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS & SERVICES ABOUT RAM JACK  FIND YOUR LOCAL DEALER

Blog Home - Previous Post | Next Post A R C H IVE S

2018

DIFFE R E NT SOILS &

HOW THEY A FF ECT 2017

FOUNDATI ONS 2016

2015
Aug 31, 2015      

2014

2013

2012

Example of healthy soil. Source. (CC).

Every house has a foundation, and every foundation must be Don't do it twice.
constructed e ciently, safely and correctly so it will last. The
Do it right.
materials that make up the building block and the process of
building it are equally important; however, one thing that’s
Find Your Local
often overlooked is the soilsupporting them because even Expert
foundations need a solid foundation. Each type of soil has
different properties that affect foundations differently. GO
Z
Generally, soil will be more stable the more rock and
compacted sand/gravel it contains.

A diagram showing the different soil levels.

The Types of Soils

1. Peat – Peaty
soil is usually
dark brown or
black and is
SKIP TO CONTENT

https://www.ramjack.com/blog/2015/august/different-soils-how-they-affect-foundations/ 1/3
11/28/2018 Different Soils & How They Affect Foundations

easily
compressible
because of how
much water it
can hold.

However, during the summer it becomes extremely dry and

can even be a re hazard. It is very poor subsoil and not
ideal for support, as foundations are most stable on soil
that does not shift or change structure.

2. Clay – Clay is made up of tiny particles so it stores water

well, but because of its tight grasp on water it expands
greatly when moist and shrinks signi cantly when dry.
When clay is moist, it is very pliable, and can easily be
moved and manipulated. These extreme changes put a
great deal of pressure on foundations, causing them to
move up and down, and eventually crack, making clay a
poor soil for support.

3. Silt – Silty soil can be smooth to the touch and retains

water longer because of its smaller particles. However,
because of its tendency to retain moisture it is cold and
drains poorly. This causes the silty soil to expand, pushing
against a foundation and weakening it, making it not ideal
for support.

4. Sand/Gravel – Sand/gravel has the largest particles of the

different soil types. It is dry and gritty to the touch and does
not hold moisture because of the large openings, but drains
easily. When compacted and moist it holds together fairly
well, and if compacted these make for good soils to
support a foundation because of their non-water-retaining
properties. However, when moist, the particles will lose their
friction and can be washed away, which can leave gaps
beneath the foundation.

5. Loam – Loam is the ideal soil type: typically it’s a

combination of sand, silt and clay. It is dark in color and
soft, dry and crumbly to the touch. Loam is great for
supporting foundations because of its evenly balanced
properties, especially how it maintains water at a balanced
rate. Loam is a good soil for supporting a foundation, as
long as no miscellaneous soils nd their way onto the
surface.

6. Rock – Types such as bedrock, limestone, sandstone, shale

and hard chalk have high bearing capacities. These are very
strong and good for supporting foundations because of
SKIP TO CONTENT

https://www.ramjack.com/blog/2015/august/different-soils-how-they-affect-foundations/ 2/3
11/28/2018 Different Soils & How They Affect Foundations

their stability and depth. As long as the rock is level the

foundation will be well supported.

Categories:

Helpful Tips

888.330.2597
 LOCATIONS

  鷺 
RAM JACK SOLUTIONS COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING CASE STUDIES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES CAREERS

CONTACT US ADA NOTICE SITE MAP PRIVACY POLICY

Foundation Repair Experts © Ram Jack Systems Distribution | All rights reserved | All Ram Jack franchise locations are independently owned and operated.

Powered by Scorpion

https://www.ramjack.com/blog/2015/august/different-soils-how-they-affect-foundations/ 3/3