Shifting Soil Can Damage the Foundation of Your Springdale Home

Every so often you’ll hear your home creak, sometimes because of a stiff gust of wind, but more likely because of shifting soil beneath your Springdale home. You can’t feel the ground moving beneath your feet, but the truth is that the soil that supports your home and surrounds the masonry and concrete of your foundation and basement walls never stops moving. But concrete was never meant to flex or bend, and when the pressure of shifting soil around your home becomes excessive, the concrete on your property is compromised, and sometimes fails altogether, which creates a need for concrete crack repair for your Springdale property. 

According to foundation inspection experts from Springdale and other parts of the US, soil that contains a large amount of sand is unstable, because it won’t be compact enough to support the massive weight of your home. The same is true of soil with a high content of organic matter, which makes the soil soft and flexible, especially when the organic matter decays and then decomposes. Soils also become unstable with subsidence, a sinking that occurs when underground material moves, usually due to the removal of groundwater or natural gas. 

Without ample support, the soil becomes unstable and is susceptible to shifting, largely because of the drastic seasonal changes in the water content of the soil. During wetter months, the soil around your foundation retains water and expands. In dryer months, the water either drains or evaporates and the soil shrinks. This expand-contract process creates movement in the ground—ergo, shifting soil around your Springdale home, which causes your home to settle.

The effects of this natural process can be devastating to your foundation and all other concrete units on your property. You or any foundation inspector in Springdale will notice:

• Visible cracks in your foundation and the concrete slabs of your driveway and walkways.
• Stair-stepped cracks in your brickwork and other masonry.
• Sticking, uneven doors, and windows.
• Cracks in the interior drywall.
• Possible water intrusion in your basement.
• Bowed, cracked, or bent basement walls.