Expansive Clay Soil

Foundation Heave – Arizona expansive clay soil in its landlocked state can actually be made to support a heavy material to the soil surface. This soil-based issue is a cause of serious concern among structure specialists that are working to re-engineer a building site. Foundation Heave occurs when a building of significant weight sits on the clay soil without an adequate stabilizing system. Although the resulting load may be able to bear, this is a very difficult issue to correct. More about expansive clay soil.

Expansive clay soil conditions in Arizona, like all other areas of the country, are dynamic and highly variable. The kinds of clay soils found here also change with the times. In fact, the soil along the eastern shores of the Great Salt Lake in Utah and Arizona and along the Colorado River in the southwest may be significantly more compacted than the clay soils of the west coast. More about expansive clay soil Gilbert Arizona.

This does not mean, however, that the Arizona clay soils will behave differently with the addition of water or wind. As previously stated, the clay soils of the west coast, especially in the area west of the Cascade Mountains in Washington and Oregon, are more compacted than the clay soils of the central and eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. These desert lands are some of the driest in the United States. More about expansive clay soils in and near me in Chandler, AZ Mesa, AZ Gilbert, AZ cities in Arizona.

Expansive clay soil in Arizona, however, has a climate and geography that are similar to the more arid terrain of the west coast. The most common type of clay soil that is found here is considered to be those formed from river beds and in valleys near the ocean. This soil type was first used by Native Americans and also included sandstone and cliche. More about expansive soil.

Many of the major problems associated with the foundation heave on a sandy foundation were avoided by the ancient people of Arizona. Therefore, these people would have been perfectly capable of knowing that clay soils where extremely vulnerable to expansion, contraction and deterioration. This particular capability was undoubtedly known to the early inhabitants of Arizona.

The presence of water on clay soils also limits the ability of the soil to expand. When the water moves into the soil, it immediately creates cracks, valleys and depressions which impede the flow of the soil. This can be seen as a solid bulge if the structure is observed with modern equipment. Clay soils also lack the structural characteristics of sandy soils, which include the ability to resist cracking, damping, buckling and slipping.

When the structure is pulled down by the heave, the top soil layer simply collapses to the earth’s surface, sometimes even leaving a section of the building standing above the rest of the soil. Since clay soils absorb water from the air, they are extremely susceptible to foundation heave. Unfortunately, as the water in the soil expands, the amount of water that can be absorbed decreases and foundation heave becomes more severe.

Soil stabilization systems are designed to keep structures standing in places with ground that is rapidly drying up. A high quality stabilized soil is required to stabilize the foundation soil and to prevent collapse. Otherwise, the structure will fail due to compaction and settling.

To the north in Arizona, there is a prominent occurrence of extensive farming operations. Therefore, soil stabilization equipment is frequently required in order to avoid soil failure that is caused by excess water or wind. It is not uncommon for engineers to locate large farming operations in Arizona and farm owners in the city to use soil stabilization to ensure that their facilities remain standing.

The same techniques are useful for homes built on expansive clay soils in Arizona. They help to reduce foundation heave and enhance durability. Because Arizona is famous for its hot summers and rainy winters, Arizona soil stability specialists often consider the onset of spring and summer as the best time to perform stabilization.

Soil stabilization spreaders are installed before the soil starts to “bounce”. They spread the stabilization material over the clay soil surface and allow it to settle. The soil is then compacted to compensate for the loss of volume.

One of the easiest ways to reduce foundation heave is to construct buildings that are designed to use clay soil stabilization systems. No matter how much stabilization is provided, though, it is still a very wise decision to install clay soil stabilization equipment.