Why Does Soil Matter when Building a House in La Porte, TX? Soil Under Foundation Needs to Be Compacted & More

Anytime someone is building a home, there is extra emphasis on the foundation. If the foundation isn’t sure and sound, the house is going to have several different problems down the road. This is why builders are always showing extra caution in the foundation portion of construction. One part of making sure the foundation is going to be supportive enough is to pay close attention to the soil the house is going to be built on. DuraTech Texas is here to talk about why soil is so important when it comes to building a house.

Why Soil Matters

While most of the time, soil can handle supporting an entire home when the foundation is laid. However, there are some instances where the soil is simply not good enough. Sometimes, the soil on a piece of property isn’t going to be consistent. This can cause big problems for any home that is built there. The soil needs to be consistent and the same to have a foundation poured and a home built on it.

Soil Needs to Be Compacted

Typically, the first 16 inches of the soil that your foundation is poured on is the most important. However, there might be some soft or sandy soil beneath that. This sandy or soft soil can be problematic over time if it isn’t compacted well enough. There might be cracks and serious damage to the home as the home naturally settles over the first couple of years. When the soil compaction is done properly, you don’t have to worry about any serious issues. If builders do come across clay soil, soft soil, or sandy soil during excavation, it is always best to consult with an engineer before moving forward with construction to ensure the foundation will be able to handle it.

Other Details Builders Should Consider

While the density and quality of the soil beneath the footings of a home are a major consideration that builders should be thinking about, it isn’t the only thing that matters. Here are some of the other considerations that they need to make when building a home:
– Footing Dimensions: When it comes to the footings, the wider they are, the more stable they are going to be. This is due to the fact that wider footing spread out the weight of the house on the soil.
– Footing Placement: Footings that aren’t placed in the center will create problems because the weight won’t be distributed evenly. This can put more stress on the structure.
– Water: You don’t want any water when excavating either. If water is found, you need to consult with an engineer before moving forward.

Foundation Inspection & Repair Services in Crosby, Cypress, Friendswood & Greater Houston, Texas

If you have foundation trouble in an old or new home, you can turn to DuraTech Texas to fix it. We work to fix foundation problems both large and small to ensure your home is structurally sound. Call us today!