Crash Course Chemistry - The Science Behind Foundation Failure

As a homeowner in Southern California, you may be wondering what kind of conditions can lead
to foundation failure and whether or not your home is at risk. There are many factors that can
lead to foundation failure but wed like to focus today on one of the most common and notorious
culprits - shrink swell soil.

Your home likely rests on a concrete foundation which is several feet (or several meters) deep
into the ground. This foundation rests upon the soil and you may be surprised to learn just how
much the soil can affect the structural integrity of your home. There are many different kinds of
soil and no two geographical locations contain soil that is exactly the same.

One of the most common causes of foundation failure is a variety of soil known as shrink-swell
soil, or expansive soil. The problem with shrink-swell soil is its clay content, which allows it to
soak up a great deal of water during rain storms, plumbing leaks and other events that could
saturate your soil. Conversely, shrink-swell soil is prone to shrinking during hot, dry periods. It is
this fluctuation of shrinking and swelling which puts pressure on your foundation and can cause
significant damage if not identified early.

To understand the details about how water causes soil expansion, it helps to know a little bit
about the molecular structures of water and clay. You probably learned in science class that
water molecules are made up of two hydrogens and an oxygen and its positive and negative
charges are on opposite sides. This structure makes it possible for water to interact with the tiny
crystals constitute the composition of clay. This process is known as adsorption (thats
ADsorption, not absorption). The tiny clay crystals are capable of holding large amounts of
water molecules, which in turn results in the swelling and expansion of the soil. When the water
escapes the clay crystals during dry spells, the soil contracts.

But how do you know if the soil under your home is shrink-swell soil? A soil engineer can help.
He or she can collect soil samples from your home and run tests to measure the number of fine
particles in your soil and calculate how much of them are clay. The soil engineer may also
measure the plasticity index (to determine the point of saturation at which the clay will begin to
behave like plastic, and liquid limit, which is the percentage of moisture at which this occurs.
Your soils plasticity index and liquid limit will determine the risk of foundation damage to your
home.

When the soil underneath your home is indeed shrink-swell soil, a soil engineer can help you
prevent a disaster. There are a number of ways to prevent shrink-swell damage, most involving
moisture control. A subgrade irrigation can stabilize your soil by injecting moisture into it. If that
method is not feasible, a perimeter apron may be a better solution. The perimeter apron
controls drainage by sealing the perimeter of your foundation. Lastly, a French drain is a gravel
filled trench around the perimeter of your home which captures and removes excess water.
If you are past the prevention stage, there are a number of strategies for mitigating the risk of
damage. Your soil engineer will be able to suggest the best strategy. Common strategies
include saturating the soil with water in order to cause pre-expansion of the soil, removing and
replacing the top layer of soil, reinforcing your foundation or treating the soil with products that
are designed to reduce its expansion potential.

Expansion and foundation failure are common problems in the Southern California area. If you
have begun to notice signs of foundation problems in your home such as cracked or uneven
floors, you should consider a free inspection.