Soil composition varies from place to place, and the type in your region has a significant effect on your home’s foundation. It can manifest in many ways, causing everything from jammed doors to structural damage. Golden Alaska Excavating in Kodiak encourages clients to understand the impact of the ground beneath their house so they can anticipate or even mitigate potential issues. This local excavating company explains common soil types and how they typically affect a foundation.

Excavating Experts Explain How Soil Varieties Impact Structures

Sand

In most regions, sandy soil is combined and compacted with other types. Sand sometimes makes foundations coast horizontally and will increase erosion in areas with poor drainage.

Clay

This material is greatly affected by water, swelling when it’s damp and contracting when it’s dry, creating a strong possibility it will shift a foundation. Clay causes foundations to move up and down, resulting in cracks.

Peat

This material primarily consists of decomposing organic matter and often exists near wetlands. It’s porous, so it will shrink and expand as the moisture level changes.

Loam

This soil type is a combination of sand, clay, and silt. While moisture changes don’t affect it much, it can erode to cause load-bearing issues. 

Rock

Rock is Kodiak’s best resource and has an excellent load-bearing capacity, making it ideal for supporting commercial buildings as well as houses. Well crushed rock must be level, compacted well, free of tree stumps and buried refuse to prevent a structure’s foundation from sliding or sinking.

Golden Alaska Excavating in Kodiak provides the region with quality crushed rock, high-quality drainage installations, septic services, land grading, and other excavating work. If you’re having problems with your foundation, call them for help. The company is family-owned and run by the only local excavating contractor born and raised in Kodiak. Call (907) 539-6490 to request an estimate and go online for more information about the company. Check their Facebook and Google+ pages for additional tips from their team.