Water is the basic problem in the vast majority of expansive soil foundation problems. Specific constituents of certain soils tend to swell or shrink with variations in moisture. The extent of this movement varies from soil to soil. Depending on where your Jefferson City, Missouri house was built, and how the contractor backfilled around the foundation or basement, will determine the stresses your home is under. Those soils highest in clay content are generally more susceptible to swelling or shrinkage while those lowest in clay content are the least affected. In some areas the movement is insignificant; in others, it is quite pronounced. Again, with modern construction, one part of your house may sit on clay soil and the other on aggregate. This can cause major shifts and contractions. You may also want to get a professional inspection and evaluation of your home's unique setting as you review this site for information about your own particular situation. That foundation professional may even go back to early geologic mapping to determine the original slope before that area was developed. In some extreme cases, core samples might need to be taken to see what material actually sits below your home.

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Foundation Problem Causes
Water is to blame
Water is the basic problem in the vast majority of
expansive soil foundation problems. Specific
constituents of certain soils tend to swell or shrink
with variations in moisture. The extent of this
movement varies from soil to soil.
Depending on where your Jefferson City, Missouri
house was built, and how the contractor backfilled
around the foundation or basement, will determine
the stresses your home is under. Those soils highest
in clay content are generally more susceptible to
swelling or shrinkage while those lowest in clay content are the least affected. In some areas the
movement is insignificant; in others, it is quite pronounced.
Again, with modern construction, one part of your house may sit on clay soil and the other on
aggregate. This can cause major shifts and contractions.
Foundation settlement and movement can be caused by
• Building on expansive clay
• Improper maintenance around foundations
• Compressible or improperly compacted fill soils
Regardless of the cause, settlement can destroy the value of structures and even render them unsafe.
Unstable soil effects
When unstable soils are used as a base for a foundation, the tendency for movement is transmitted
directly to the foundation. Since soil movement is rarely uniform, the foundation is subjected to a
differential or upheaval. If all the soil beneath a foundation or slab swells uniformly, there usually is no
problem. Problems occur, however, when only part of the slab settles. Then, the differential movement
causes cracks or other damages.
This can be found when a portion of a lot was filled in from material higher on the hill. The original
slope may or may not be more stable than the fill material. Where a home sits partially on filled land,
and partially on the original slope, you can expect greater stress on your foundation or basement walls.
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2. Such a problem shows up in both slab, pier and beam type foundations, especially where the land was
re-graded from the original slope. In residential properties, slab settlement problems can result in
potential damage to the structure, potential accidents, and loss of real estate value. Poor drainage,
tripping hazards, rough floors, unsightly cracks, and equipment malfunctions may also result from
concrete slab settlement.
Your unique home
You may also want to get a professional inspection and
evaluation of your home's unique setting as you review
this site for information about your own particular
situation. That foundation professional may even go
back to early geologic mapping to determine the
original slope before that area was developed. In some
extreme cases, core samples might need to be taken to
see what material actually sits below your home.
Preserving your investment's
value
Most homes are built conscientiously and to
professional standards according to code. Older homes have had more time for Nature to work at their
base. Any expenses in this area will determine the resale value of your home, even more than the
economy varies.
Not cared for, it could render your home nearly worthless, regardless of how much you paid for it. But
those are extreme cases.
Many inspections can be done for no cost, as part of a bid for services. Contact a reputable firm and
always feel free to get a comparative estimate from their competitor, or several.
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3. It might be due to the soil your house is built on
Depending on where your house is built will affect
your home's foundation and basement. Jefferson City
has clayey loess on top of dolomite sandstone as a
base. While topsoil may have been brought in from
local river-bottom farmland, the basic building will
have been into the native original soil.
How your house settles is affected by the interaction of
your home's underlying soil with the different moisture
content available during the year. Building on
expansive clay, improperly compacted fill soils, or
improper maintenance around foundations causes
foundation settlement and movement typically in Missouri.
Moisture Wicking
Moisture can move from outside to under your foundation through a property of soils known as
suction. Observing soil moisture changes around your foundation is possible, but what about under it?
Soil suction is similar to placing just a corner of a dry, compressed sponge in contact with a puddle of
water. Like a sponge, the moisture will redistribute itself throughout the material, even when the source
of water is removed. More water later added will mean more absorption and expansion.
Water can move horizontally and vertically through the soils under your foundation in a similar
manner. As clayey soils draw water to themselves, they too grow in volume (swell or heave) causing
your foundation to move.
Drying outside your foundation reverses the process. The moist soils will lose volume (shrink) as soil
moisture moves out from under your foundation causing the foundation to settle. Shrinking and
swelling soil motions can lead to damaging your foundation and structure.
Uniform changes in soil moisture are less damaging to your structure than localized changes. We know
the soil varies from location to location. For example, Columbia Missouri may have more deep prairie
soils while Warrenton would hold more clay soils.
Poor Drainage
Localized sources of water from rainwater flowing or pooling next to the foundation, may lead to
localize heaving of the foundation.
The solution is to slope the ground away from all sides of the foundation for a distance of at least 5
feet, create drainage swales to divert water away from the foundation, keep the dirt line several inches
below the brick line, and use clay soil fill to create positive slope away from the foundation.
It's recommended to not use SANDY SOILS for fill next to the foundation. Compact the fill to shed
water, not absorb it.
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4. It could be your house and basement design affected by
moisture
There are even more factors which change moisture
content around and under your house. These in turn
can affect foundation settlement for your Jefferson
City home.
Here are four points to check
with possible solutions:
Landscape/Retaining Walls
Non-uniform drying on all sides of a foundation may
result in non-uniform foundation settlements. A solution could be to apply more landscape water than
other sides of the foundation and use mulch to slow evaporation.
Excess Drying on the West Side/Non-uniform Moisture Loss
Non-uniform drying on all sides of a foundation from the sun or failure to provide watering may cause
non-uniform foundation movements. A possible solution would be to apply more landscape water on
drier sides of the foundation, use mulch to slow evaporative drying, and plant quality shade trees along
with installation of a tree root/vertical moisture barrier.
Rainfall
Non-uniform runoff from the roof may result in localized heaving. Maintain soil sloping away from all
sides of the foundation for a distance of at least 5 feet, use gutters with downspouts that discharge at
least 3 feet from the foundation to help solve this problem.
Annually inspect the area within 5 feet of all sides of your foundation after a rain to determine if proper
drainage is maintained away from your structure. Monitor existing cracks for progressive or seasonal
movements.
Hot and Dry Climate
Especially during a drought, loss of soil moisture from under foundation edges may cause foundation
settlement. Uniformly water landscape planting and areas next to all sides of the foundation, install
automatic sprinkler systems, and add sidewalks adjacent to the foundation.
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5. It might be landscaping around your house
Landscaping factors just outside your house may retain
or cause excessive moisture. These will of course
affect how the soil dries or expands when wet.
Landscape Planting
Drying from roots, transpiration and soil suction may
cause non-uniform foundation movements. Plant
bushes and shrubs away from the foundation,
uniformly water plants, do not flood or pond water
next to the foundation. Slope your garden beds to carry
excess water away from the foundation.
Over Watering
Provides excess source of soil water for suction to draw moisture
under foundation that may cause a stable area to begin heaving and
damaging your structure. Water just enough to keep plants and grass
alive and growing, not thriving and lush through saturating the
ground. If you use native plants, these may require less moisture to
maintain.
Flower Beds
Where you have spots of localized water, not uniform on all sides of
foundation, this may result in non-uniform foundation movements
due to pooling water and locally expansive soils. Do not flood or
pond irrigation water, but slope ground surface away from the
foundation. Do not trap water near the foundation with edging,
instead use mulch to slow evaporation.
Trees
If existing trees are closer, install an approximately 4 foot deep tree root/vertical moisture barrier
system near the foundation and prune trees (to limit moisture stress) where barrier system is under the
drip line of the tree. Tree roots grow under the foundation and dry out soils causing non-uniform
foundation settlements. Plant trees a distance greater than their mature height from the foundation.
Water tree roots away from the foundation.
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6. Your home may have other drainage issues
Your Jefferson City home might need other solutions to help solve your foundation problems. Exterior
equipment and plumbing can cause moisture problems to occur.
Plumbing Line Leaks
Leaks in sewer or waterlines provides a
localized source of water that may lead
to localized foundation movements.
You can monitor water bills, get a leak
detection plumber to isolate and repair
leaks, and verify repairs with pressure
tests.
Gutter Down Spout
Concentrated sources of water may
lead to non-uniform foundation
movements. Extend discharge a
minimum of 3 feet from the foundation
and use splash blocks to avoid erosion
or use flexible discharge tubes.
Sprinkler Valves
Valves frequently leak and joints may leak with time, resulting in localized water sources which may
cause non-uniform foundation movements. These should be located at least 5 feet from the foundation
and inspect valves frequently.
A/C Unit Condensation
Concentrated sources of water from your air conditioning unit can result in non-uniform foundation
movements. Direct the discharge line to drip on a concrete pad or splash block which has been properly
sloped away from the foundation.
6 Contact Gibbons Basement for more information.

7. Related Sites
Foundation Repair Fulton, MO
Crawl Space Repair Columbia, MO
Crawl Space Repair Jefferson City, MO
Crawl Space Repair Fulton, MO
Blogs of Interest:
Missouri Foundation Repair Jeff City
Foundation Repair Jeff City MO
Foundation Repair Review - Jeff City MO
Jeff City Missouri Foundation Repair
Jeff City MO Foundation Repair Presentations
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