Photo source: cenews.com

Unless you’re a land developer or geologist, “swelling soils” might not be a term you have heard before or something that you are completely aware of. Being a homeowner or home buyer in Colorado it is crucial to understand what swelling soils are and what it can do to your home or surrounding foundations.

Swelling soils are soils that expand and contract, causing cracked or heaved driveways, sidewalks or basement walls. The cracks may only seem minor, but over time the soils can be potentially devastating to the home.

These swelling soils are made up of particular clay minerals and rocks that can expand by soaking up 15 times more water than they normally do. Not all soils expand to that great of an extent, but it’s easy to imagine the damage that can be done- which actually accounts for more than twice that from all other natural disasters in the US every year.

Colorado’s semi-arid climate is a prime place for swelling soils. In fact, “90% of Colorado’s population lives on the eastern plains or the valleys of the Western Slope, both of which are most likely underlain by swelling clays or shales.” (Coloradoan.com, 2015) To read more about the science behind swelling soils, click here.

Home buyers in Colorado need to be knowledgeable and prepared to tackle any issues regarding soil swelling. Make sure to always have any previous documentation or records of damages and any repairs prior to purchasing the home. We recommend to get a soil test performed. They can be somewhat expensive, but totally worth it! We recommend calling Terracon at (970) 484 0359.

Full article here: coloradoan.com/story/sponsor-story/burg-simpson/2015/10/28/homeowners-guide-swelling-soils