Repair My Foundation-A homeowner’s look at the options

Dr. Harry Williams, an associate geology professor at the University of North Texas says that too many new homes in the area are being built on soils that are poorly suited for housing development because of the high expansive clay content of the land. Texas could become “the possible leader in foundation repair.” Here’s the article:

DENTON (UNT), Texas — From 1990 to 2000, the Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced the greatest percentage population growth of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.To accommodate this population growth, the Dallas-Fort Worth region added 448 square miles of urban areas. In Denton County, urban areas grew from 158 square miles in 1990 to 197 square miles in 2000.Dr. Harry Williams, associate professor of geography at the University of North Texas, is exploring how urbanization pressures have resulted in housing construction on soils poorly suited for development. Williams’ research is described in his article “Urbanization Pressure Increases Potential for Soils-Related Hazards, Denton County, Texas.” The article is slated for publication in the international journal Environmental Geology in the fall 2003 issue.”There’s a lot of housing being developed on poorly-suited soils,” Williams said. “Unfortunately, many people will probably have foundation problems in the future.”Williams says 90 percent of soils underlying Frisco, Hebron, Little Elm and The Colony, located in the southeast corner of Denton County, are rated low to very low for urban suitability, because of expansive soils — soils that swell.”Expansive soils can damage foundations, pavements and pipelines, because hundreds of tons of pressure can develop in these soils as they absorb moisture.” Williams said.According to a 1982 Federal Emergency Management Agency report, expansive soils have caused billions of dollars of damage in the United States. Today, damage from expansive soils is more costly than damage caused by earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes combined.”Slab foundations, commonly found in single-family dwellings, are particularly vulnerable to expansive soil damage,” Williams said. “These foundations are used extensively in new housing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, because of lower construction costs.”

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University of North Texas News Service - Texas — current national leader in home construction, possible future leader in foundation repair

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