Foundation Solutions » Why Foundations Fail » Sandy Soil

Sandy Soil

A foundation built on sandy soil is bound to fail.

There is too much working against the soil to enable it to be a good support for the foundation. An ideal soil for a foundation to build on will be something sturdy that will resist shifting and will not be subject to effects from compacting and expanding. Sandy soil simply fails in all these areas.

That is why a foundation built on sandy soil is doomed to fail. 

Gravity

Sand is especially vulnerable to gravity. If the area is not completely flat then gravity will come into play over time.

The sandy soil will shift and move as gravity pulls it. For a house built on any type of uneven surface, the sandy soil will be drawn down.

It will either slip from underneath the foundation or it will build up against the foundation walls and put excessive pressure on them.

 The situation gets even worse when water is added to the equation. As sandy soil soaks up the water, it becomes like a concrete mud that will really slip and slide from under the foundation, leaving the foundation weak.  

Expansion and Contraction

Expansion and contraction is what happens when soil soaks up water and then dries out. Sand is very vulnerable to expansion and contraction. Sandy soils will soak up water like a sponge, but when it dries out the soil will shrink. This constant expansion and contraction takes a toll on the foundation. It moves the foundation and it shifts it.

The foundation starts to settle and eventually the foundation shows sign of wear. Expansion and contraction can occur in almost any climate. Snow, rain, extreme heat and even frost will lead to the conditions necessary for expansion and contraction.

Collapse

Sandy soil is quite weak. It is subject to collapsing. It can get air pockets in it and that causes a collapse in the soil. This can leave large sink holes under the foundation which are just setting the foundation up to fail.

Collapsing can happen as a result of soil washing away or as a result of shifts in the soil. It is very dangerous as a huge sink hole can cause a major failure in the foundation.

Preventing Sandy Soil Problems

Obviously the best way to prevent problems with sandy soil is to not build a foundation on it.

This is not always possible so the next best thing is to provide some type of stability to the soil through using other soil or different building tactics to stabilize the soil. However, if your home is already built and you are having issues with sandy soil, then you will have to get your foundation repaired and have repairs done so the problems do not occur again in the future.

 This is a major job and something that should be left to the professionals.

Your home’s foundation is very important and you should not try to tackle foundation on your own.

A professional will know exactly what needs to be done, have the equipment to do it and know the proper techniques to minimize damage to your home and fix the problem for good.

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