Differential Movement
Differential movement in one form or another is the base cause of almost all
foundation failures. What this means is that there is movement of the soil beneath
your foundation but the movement is not even. There is more movement in some
areas than in others. In some cases it can even be movement in one direction
in some areas, and movement in the opposite direction in others.
If the movement were completely consistent throughout then there would not be a
problem unless, of course, the movement were extreme. I mention this to illustrate
why differential movement causes the damage.
To my knowledge I have never seen movement that was completely
consistent across an entire foundation. But then how would you know? It would have
to move a significant amount in order to even be measurable.
Workmanship and Materials
The soil may not have been compacted properly or organic material may have
been mixed in with the fill dirt. Organic material tends to rot over time
leaving voids.
While poor workmanship and inferior materials in the building of the foundation can
contribute to the problem, it is still differential movement is the cause the problem.
If the soil beneath the foundation were totally stable then it could not possibly move.
Causes of Differential Movement
So what are the possible causes? As mentioned above poor workmanship and materials
can be potential causes. Soils with a high clay content like the soil we have in much
of Texas is affected by moisture and/or the lack thereof more than any other factor.
As the moisture content of clay based soil increases it causes the total volume of the
soil to also increase. As the soil becomes drier it shrinks. These two factors working
together, or should I say working against each other are usually the root cause of
movement.
You will find articles on this site that go into more detail on
Differential Movement and Soil Moisture Content.
They cover these topics in greater detail and can help you to
understand what may be happening with your foundation.
You should educate yourself before you talk to a foundation repair salesperson. Knowing
or not knowing what is causing your problem and how to fix it can mean the difference
between getting exactly what you need for a fair price of getting ripped off.
Need Help?
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Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin and surrounding areas.
I can help you save money and avoid making costly mistakes. My service fee
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