Foundation, crawl space and concrete leveling in Chapel Hill, NC

Appling is a deep soil that formed in place as pale rock such as granite and gneiss beneath it weathered, usually found on ridges and hillsides. Its top layer is sandy loam, and under that is strong brown clay. Loam is soil with a mix of sand, silt and clay. It drains well.

Chewacla is a deep soil that formed from sediment laid down by streams, usually found on stream flood plains. Its top layer is loam, and under that is dark yellowish brown clay loam. It stays wet near the surface for part of the year.

What It Means for Your Home

• What works in your favorAppling drains well, so the soil beside a foundation usually dries out after a storm.
• FoundationsClay in this ground can push on a foundation in wet months and pull back in dry ones, and over time that can crack walls and let part of a house settle. Look for cracked block foundation walls, and cracks that step up through brick or block. See foundation repair.
• Crawl spacesEven soil that drains well can stay wet where roof runoff collects, and the ground still adds moisture to the air under a house, which can lead to musty odors, mold and wood rot over time. Look for deteriorating insulation and higher energy bills. See crawl space repair and crawl space encapsulation.
• Floor framingWhen the ground under the piers shifts, the beams and joists above can move out of level, and damp air can soften the wood. Look for rotted floor joists, and broken or cracked joists. See framing repair.
• ConcreteClay that swells and shrinks can lift and drop driveways, walks and patios unevenly. Look for uneven slabs and a cracked driveway. See concrete leveling.