Foundation, crawl space and concrete leveling in Concord, NC

Iredell is a soil that formed in place as darker rock rich in iron and magnesium beneath it weathered, usually found on Piedmont uplands. Its top layer is sandy loam, and under that is brown clay. Loam is soil with a mix of sand, silt and clay. It drains a little slowly, so it can stay wet for short periods in a wet season.

Mecklenburg is a deep soil that formed in place as darker rock rich in iron and magnesium beneath it weathered, usually found on ridges and hillsides. Its top layer is loam, and under that is yellowish red clay. It drains well.

What It Means for Your Home

• 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 cracks in drywall and bowing walls. See foundation repair.
• Crawl spacesClay stays damp after long rains and adds moisture to the air under a house, which can lead to musty odors, mold and wood rot over time. Look for sagging floors and deteriorating insulation. 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 a cracked driveway and raised slab edges you can trip on. See concrete leveling.