Foundation, crawl space and concrete leveling in Gastonia, NC

Cecil 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 red clay. Loam is soil with a mix of sand, silt and clay. It drains well, and the USDA rates it low for swelling and shrinking, which means it changes size very little as it gets wet and dries out.

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, and the USDA rates it low for swelling and shrinking, which means it changes size very little as it gets wet and dries out.

What It Means for Your Home

• What works in your favorCecil drains well, so the soil beside a foundation usually dries out after a storm. It also changes size very little as it wets and dries, so the ground under the footings stays steady from season to season.
• FoundationsWater that collects against a foundation can keep the clay there soft, and soft clay can let a footing settle. Look for uneven floors and a settling foundation. 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 higher energy bills and moisture in the crawl space. See crawl space repair and crawl space encapsulation.
• Floor framingDamp air under a house can rot and weaken joists and beams over time, which can show up as sagging or bouncy floors. Look for broken or cracked joists, and sagging floor joists. See framing repair.
• ConcreteSoftened clay where runoff collects can let part of a slab sink. Look for a cracked garage floor and uneven slabs. See concrete leveling.