Foundation, crawl space and concrete leveling in High Point, NC

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. Loam is soil with a mix of sand, silt and clay. It drains well, and the USDA rates it moderate for swelling and shrinking, which means it swells noticeably when it gets wet and shrinks as it dries.

Vance is a moderately deep soil that formed in place as pale rock such as granite and gneiss beneath it weathered. Soft, weathered rock lies a few feet down, and hard bedrock lies much deeper. Its top layer is sandy loam, and under that is yellowish brown clay. It drains well.

What It Means for Your Home

• What works in your favorMecklenburg 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 doors and windows that stick, and cracks in drywall. 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 sagging floor joists and rotted floor 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.