Foundation, crawl space and concrete leveling in North Augusta, SC

Troup is a deep soil that formed from old marine deposits of the Coastal Plain, usually found on ridges and hillsides. It is sandy for about the top four feet, and under that is yellowish red sandy clay loam. Loam is soil with a mix of sand, silt and clay. It drains quickly.

Vaucluse is a deep soil that formed from old marine and river deposits of the Coastal Plain, usually found on Coastal Plain terraces. Its top layer is sand with a little silt and clay, and under that is sandy loam. 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.

What It Means for Your Home

• What works in your favorTroup drains quickly, so the soil beside a foundation usually dries out after a storm.
• FoundationsWater moving through sand can carry soil out from under a footing or let it settle. Look for a settling foundation and cracks in the floor. See foundation repair.
• Crawl spacesRain soaks down through sandy ground, but humid summer air through open vents can still keep crawl space air damp, which can lead to musty odors and mold over time. Look for deteriorating insulation and higher energy bills. 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.
• ConcreteWater can wash sand out from under a slab and leave a hollow, and the concrete over it can crack and sink. Look for uneven slabs and a cracked garage floor. See concrete leveling.