Soil Conditions and Foundation Repairs


Nothing impacts a foundation more than the soil that surrounds it. In the Kansas City area, clay is the most common makeup of the soil. Clay is very susceptible to moisture content. In drought soil conditions, clay will dry out and shrink, letting the foundation sink. Conversely, if there are periods of heavy rains or large snow melts, the clay will absorb the moisture, expanding. This expanding soil will put pressure on concrete slabs and foundation walls, leading to cracked floors or leaning or bowing walls.
soil conditions Kansas City

Trees can also impact the soil around your home. If a tree is too close to one side of your house, it can drastically impact your foundation. The tree’s roots will seek out water and possibly dry out one side of your home, allowing the foundation to sink unevenly. The same goes for flowerbeds and gardens.  If they are too close to the foundation, they can either draw moisture out of the soil. The uneven moisture content of the clay can cause your foundation to crack or otherwise be damaged.

If you are building a new home, you should try to avoid building on clay. Counties have soil survey information and you will be able to tell what is going on with the ground in that location. If you cannot avoid building on poor soil, there are construction options available to help combat foundation damage from fluctuating soil. If your home is already built, you can hire Pro Foundation Tech to stabilize your foundation or support your leaning walls.

Solutions for Poor Soil Conditions & Foundation Damage

There are obvious signs of foundation damage that you can keep an eye out for, such as:

  • Cracks in concrete floors
  • Sticking doors and windows
  • Gaps in trim or baseboards
  • Cracks extending from corners of doors or windows

If you suspect your home may be a victim of foundation damage, contact us as soon as possible. We’ll use the quality repair products from Earth Contact Products, a leader in the foundation repair industry. We can install heavy-duty push piers to permanently stabilize your home at its original position. Helical piers are used if the structure is lighter, or there is an unstable rock base.

When the problem is a leaning or bowing wall, helical tiebacks are installed. These anchors go through the wall, connected to anchor plates and into the supporting soil, giving the foundation some much-needed stability.

Contact our professionals if you need service in Raytown, Overland Park, Columbia, or the Kansas City area.