MORAN CONSTRUCTION, INC.

https://www.ramjack.com/west-virginia/

https://www.google.com/maps?cid=17123536080225301673

417 Virginia Street Marietta OH 45750

(740) 444-4773

The ground under your home might seem like the least of your concerns, but it plays a major role in how well your foundation holds up. When the soil shifts, expands or settles unevenly, it can lead to serious foundation issues that catch homeowners off guard.

Read on as we walk you through how soil types and layers influence your home’s structure. You’ll also see how Ram Jack approaches these challenges with engineered repair strategies designed for real-world soil conditions.

Although most people think of soil as just dirt, it’s actually a mixture of minerals, moisture, organic materials, and tiny air pockets. Since the balance of these ingredients varies from one place to another, soil can behave quite differently depending on where your home is built.

Some soils shift or wash out when exposed to water, while others expand and contract as moisture levels change. When clay becomes wet, it swells and presses on anything above it. But, once it dries out, it tends to shrink, which often causes the ground to settle unevenly. Sandy soils, by contrast, allow water to drain quickly, although they can lose their strength unless they’re packed tightly.

Because each of these conditions can lead to movement under your home, it’s important to understand what kind of soil you’re dealing with, especially if you’re starting to see signs of foundation trouble.

Common Soil Types and Their Impact on Foundations

Each type of soil has its own set of challenges. While some can support a home reasonably well, others create conditions that may put your foundation at risk. Here’s a quick overview of the most common foundation soil types and how they typically behave:

• Peat. This soil is soft and holds a lot of moisture, which means it compresses easily and is usually a poor choice for foundation support.
• Clay. Known for holding water, clay expands when wet and shrinks when dry, creating movement in the ground over time.
• Silt. While smooth in texture, silt retains moisture and drains poorly, which often leads to pressure building against the foundation.
• Sand and Gravel. These types drain well and, when compacted correctly, can offer decent support, although they may shift or erode when saturated.
• Loam. A balanced mix of clay, silt, and sand, loam offers moderate drainage and structure, making it better suited for supporting foundations.
• Rock. Soils containing bedrock or other hard formations tend to provide the strongest support, especially when the surface is compact and relatively even.

Although each soil has its own pros and cons, knowing what’s under your home helps you understand the risks and plan for better support if needed.

How Soil Layers Beneath Your Home Impact Foundation Support

Soil isn’t just one consistent material from the surface down. In fact, it’s made up of layers, often referred to as soil horizons. Each layer offers different characteristics in terms of strength and drainage.

The A-horizon, also called topsoil, is rich in organic material. While great for growing plants, it’s not dense enough to support a structure. Beneath that is the B-horizon, or subsoil, which contains minerals and compacted material. Sometimes, this layer can handle the weight of a foundation, although that depends on the location and soil type. At the bottom is the C-horizon, which sits just above the bedrock.

Since this layer consists of rock fragments and less organic material, it tends to be stronger and more resistant to movement. If your foundation rests mostly on weaker upper layers, you may eventually notice signs of stress around your home.

Signs of Foundation Issues Caused by Soil Conditions

Foundation problems often start small, and since they show up gradually, it’s easy to miss them. If the soil beneath your home is shifting or settling unevenly, though, you’ll likely see a few telltale signs. Keep an eye out for:

• Cracks in drywall, ceilings, or brick
• Doors and windows that start to stick or fall out of alignment
• Floors that feel uneven when you walk across them
• Gaps where walls meet the ceiling or floor
• Water is collecting around the foundation after a storm

These problems don’t always mean you’re facing major structural damage, but they usually point to soil movement that’s affecting your foundation. If any of these types of symptoms recur or escalate, it’s a good idea to get a professional evaluation before the damage gets worse.

How Ram Jack Helps Homeowners Solve Foundation Problems

At Ram Jack, we don’t believe in quick patches. Every property has different soil conditions, construction history, and stress points, which is why we create repair plans based on what’s actually happening beneath your home. Our approach starts with a thorough evaluation so we can recommend solutions that make sense for your foundation and its environment.

One of our most reliable options involves installing deep-driven steel piles that help transfer your home’s load to stronger soil layers below. We may also support targeted areas of the foundation to reduce settlement, improve floor slope in affected rooms, or ease issues like doors and windows that have shifted out of place.

In other situations, especially when there’s side-to-side soil pressure, we may recommend helical anchors to help reduce lateral movement. If drainage or moisture plays a role in the problem, we can address that, too. No matter the solution we recommend for your foundation issue, we focus on delivering results backed by engineering insight, clear communication, and a lifetime limited transferable warranty coverage.

Choose Ram Jack for Soil-Smart Foundation Support

While signs like wall cracks or uneven floors are easy to notice, the underlying problem is often tied to the soil your home was built on. That’s why it’s important to work with a team that understands how to evaluate and respond to changing ground conditions.

Ram Jack has spent more than 40 years helping homeowners respond to these conditions. We use steel pile systems that are designed for real-world soil behavior, and every plan we build is based on hands-on experience. If you’re looking for insights on how to prevent foundation damage, we’re the team to call.