Can I Change the Soil Underneath My Concrete?

Different kinds of soil have different swell-shrink capacities. Any soil that has 10% or more clay content is likely to swell and shrink very easily. This can lead to settling, which is why many site managers don’t like to use it. That said, there are a lot of benefits to using clay soil as a foundation, so it’s still widely used. 

Other soils like loam and sand shrink less than clay soil. Hearing this, you might want to change the soil underneath your concrete to one that has less of a chance to shrink.  

• Changing Your Soil 

It’s not recommended you change the soil your concrete rests upon. There are a lot of other solutions you can choose from that don’t involve altering your home’s foundation. It’s a very invasive process that requires many weeks to months, depending on the scale of the project. It’s also a very expensive process that should only be done when a home is severely settling. This is not to say it can’t be done, but it’s not the way to go when it comes to concrete settling due to shrinkage and compaction. 

If the structural integrity of your home is in good condition, but your concrete pavement is uneven or cracked, foundation repair is not necessary. The specific area that needs to be treated can be the focus of the operation when you call a contractor for concrete lifting. It’s a much more cost-effective, time-saving method than a complete change in foundation.  

• Other Methods 

So, if repairing the entire foundation under the sunken concrete is unnecessary, what other methods are there? The answer is concrete lifting. Concrete lifting fills the gap that’s formed under your concrete. It lifts up the sunken slab until it’s level with the rest of the pavement. There are two different concrete lifting methods used by contractors, and depending on the one you choose, it is a lifelong solution to concrete settling. 

It’s important that you don’t try any DIY methods to solve concrete settling. Repairing a structure so it’s stable is a very delicate job that needs to be left to the professionals. DIY may work for simple, minor fixes, but not for repairing concrete structures, especially those as important as the pavement you walk on.