Why Is My Soil Washing Away?

The erosion of soil throughout your yard is usually a process that takes thousands of years at a time, so why does it seem like soil is already pulling away from the perimeter of your home? The weather in your area may be contributing to some of your losses. However, there are other forces that can work against the integrity of your soil, including its mineral composition and the presence of other moving forces in your yard. 

Moisture and Your Soil 

Moisture is one of the forces that can have an immediate and noticeable impact on the quality of soil around the perimeter of your home. Heavy rain or snowmelt, for example, can drive loose soil away from the perimeter of your home while also exposing your concrete structures, foundation, basement, or crawl space to high levels of hydrostatic pressure. 

That’s why one of the best ways to determine whether or not you’re dealing with soil damage and related sinkage is to look for streams of water and dirt leading away from your home. You can rely on these conditions to let you know whether it’s your soil that’s causing problems for your home’s structural integrity or if the water in play has more of an influence over your concrete than you might have initially thought. 

Other Forces at Work in Your Yard 

That said, there are other forces that can do indirect or long-term damage to the overall structural integrity of your soil. Tree roots and animals can create hollows beneath your home that your concrete can then sink into. Similarly, certain types of soils in Missouri may have a mineral composition that makes them more prone to expansion and concrete damage. 

The soil around your home may also already be prone to damage if it’s fallen victim to the clay bowl effect. This effect sees the soil around your home grow loose in response to the work contractors had to do when initially laying concrete for your foundation. There’s no way to avoid triggering the clay bowl effect, but you can speak with area professionals to see if there aren’t ways to mitigate the damage this effect can have on your home.