LandAmerica

Expansive Soils are soils that expand or swell and are known by geologists as soils with a “shrink/swell potential”. Shrink/swells refer to the extent to which a soil shrinks as it dries out or swells when it gets wet. These soils typically have a certain content of expansive clay which will determine the extent of shrinking and swelling.

Soils in Arizona present a number of hazards to homeowners. Cracking of foundations, walls, driveways, and swimming pools costs millions of dollars each year in repairs. Serve or recurring damage can lower the value of a house property. Expansive (shrink/swell) soils and collapsing soils cause the most problem in Arizona.

For information about expansive soils in this report, contact the: Natural Resources Conversation Service, (602) 280-8801 or http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/technicalsoils/shrinkswell.html

Source: Natural Resources Conversation Service