Collapsible Soils

Collapsible soils are subject to changes in volume and settlement in response to wetting and drying, often resulting in severe damage to structures. This continuous change in soil volume can cause homes built on this soil to move unevenly and crack. Each year in the United States, expansive soils cause $2.3 billion in damage to houses, other buildings, roads, pipelines, and other structures. This is more than twice the damage from floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes combined.