Soils and Foundations
Click here to find more information about the Amherst Soils Study on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website. We are planning in the near future to make available information appropriate to local conditions. Until such information is available the following links may be useful:
Colorado Geological Survey: A Guide to Swelling Soils
Why Foundations Fail: A plain language explanation from Bob Vila on why foundations may fail.
Soil: The Other Half of the Foundation: An article from Fine Home Building on how foundations are affected by soils.
Fairfax County Virginia
Fairfax County Virginia has experienced problems with a type of clay (called Marine Clay) that can behave similar to the soils in parts of Amherst. The section on HOMEOWNER PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE is of particular interest.
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Technical Manual TM 5-818-7 Foundations in Expansive Soils
This manual presents guidance and information for the geotechnical investigation necessary for the selection and design of foundations for heavy and light military-type buildings constructed in expansive clay soil areas. The information in this manual is generally applicable to many types of structures such as residences, warehouses, and multistory buildings. Emphasis is given to the maintenance of an environment that encourages constant moisture conditions in the foundation soils during and following construction.
Canadian Building Digest
A number of free publications available for download.
Soils and Buildings CBD-3
Soil Testing CBD-43
Trees and Buildings CBD-62
Swelling and Shrinking Subsoils CBD-84
Foundation Movements CBD-148
Frost Action and Foundations CBD-182
Foundations on Swelling or Shrinking Subsoils
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Interaction Between Trees, Sensitive Clay Soils and Your Foundation
Some background information on sensitive clay soils, why problems can sometimes occur, also provided are some tips for what you can do to minimize potential problems.
ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers)
This group has available for purchase a number of publications on soils & foundations.
So Your Home Is Built on Expansive Soils
The purpose of this book is to assist homeowners in understanding why expansive soils shrink and heave and how excessive shrinking and heaving can be moderated. It also attempts to define the difference between cosmetic damage and structural damage resulting from expansive soil movement.
The Day the House Fell
Homeowner Soil Problems from Landslides to Expansive Clays and Wet Basements
Richard L. Handy
This is a book on soils and how they support hillsides, walls, streets, and houses. It covers such topics as landslides, expansive soils, quicksand and collapsible soils.
Has Your House Got Cracks?
A Guide to Subsidence and Heave of Building on Clay
T.J. Freeman and G.S. Littlejohn
Expansive Clay Soils and Vegetative Influences on Shallow Foundations
Proceedings of the Geo-Institute Shallow Foundation and Soil Properties Committee Sessions at the ASCE Annual Convention held in Houston, Texas, October 10-14, 2001
C. Vipulanandan, Michael Hasen, and Marshall B. Addison
This proceedings is a collection of 14 papers discussing the effects of trees and moisture movements on various lightly loaded foundations on expansive clays.
Link to ASCE Texas Section Recommended Practice for the Design of Residential Foundations
The Texas Cooperative Extension Service
Maintenance of Existing Foundations on Expansive Clay Soils
(cost $2.00)
Contains information on the effects of certain clay soils on structures. | 
