Causes of Failure

Foundation failure may occur due to a variety of causes. Sometimes root expansion can shift a foundation off its footings. Soil composition, moisture levels and settlement are contributing factors. Fill soil that is washed away or that swells due to plumbing leaks or other sources of excess moisture can cause shifting, instability and cracking in your foundation. Drought, freezing and extreme temperature changes are also concerns.

Other Causes

• Cut and fill land development
• Water run-off
• Moisture trapped by flowerbeds
• Water ponding
• Low-density soils
• Under-compacted fill
• Negative drainage or plumbing leaks
• Construction when soil was dry and it heaved later
• Rebound—cut hillside relieves overburden pressure and exposes dry, dense soil
• Settlement—drying clays shrink at different rates causing foundation failure
• Subsurface hydrostatic Liquefaction—when fill soil is dumped over an old, wet-weather stream or hillside seep. The under layers become saturated, liquefy and flow from under the upper layers.
• Total collapse of surface soils—caused by saturation, deforestation and removal of support soils at the toe of the hillside.

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For information on other educational items, please choose from the list below.
Warning Signs of Foundation Failure
How Soil Affects Building
Preventative Maintenance
Before You Build
What to Expect From a Foundation Contractor