Texas Drought Warning
Drought conditions can threaten a home’s foundation by causing soil to shrink beyond the tolerances it was designed for. For more information about how to limit the damage low rainfall can cause to your home’s foundation, check out our free tips. If you suspect your foundation is in need of repair, contact us for a free inspection today!
Austin’s annual rainfall is currently 11 inches below average. Due to the extreme conditions, burn bans have been issued for Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, hays, Lee, Travis, and Williamson counties and the national weather service has prepared a drought statement and a recent review of the weather conditions.
For more information, visit the US Drought Monitor at http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html
Austin Soil Conditions
In Austin there is a wide variety of soils including loam, clay, and gravel. There are occasional areas with rocky deposits. In general the soil in Austin has a moderate plasticity, meaning that soils expand and contract in relatively small amounts, but there are pockets of high to extreme plasticity in places. Overall, Austin is one of the more stable areas in Texas.
If you would like to take a detailed look at the soil in your neighbourhood, consider looking at the United States Department of Agriculture’s Soil Survey Tool. It can give you an in-depth look at exactly what type of soil your home sits on and the characteristics one can expect from soils of that type.
For your convenience, we have compiled a tutorial on how to use the Soil Survey Tool which you can read by clicking here.