Wharton’s geography, geology and climate all conspire to create a high degree of soil instability creating home foundation repair problems and concrete slab repair leveling a common occurrence. Wharton is located in Wharton County and southwest of Houston, Texas.
For more information about Dawson Foundation Repair’s Wharton services, see the following:
· Request a free, no obligation FREE* foundation inspection in Wharton, Texas
· Browse and compare the foundation repair methods commonly used in Wharton, Texas
· See a step-by-step walkthrough of the foundation repair process
Wharton Soil Characteristics As They Affect Foundation Repair
Wharton is located on the Gulf Coastal Plain and its main characteristic is its flatness. The land surface of the Wharton area is unconsolidated clays, clay shales, and poorly cemented sands. These soils were developed from river deposits formed from the erosion of the Rocky Mountains over many thousands of years. These sediments consist of a series of sands and clays which were deposited on decaying organic matter. The result is that today the plasticity of the soil (a rating which designates how much soil shrinks or swells with changes in moisture) is very high.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, in cooperation with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station issued an extensive report about the soils in the Wharton area. Engineers and other technically inclined individuals may want to read the report in full. One part dealing with nearby Harris County appears on page 63 of the report:
Foundations
Special attention needs to be given to the soils in determining if a site is suitable for foundations. In Harris County, some of the soils are montmorillonitic clay, which swells when wet and shrinks and cracks when dry. The pressure can be so great that walls and foundations crack even when specially reinforced. Damage because of shrink-swell potential is most likely to occur on Beaumont, Lake Charles, and Vamont soils. Other soils that have montmorillonitic clay in the lower layers are Bernard, Edna, Harris, Ijam, Kaman, and Midland soils. Other limitations to the use of soils for foundations are flooding, ponding, poor drainage, low strength, and high corrosivity.
If you are in the Greater area and would like to take a detailed look at the soil in your neighborhood, consider looking at the United States Department of Agriculture’s Soil Survey Tool. It will 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, you may utilize a tutorial on how to use the Soil Survey Tool that we have compiled.
Climate Influences On Home Foundation Repair In Wharton
Wharton’s climate is classified as humid subtropical with average high temperatures during the summer of 93°F. However, the humidity results in a heat index that can be 10-15° higher than the actual temperature. Winters in Wharton are fairly mild and temperate with an average low of 45 °F (5 °C) in January. Wharton receives about 48 inches of rain per year and it is fairly evenly distributed during the year. June usually receives the greatest amount of rain averaging 6.8 inches per year.
Service Areas For Home Foundation Repair In Wharton, Texas
Dawson Foundation Repair will provide FREE* home foundation repair inspections and estimates for the Wharton, TX area.
*free for homes NOT involved in real estate transactions