I've watched almost all of your 363 videos, thanks so much. I'm thinking about buying one of your checklists on your website... Question, does this video apply at all for jungle regions? We have a lot of clay here. Typically it rains a lot, but sometimes we won't get rain for 2, maybe 3 weeks, is that enough time to consider it "too dry" where I should do this? My house that I'm about to build will be a slab on grade, 20 cm deep (7.87").
@DavidoBambino It depends if the clay in the jungle area is an expansive one. When it dries out do you see huge alligatoring cracks in what used to be mud puddles? Can you place the slab on a 10 cm deep layer of rounded gravel? Can you put steel rods in the slab every .75m on center both directions?
Wow. We are considering buying a house but are a little scared because of foundation cracks apparently caused by expansive clay soil. The previous occupant even removed two big trees which a geological engineer claimed were drying up the soil too much. What a pity! With just an augur and some gravel, two massive trees could have been saved. Seems like there's no shortage of people trying to make money off the miseries of home owners! Great solution.
@MissBondable Thanks! Yes, people just don't sometimes think of the obvious. If the soil is DRY, let's get it wet. If you need to deliver water deep into the soil, then let's create some tubes that readily deliver the water to the soil. Too bad I can't patent the idea. :->
Your videos has been very useful during our renovation. We had water seepage in our basement after any rainfall. Using your video for inspiration, I purchased a 2' long auger bit, the type used for planting bulbs, and attached it to a hammer/drill and made 2" diameter holes at roughly 2' intervals all around foundation. Next I filled up the holes with pea gravel. Next couple of rains, dry basement. 2' of snow and runoff, dry basement. A contractor wanted $4000 to build a drain.
@Tboom49 Thanks a ton. You can help me by spreading the word to all you know about the videos and my AsktheBuilder website. I NEED traffic to keep all these things up here for free.
It would seem that the same approach could be used to get water down under the clay layer to get to the roots of trees. Where can I get such an auger? I have looked at Home Depot, Lowes and Ace Hardware but with absolutely no luck. Web searches point only to powered augers and post hole diggers.
Nobody should have to "water" any type of foundation. Chances are you'll cause more problems than anything else. I'm sure that this person is well intended but most geologists have no clue about foundations. If you have problems, consult a geotechnical engineer.
Thanks for the comment, but it's pretty obvious that you've no experience with expansive clay soils. I suggest that you Google the term and do some reading. In a perfect world you shouldn't have to water a foundation. Trouble is there are too many builders who don't construct them to resist the soil movement.
i'm buying a house in an area with reactive clay soil.. it has movement and once of the corners looks like its sinking slightly due to stress fractures in the brick work..
we have had drought the last few years so this could be why..
i'm just wondering if after a few days of good rain the soil would expand again and close up the cracks.
You can affect the soil in a positive way by adding water, but if you add to much it can actually heave it upward and cause other problems, wouldn't you agree that the best way to fix the problem is by getting out of the zone of influence or soil directly affected by moisture content change. Also you can oversaturate soil the point where it is no longer a solid. Your video doesn't mention either of these facts.
I think you missed the message in the video. The intent is to use my system to keep the soil at a constant moisture content so it is stable - neither expanding nor contracting.
that is the dumbest video ever, what happens if you over water it and it the plasticity index oversaturated, it will turn your house into a sinkhole. Hope no one really tries this.
Did I fail to mention in the video my degree is in Geology? My advice is 100% accurate. Next time before you comment, you should talk with a soil engineer or a geologist.
Cool information, we in south texas have almost limestone everywere but it is cool to learn about this you never know were we might move and incounter foundation problems...
I don't underdstand why you want to keep the soil around your foundation wet. I thought wet soil around a foundation can cause a section of your house to oversettle..
Early in the video I said quickly that if expansive soils dry out, they shrink and *fall*. That causes the damage to your home. If you keep an expansive soil moist, it is in a state of dynamic equilibrium and stays the same volume. This is what you want, not a soil that moves up and down with changes in moisture content.
I've watched almost all of your 363 videos, thanks so much. I'm thinking about buying one of your checklists on your website... Question, does this video apply at all for jungle regions? We have a lot of clay here. Typically it rains a lot, but sometimes we won't get rain for 2, maybe 3 weeks, is that enough time to consider it "too dry" where I should do this? My house that I'm about to build will be a slab on grade, 20 cm deep (7.87").
DavidoBambino 4 weeks ago
@DavidoBambino It depends if the clay in the jungle area is an expansive one. When it dries out do you see huge alligatoring cracks in what used to be mud puddles? Can you place the slab on a 10 cm deep layer of rounded gravel? Can you put steel rods in the slab every .75m on center both directions?
AsktheBuilder 4 weeks ago
Wow. We are considering buying a house but are a little scared because of foundation cracks apparently caused by expansive clay soil. The previous occupant even removed two big trees which a geological engineer claimed were drying up the soil too much. What a pity! With just an augur and some gravel, two massive trees could have been saved. Seems like there's no shortage of people trying to make money off the miseries of home owners! Great solution.
MissBondable 10 months ago
@MissBondable Thanks! Yes, people just don't sometimes think of the obvious. If the soil is DRY, let's get it wet. If you need to deliver water deep into the soil, then let's create some tubes that readily deliver the water to the soil. Too bad I can't patent the idea. :->
AsktheBuilder 10 months ago
Your videos has been very useful during our renovation. We had water seepage in our basement after any rainfall. Using your video for inspiration, I purchased a 2' long auger bit, the type used for planting bulbs, and attached it to a hammer/drill and made 2" diameter holes at roughly 2' intervals all around foundation. Next I filled up the holes with pea gravel. Next couple of rains, dry basement. 2' of snow and runoff, dry basement. A contractor wanted $4000 to build a drain.
Tboom49 1 year ago
@Tboom49 Thanks a ton. You can help me by spreading the word to all you know about the videos and my AsktheBuilder website. I NEED traffic to keep all these things up here for free.
AsktheBuilder 1 year ago
It would seem that the same approach could be used to get water down under the clay layer to get to the roots of trees. Where can I get such an auger? I have looked at Home Depot, Lowes and Ace Hardware but with absolutely no luck. Web searches point only to powered augers and post hole diggers.
rgrams1 1 year ago
this seems like a very genius....procedure. I imagine that all those tiny rocks redirect the water to different areas of the soil....
DreHectik 2 years ago
The rocks are a great conduit. These vertical tubes simply expose more surface area for water to soak into the subsoil.
AsktheBuilder 2 years ago
Nobody should have to "water" any type of foundation. Chances are you'll cause more problems than anything else. I'm sure that this person is well intended but most geologists have no clue about foundations. If you have problems, consult a geotechnical engineer.
xapc2 2 years ago
Thanks for the comment, but it's pretty obvious that you've no experience with expansive clay soils. I suggest that you Google the term and do some reading. In a perfect world you shouldn't have to water a foundation. Trouble is there are too many builders who don't construct them to resist the soil movement.
AsktheBuilder 2 years ago
i'm buying a house in an area with reactive clay soil.. it has movement and once of the corners looks like its sinking slightly due to stress fractures in the brick work..
we have had drought the last few years so this could be why..
i'm just wondering if after a few days of good rain the soil would expand again and close up the cracks.
2Shye 3 years ago
It might. Why not do what I show in the video to experiment?
AsktheBuilder 3 years ago
I think I will give it a go and take time lapse photos to see what happens.
how long do you think it will take for the clay to soak up all the water..
2Shye 3 years ago
Days for sure.
AsktheBuilder 3 years ago
You can affect the soil in a positive way by adding water, but if you add to much it can actually heave it upward and cause other problems, wouldn't you agree that the best way to fix the problem is by getting out of the zone of influence or soil directly affected by moisture content change. Also you can oversaturate soil the point where it is no longer a solid. Your video doesn't mention either of these facts.
nickf06gli 3 years ago
Nick,
I think you missed the message in the video. The intent is to use my system to keep the soil at a constant moisture content so it is stable - neither expanding nor contracting.
AsktheBuilder 3 years ago
that is the dumbest video ever, what happens if you over water it and it the plasticity index oversaturated, it will turn your house into a sinkhole. Hope no one really tries this.
nickf06gli 3 years ago
Nick,
Did I fail to mention in the video my degree is in Geology? My advice is 100% accurate. Next time before you comment, you should talk with a soil engineer or a geologist.
AsktheBuilder 3 years ago
Clays can expand and contract with moisture content.
VentusConsulting 4 years ago
Cool information, we in south texas have almost limestone everywere but it is cool to learn about this you never know were we might move and incounter foundation problems...
7501234 4 years ago
I don't underdstand why you want to keep the soil around your foundation wet. I thought wet soil around a foundation can cause a section of your house to oversettle..
steppinthrax 4 years ago
Early in the video I said quickly that if expansive soils dry out, they shrink and *fall*. That causes the damage to your home. If you keep an expansive soil moist, it is in a state of dynamic equilibrium and stays the same volume. This is what you want, not a soil that moves up and down with changes in moisture content.
AsktheBuilder 4 years ago
Sandy soils usually are not a problem. The worst expansive soils are deep-clay soils. Google "Expansive Clay soils" and read up on them.
AsktheBuilder 4 years ago