What type of soil does Danville, VA have?

The state soil of Virginia is Pamunkey soil. Pamunkey soil gets its name from the Pamunkey Indian Nation that lived alongside the river where the soil originated from. This soil type is characterized to have a sandy loam surface, but a sandy, clay loam subsoil underneath this surface. Because of this, the soil of Danville, VA has different characteristics that can affect the need for basement, crawl space, foundation, or concrete repairs. Unfortunately, the way that Pamunkey soil interacts with water makes it very likely that repairs or additional tools will be needed to maintain your home.

The sandy loam surface is the least problematic compared to the sandy clay subsurface. Sandy loam soil filters and drains water relatively well, making it one of the more ideal soils to work with. This is because sandy loam soil particles are finer in texture and much smaller compared to other soil particles. However, because the soil particles are so small, sandy loam soils are more likely to be eroded, or washed away, by water or wind. Since Danville, VA experiences high amounts of rain all throughout the year, soil erosion is likely to happen very frequently, resulting in many problems that will require expert contractors to inspect.

Sandy clay soil is entirely different from sandy loam soil. Clay soil particles are much larger in size and are unable to drain water through them very well. Additionally, in the presence of water, clay soil particles swell to double or triple their original size, which causes other soil particles within the vicinity to shift around. When soil shifts around, it weakens it immensely, ultimately altering its support capabilities for your home. The condition of your basement, crawl space, foundation, and your concrete will reflect this.