Is Red Clay Soil Good for Construction?

The red clay soil that is found through much of Northeast NC is iconic. It is rich, fertile, and has many strengths. Unfortunately, it can also present a number of challenges to homes and structures that are built on it, especially during the stormier seasons of the year. This is because clay soils are expansive and water reactive in nature, and can become quite unstable when they are extremely saturated or dehydrated. Of course, many parts of Northeast NC also have the state soil (Cecil soil) that is far less reactive, but also has some limitations and weaknesses.

In fact, almost all soil has some weaknesses to consider. This is why contractors often seek to build in areas that have balanced, mixed soil. While expansive soils can be strong, you see, they are changeable. Keeping them stable requires careful and consistent moisture management around a home. If the soil becomes very saturated, it will swell and become soft and marshy. This can lead to subsidence and even heaving in concrete surfaces and structures.

If the soil becomes very dehydrated, however, it will shrink and become brittle. While prolonged droughts are rare in Northeast NC, they can happen. When they do, the soil can recede and crack quite dramatically. This leads to an issue known as settlement, whereby a foundation fragments and sections of it fall into the voids left in the earth. This destabilizes a property, and when the drought breaks, it will let water seep into your home.