House Foundation Issues in Dallas (new home, buy, to live)

[AZtoTX]

I have been reading a bit here about the clay soils in the Dallas area and the tendancies for shifting and settling of foundations over time. It seems to be a common problem. Repairs involve something to do with steel piers. And naturally, it is not cheap.

Can anyone tell me if there are certain areas within DFW that are more prone to this problem than others? Also, can anyone explain what exactly is done to reapir a foundation problem?

Thanks in advance.

[GoPadge]

I know there are some areas that are not a prone to foundation shifts, but then there in areas where you don't want to live.

[socketz]

I've heard rumors about certain developments in certain areas having problems, but to think it is a widespread problem may be extreme.

The soil is pretty consistently the same throughout the DFW area.

Also, if you buy new homes from a reputable builer, they lay the foundation with stell cables going through the center and exiting the sides. I beleive these make repairs much simpler if you do develop a problem.

[cdelena]

Much of DFW has a heavy clay soil that expands and contracts with moisture so foundations are affected. Problems are minimized if moisture levels are kept in a reasonable range. Overbuilding the foundation can eliminate the issue but at high cost. Homes built on solid limestone (in the white rock areas) do not move, but gardening is a challenge.