How Your Home’s Location Impacts Its Foundation
If you’ve ever explored the real estate market for a home to buy or rent, you know that location is extremely important. While factors like your commute to work, proximity to busy streets and what kind of neighborhood you want to live in are probably the first things to come to mind, it’s also essential to understand how the ground beneath your feet can affect the building’s structure.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the most common types of terrain (specifically in Oklahoma) and what they mean for a house’s foundation. Whether you’re searching for a new place or keeping your current one in shape, these considerations can help you make decisions about your home with confidence.
Why Geography Matters
In residential construction, the composition of the land upon which a structure is built directly influences how the foundation is installed and cared for. Different types of soil and rock formations beneath the site require different measures to be taken.
If the soil is soft and moist for example, extra support may be required to ensure structural integrity. On the other hand, rocky terrains may require drilling or blasting to smooth out the area and clear the way for construction.
From the Pacific Coast to the Appalachian Highlands, there are many different types of terrains and geological features across the country. Each of these unique regions require special considerations when building a home.
Oklahoma’s Regions and Terrains
Oklahoma may not be the largest state in the country, but it’s more geographically diverse than you might think. Building methods that work in one part of the state may not be suitable for another, and it’s important to understand the difference before investing in construction or repair.
Below, we’ve laid out the primary geographic regions of Oklahoma and what you need to know about their impacts on a home’s structure.
Northeast Oklahoma (Green Country)
Oklahoma’s Northeast region is home to Tulsa, the state’s second-largest city, and extends to the borders of Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. This area is known for its dense foliage and rolling hills, with the wooded Ozark Mountains and their foothills covering most of the region.
Slopes and hills can present challenges to a home’s stability and often require extra support in the form of raised foundations. Due to its forested features, residents in this area should also watch out for tree roots growing through any cracks in the foundation, as they can cause further damage over time if not removed.
Southeastern Oklahoma
Southeastern Oklahoma is even more densely forested and more hilly than the Northeast region, containing most of the Ouachita and Arbuckle mountain ranges as well as the Ouachita National Forest.
Just like its northern neighbor, homes in this area may require foundations with additional structural support. Erosion around a home’s foundation in Southeastern Oklahoma is a consistent point of consideration as soil, rock and debris are pushed around by the region’s high winds and heavy rains.
Central Oklahoma
Central Oklahoma contains the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area and acts as a buffer between the state’s eastern forests and western plains. Dominated largely by the Cross Timbers, an area of blended forestry and prairie patches, the region experiences extreme fluctuations in rainfall and temperature.
These dry and wet patterns converging can lead to severe weather, making Central Oklahoma the heart of Tornado Alley. In these instances, your foundation could experience damage from flooding, hail or intense wind.
South Central Oklahoma
This region of the state is characterized by the Arbuckle Mountains, featuring relatively high elevations and lakes shaped by the mountain range’s uneven topography.
As in Northeast and Southeastern Oklahoma, piers, proper drainage and other reinforcements can help keep your foundation strong.
Southwest Oklahoma
This portion of Oklahoma is made up of grassland and small hills. It’s also less dry than the rest of the Great Plains, often seeing significant rainfall in the Spring followed by droughts in other parts of the year.
Because much of this area consists of flat prairies, erosion is less of a concern. However, tall grasses can retain moisture, which seeps down into the soil beneath your house and potentially cause cracks or shifts. To prevent this, keep grass about 6–12 inches away from the base of your house and trim it regularly.
Northwest Oklahoma and the Panhandle
The northwestern region of our state contains both dry, flat land as well as mesas and mountain ranges. This combination of scattered peaks, canyons and grasslands distinguishes the area from other parts of the state.
Dry land can be problematic for your foundation when a lack of moisture causes soil to shrink and draw away from your home. This can lead to uneven settling and potentially cause cracks to form.
In soil with high clay content, as is the case in Oklahoma, shrinkage can be even more of an issue. This is because clay holds extra moisture, which causes it to swell up against the base of a house. Cracking and shrinking is then more dramatic due to the initial water content.
How to Protect Your Foundation
When the land beneath you starts to fight back against your foundation, there are several measures you can take to keep your home safe. Some are easy DIY projects you can take on alone, while others require some professional backup.
What You Can Do
To fight against erosion, another common problem in hilly or mountainous landscapes, you can provide a layer of protection with mulch and erosion control blankets.
In the event of flooding or severe weather, it’s important to direct water away from your foundation by keeping gutters clean. You may also consider getting an extended downspout and additional drainage to avoid potential flooding. Additionally, filling in any existing cracks in your walls can help prevent further damage from storms.
If you’re dealing with hard, dry clay, you may need to spray around the base of your house with a garden hose to moisten it. When clay becomes too dehydrated, it shrivels and cracks, which can destabilize the foundation.
Leave It to the Pros
Some foundation-related issues, such as those involving erosion, flooding and groundwater retention, require help from a professional foundation repair team. In an instance like this, additional measures like gutters, surface drains, vent curbs, dirt work and/or sod could be potential recommendations for an extra layer of defense for your foundation.
If you smell a musty mildew odor beneath your house, this could be a sign that your current drains aren’t doing enough. To ensure that water is being effectively directed away from your foundation, you may need to have a new drainage system installed.
For homes on slopes and hillsides or soft, damp soil, steel piers are often recommended to ensure long-term structural integrity. These will need to be installed by a professional and requires some extensive work.
Keep Your Home in Shape
Wherever you are in Oklahoma, it can often feel like a battle against nature to protect your foundation. Luckily, we’ve got the tools and experience to help. If you need help protecting your house from the elements, reach out to Triton today and get a free evaluation.