California Housing Damage Related to Expansive Soils

Abstract

Differential movements of foundations on expansive soils have caused damage to thousands of homes in California. Building damages or just out‐of‐level floors have resulted in widespread claims and repair expenses. This paper discusses historical and environmental conditions which have led to these problems in California. It describes the current state‐of‐the‐art in foundation design and construction methods used to minimize movements, characterizes out‐of‐level conditions, and recommends tolerances to assist in evaluating the performance of residential structures. The authors conclude with a summary of considerations and comments on how some of the barriers to upgrading professional engineering practice relative to expansive soils might be overcome.