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<br />steel, and insufficient attention to surface and underground <br />water. M i sea I cu I at I og the sever i ty of the prob I em for a <br />particular clay soil can result in damage although some <br />mitlgatlng measures were taken. <br /> <br />Construction problems related to swell ing sol Is Include lack <br />of reinforcing steel, insufficient or improperly placed <br />reinforcing steel, mushroom-topped drl lied piers, and <br />inadequate void space between sol Is and grade beams. <br />Allowing clays to dry excessively before pouring concrete and <br />permitting the ponding of water near a foundation during and <br />after construction also are contributing factors in <br />swell ing-soi I related construction problems. au! Idlng <br />without allowance for basement or ground floor movement in <br />known swelling salls areas is a very common source of <br />property damage. I mproper I andscap i ng prob I ems i nc I u de <br />inadequate management of surface drainage and planting <br />vegetation next to the foundation so irrigation water enters <br />the so I I . <br /> <br />Mitigation <br /> <br />Methods for bui Iding in and on swelling soi Is are well <br />developed and some of them are highly sophisticated. <br />Although more costly initially, there is usually no reason <br />to avoid construction provided the appropriate miti~ation <br />measures are taken. Corrective measures to prevent or at <br />least minimize damage and recurring problems include: <br /> <br />Identifying soi I problems <br /> <br />Testing of soi Is to determine <br />their physical characteristics <br /> <br />Oesigning structures to with- <br />stand the I'worst possible!' <br />changing soi I conditions as <br />indicated by testing. <br /> <br />Constructing the properly engineered <br />design in a workmanl ike fashion <br /> <br />Educating bui Idlng owners! <br />occupants about the soi I situation <br />and Its potential significance, <br />espec I a I lyra I at I ve to the ro I e of water. <br /> <br /> <br />Swe I ling 50 I 15 damaged th i 5 basement 51 ab 50 severe I y that <br />the concrete was removed. The photo shows the basement floor <br />before it was hauled away. <br /> <br />39 <br />