Local Insights · 2 min read

Why Arlington Heights Soil Can Make or Break Your Concrete Foundation

Oasis Concrete builds and repairs Concrete Foundations for homes in Arlington Heights, IL. Building or fixing a Concrete Foundation in Arlington Heights means dealing with heavy local clay soils and deep frost lines. Property owners in Arlington Heights must consider how the local environment affects a Concrete Foundation. The local clay soils expand and contract with moisture changes, and the deep frost lines require proper excavation depth for all Concrete Foundation work. Oasis Concrete makes sure every Concrete Foundation is built to withstand the Arlington Heights climate.

← Back to Blog Completed concrete foundations work at a residential property in Arlington Heights, IL

Basement walls around Scarsdale or near Pioneer Park hold up for decades when they are built properly for local ground conditions. Oasis Concrete knows that foundation work in Arlington Heights, IL requires careful planning for specific local soil types. Heavy silty clay and loam soils are common in the area, and these soils retain a large amount of moisture. When concrete contractors pour foundations in Arlington Heights, IL, they must account for these soil properties.

Wet spring soils freeze deep down during a typical Cook County winter and expand. That ground movement places heavy pressure on foundation walls. If the preparation work was not done correctly or the concrete mix was not designed for the Arlington Heights, IL climate, damage will appear quickly. Oasis Concrete has spent many years working with the earth in Arlington Heights, IL. Oasis Concrete regularly sees out-of-town builders fail to follow basic foundation standards.

What to Look For During Foundation Excavation

Builders must respect the depth of the local frost line, which sits around 42 inches in Arlington Heights, IL. If footings are not poured below that frost depth, the freezing ground will push them upward. Proper excavation requires getting down past the loose topsoil into stable bearing ground. Oasis Concrete makes sure water drains away from the house instead of pooling against the new walls.

  • Clearing out all organic topsoil before pouring concrete in Arlington Heights, IL
  • Compacting the sub-base properly to stop future settling of the foundation
  • Setting forms square and true to prevent bowing walls on Arlington Heights, IL projects

Drainage is another important part of foundation construction. When building an addition or a new garage out toward Lake Arlington, managing groundwater is necessary. A proper foundation keeps the basement dry and the structure square, protecting the building materials located above ground. Oasis Concrete provides reliable foundation services for homes in Arlington Heights, IL.

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