A home is a major investment for most people. Individual families and communities can avoid construction and maintenance problems if a study of soil conditions is made before construction begins. Soil information can be used to predict potential problems associated with planned or existing homesites. Before building or buying a home, consider if:
- There is a flood hazard.
- Drainage and seasonal high water table are a problem.
- The soils have high shrink-swell properties.
- Slope and unstable soil make erosion and soil movement a major problem.
- Soil conditions exist that corrode uncoated steel and concrete easily.
- Grading and soil removal was extensive.
- The soil properties are favorable for plant growth without extensive soil modification. Bedrock is present.
This contest is designed to emphasize the importance of soils and their limitations for homesites. The importance of a soil’s suitability for parks, playgrounds, roads, streets, and other uses can also be considered. Many of the properties important for agricultural uses are also important for urban/rural uses (e.g., homesites). While the properties are the same, a different set of criteria is used to evaluate urban/rural uses.
