solutionsexpansive clay mitigation

Expansive Clay Mitigation

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What is Expansive Clay Mitigation?

Expansive clay mitigation addresses the challenges of shrink-swell soils that expand when wet and contract when dry. These soil movements cause damage to foundations, slabs, and infrastructure. Polymer injection strengthens clay soils, reduces swelling potential, and provides long-term settlement control.

Problems Solved

  • Foundation cracking and shifting from swelling soils
  • Uneven settlement of slabs and pavements
  • Structural misalignment in buildings and utilities
  • Soil shrinkage during droughts, leading to voids beneath assets
  • High maintenance and repair costs from shrink-swell cycles

Types of Polymers Used

High-Density Polyurethane Foams

  • Expands to densify and stabilize loose backfill soils
  • Provides lightweight reinforcement without added soil pressure
  • Cures rapidly to minimize operational disruption

Structural Polyurethane Resins

  • Creates rigid reinforcement zones behind walls and utilities
  • Transfers structural loads to stable ground layers
  • Extends service life of supported structures

Hydro-Insensitive Polymers

  • Expands and cures in wet or groundwater conditions
  • Seals voids and prevents erosion in saturated soils
  • Provides long-term durability in challenging sites
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Benefits of Expansive Clay Mitigation

Expansive clay mitigation with polymer injection prevents structural damage by stabilizing soils prone to shrink-swell cycles. These trenchless solutions extend infrastructure life and reduce costly repairs.

Protect Structures from Shrink-Swell Soil Damage

  • Reduces swelling and shrinkage in clay soils
  • Protects foundations, slabs, and pavements from cracking
  • Provides durable stabilization without excavation
  • Extends service life of infrastructure in clay zones

Key Applications

Residential Foundations

Protects homes from structural cracking caused by clay soils

Commercial Slabs

Restores stability for office, retail, and warehouse floors

Roadways & Parking Lots

Prevents cracking and settlement in pavements over clay soils

Utility Corridors

Protects pipelines and conduits from soil movement damage

Industrial Facilities

Provides durable subgrade reinforcement beneath heavy equipment

Public Buildings

Prevents costly structural repairs in schools, hospitals, and municipal assets

Services

Expansive clay mitigation is supported by these services:

Foundation Repair

Foundation Repair

Corrects settlement caused by clay expansion

Soil Stabilization

Soil Stabilization

Improves strength and reduces shrink-swell behavior

Settlement Mitigation

Settlement Mitigation

Restores alignment in clay-affected structures

Void Filling

Void Filling

Fills gaps formed during clay shrinkage cycles

Structural Reinforcement

Structural Reinforcement

Provides rigid, long-lasting support

Deep Injection (UDI)

Deep Injection (UDI)

Compacts underlying soils to minimize future movement in expansive clay zones

How the Process Works

1

Investigation

Clay soils analyzed for shrink-swell activity and instability

2

Planning

Injection design tailored to expansive soil conditions

3

Access

Small-diameter injection points installed with minimal disruption

4

Injection

Polymers densify soils and reduce shrink-swell potential

5

Monitoring

Soil response tracked in real time for consistent results

6

Validation

Final inspection confirms reduced soil movement and improved stability

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