Building on Ground That Changes

Shrink swell soil testing

Even the ground can have a few tricks up its sleeve.

Shrink-swell soils are clays that expand when wet and contract as they dry, creating subtle yet powerful movements beneath foundations. Left unchecked, they can cause cracking, uneven floors, and long-term structural stress.

At Zannino Engineering, we began performing shrink-swell studies even before local requirements were established. In the early 1990s, several reputable homebuilders reached out to us to help address the challenges that expansive clays were creating in new residential developments. Now most municipalities require these kinds of soil studies before construction work begins to evaluate their risk.

Our process includes performing test borings, collecting soil samples, and conducting bearing tests to understand a site’s foundation support. In our in-house lab, we analyze each sample’s physical and engineering properties, then provide a clear report with foundation recommendations and required footing details for the Building Official.

Over the past 3 decades, we’ve completed thousands of shrink-swell studies across Central Virginia — from single-family homes to large subdivisions — helping builders design strong, stable foundations that stand the test of time (and the seasons).

So don’t be scared of what’s beneath the surface — with the right data, every project can stay on solid ground.

Come Build On Our Foundation.