In certain parts of the country, soil erosion is a common issue faced by private properties and commercial grounds alike. Public spaces must also fight back against it on a regular basis. Much of this issue is not just based on the amount of rainfall Florida gets per year, as well as its close proximity to a great deal of coastline. While these things can certainly play a key role in the process of erosion, the soil type most commonly found in Florida is also an essential part of this puzzle. As a matter of fact, most of the soil in Florida is found with a layer of lime rock up to 60 feet below the surface – and sometimes as high up as only 30 feet below the surface. This layer often has “swiss cheese holes” throughout it, which can cause a weakening of the soil composition as a whole.

Therefore, there are certain precautions that must be taken in order to avoid issues of erosion on a larger scale. At the coastline in this state, seawalls must be erected to keep erosion at bay. After a certain period of time, seawall erosion will also occur, meaning that seawall repair will need to be conducted on all such structures at some point in time. Fortunately, we have developed technologies to make this easier and more effective than ever before. The use of structural polyurethane foam has become commonplace, and has proven to be a hugely high quality material for such purposes. Chemical grout is, after all, much better than the dirt and aggregate that voids in the seawall were once filled with, and is even better than the cementitious fill that was also used for these purposes. Today, however, chemical grout can be considered quite essential for preventing seawall failure through seawall erosion repair.

But it’s not just the seawall that is a concern. Homes on residential properties must also fight against erosion when such soil types are in play. Fortunately, foundation technologies have come a long way in recent years, and these foundation technologies can play a big role in how you are able to keep your foundation secure. When looking at foundation technologies offered throughout the country, you’ll find that there are a number of foundations typically used. Basement and crawl space foundation types are quite popular, but are not necessarily ideal or even appropriate for soil such as that found in Florida. For Florida soil, foundation technologies involving slab foundation is likely going to be necessary to create a firm and long lasting foundation.

Slab foundation is called this simply because it is essentially a large slab, typically made from poured concrete that is put on the ground all that once, with a center that is no more than six inches in thickness. It’s important for the edges of a slab foundation to be thicker, up to 24 total inches, in order for such foundation technologies to really work. Post tension cables can also be utilized, another form of the foundation technologies now so very available. Steel rods can play a similar role, proving that there are options when it comes to foundation technologies – even when constructing the same type of foundation.

Though foundation technologies have come a long way, there is still a level of care and keeping that the home owner in question will have to participate in in order to keep the foundation in place and in good condition. For instance, it will be important to avoid the soil around the home from drying out too much if there is a dry spell, as this will cause the soil to shrink. Then, when it gets wet again, it will inflate all at once, putting too much pressure on the foundation too dramatically. Therefore, maintaining your soil during drier periods of the year will be absolutely essential indeed, to say the very least on the subject matter.

In addition to this, planting with care is also important. Ideally, your plants will be placed at least two feet from the foundation, if not even further back. This will help to prevent the root systems from diverting water to the foundation.