How to stabilize wet soil?

Volkerb
by Volkerb

I will build a barn and garage on my farm but the area for that is on the mild slope. Also we have lots of rains here and the soil on the slope is a bit light to hold those objects. What is the most affordable solution to stabilize it and boost the strength?

  7 answers
  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Mar 25, 2019

    Build a retaining wall at least 10’ away from your projects. I’d use the locking concrete retaining wall blocks and not the hollow ones- the solid ones. You’ll need to compact the soil under the wall with big truck tires, for a foundation, at a minimum.

    Fill the back side of it with rocks and pea gravel, for 30-36”, Then back fill with dirt, compacting as you go. Level with a 2% maximum slope.


    If the wall is taller than 3’, Youll need to get an architect or engineer involved, as you’ll not only need an integrated footing but also hydrostatic pressure remediation, so that the wall doesn’t fail.

    Certain building departments have on-line prototypical construction documents for retaining walls in their local areas.


    The building pad itself will need to be compacted pea gravel gravel with 4” of sand, compacted and Visqueen. I would use welded wire mesh tied to the forms and pour a 5” thick concrete slab with a stem wall that holds your anchor bolts for the sole plates of the barn. The finished slab needs to be at least 4” above grade and slope towards the door about 2%.

    If this doesn’t make sense, it is worth your time and money to get pros involved.


    Since it rains there a lot, you’ll need to slope the finished grade 4% away from the building on all sides, put extensions on the downspouts (yes I recommend gutters).



  • Vonnieschmitt Vonnieschmitt on Mar 25, 2019

    anchor poles drilled into the ground until the soil is stable or you hit bedrock.

  • Seth Seth on Mar 25, 2019

    You did not mention if you are in an area where the frost line is a consideration. Most likely, your building inspector is going to require an engineered plan that takes into account soil types and percolation rates. That will inform the decision as to foundation construction. Cheryl's description of a floating slab may be perfectly adequate and appropriate for your situation. However, you may need a more involved foundation structure. An engineer is going to cost some $$$'s but it's the only way to insure the longevity of your structure.

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Mar 28, 2019

    When you get your building permits, there may be specifications you'll need to follow to get the appropriate foundation. Yours may have to be deeper than usual due to your soil. I feel too an engineer may need to be consulted. They can also draw up.some basic plans to get your permits.

  • Judy Judy on Mar 30, 2019

    Hi. I’m not sure if this will help but this is what we did for a very wet area in our yard. I believe they called a French drain. But we used it for a garden area that was flooding out. My husband dug a ditch filled it with a pipe with holes in it and placed rocks in the ditch as well. This helps carry the water away from that area and spread it out and it fixed our problem

  • Joy Joy on Mar 30, 2019

    I'm not sure if this will fit into your project... if you have an area that water pools in your yard plant a Weeping willow tree. My friend had a pond in front of her home every time it rained and the water was hurting her foundation she planted a single Weeping willow tree and not only completely solved the water problem but provided a beautiful addition to her yard.

  • MaryAnn B MaryAnn B on Apr 22, 2020

    We had the same issue of slopping yard that leveled out. We had a lake! We had a deep (5') x approx. 6" hole dug~ and filled with large basketball sized rocks in the lowest part. It certainly did the trick. all of the soil behind the "dry well" has remained dry and the lake in front is no more.