Benzie County, MI Shrink-Swell Risk
Shrink-swell potential in Benzie County, MI
Low
Soil across 98.7% of Benzie County, MI comes back "Low" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 1.14% linear extensibility. That's the easiest starting point on this site's scale - a standard foundation is the reasonable default here, though any one lot can still differ.
What this number does and doesn't tell you
This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Benzie County, MI - never a reading for one specific parcel. The real answer for one lot is still a site-specific geotechnical report, running about $1,000-$5,000 (typically near $2,700).
Benzie County: the real numbers
Benzie County's soil reading points toward standard foundation practice as the likely outcome, not the exception. A geotechnical report runs $1,000-$5,000, typically around $2,700. Foundation repair, if a specific lot turns out to differ from the county average, runs $5,000-$15,000.
Where this sits nationally
Among the 3,085 rated counties on this site, Benzie County, MI ranks 2,812 most-constrained nationally, and 58 of 83 within Michigan. Benzie County covers 320 square miles and counts 18,520 residents.
See how another county compares
Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Linn County, MO and Charlotte County, VA are worth a look for comparison.
How this reading is built, and its real limits · Moisture management: the cheap fix that works on any soil
Elsewhere in Michigan
Every county in Michigan is on this site, including Ontonagon County, MI and Iron County, MI. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.