Mineral County, WV Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Mineral County, WV

Low

Soil across 93.1% of Mineral County, WV comes back "Low" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 1.3% 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 Mineral County, WV - never a reading for one specific parcel. A site-specific soil report, usually $1,000-$5,000, is what an engineer would actually pull before designing a foundation on a lot in Mineral County.

Mineral County: the real numbers

Mineral 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.

Mineral County's rank among West Virginia counties

Among the 3,085 rated counties on this site, Mineral County, WV ranks 2,701 most-constrained nationally, and 48 of 55 within West Virginia. The county spans 328 square miles, home to 26,778 people.

For contrast

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Smith County, TN and Cumberland County, PA 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 West Virginia

Every county in West Virginia is on this site, including Morgan County, WV and Gilmer County, WV. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.