Nelson County, KY Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Nelson County, KY

Moderate

Soil across 47% of Nelson County, KY comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 3.45% linear extensibility. That's a middle reading: not the sharp swings that crack a foundation outright, but enough that grading and drainage are worth getting right.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Nelson County, KY - never a reading for one specific parcel. A local geotechnical report, typically $1,000-$5,000 (around $2,700 typical), is the only way to know what one lot in Nelson County will actually do.

Nelson County: the real numbers

Nelson 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, Nelson County, KY ranks 871 most-constrained nationally, and 31 of 120 within Kentucky. Nelson County covers 419 square miles and counts 48,706 residents.

For contrast

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Sterling County, TX and Coffee County, GA 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 Kentucky

Every county in Kentucky is on this site, including Hickman County, KY and Casey County, KY. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.