Oldham County, TX Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Oldham County, TX

Moderate

Soil across 56% of Oldham County, TX comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 3.08% 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 Oldham County, TX - 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).

Oldham County: the real numbers

Oldham 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, Oldham County, TX ranks 1,137 most-constrained nationally, and 183 of 253 within Texas. Oldham County, TX is 1,501 square miles with a population of 1,823.

Before you act on this

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Niobrara County, WY and Sheridan County, NE 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 Texas

Every county in Texas is on this site, including Sherman County, TX and Walker County, TX. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.