Steele County, MN Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Steele County, MN

Moderate

Soil across 63.5% of Steele County, MN comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 3.27% linear extensibility. Conventional foundations are the reasonable expectation here, with routine moisture-control practice rather than special engineering.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Steele County, MN - 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).

Steele County: the real numbers

Steele 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, Steele County, MN ranks 996 most-constrained nationally, and 25 of 87 within Minnesota. The county spans 430 square miles, home to 37,434 people.

Before you act on this

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Umatilla County, OR and Erath County, TX 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 Minnesota

Every county in Minnesota is on this site, including Cass County, MN and Swift County, MN. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.