Washington County, NC Shrink-Swell Risk
Shrink-swell potential in Washington County, NC
Low
Soil across 79.5% of Washington County, NC comes back "Low" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 2.2% linear extensibility. That's as favorable a county-level reading as this dataset produces - standard foundation practice, pending one lot's own geotechnical report.
What this number does and doesn't tell you
This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Washington County, NC - 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).
Washington County: the real numbers
Washington 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, Washington County, NC ranks 1,809 most-constrained nationally, and 29 of 100 within North Carolina. Washington County covers 347 square miles and counts 10,654 residents.
For contrast
Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Middlesex County, VA and Warren County, IL 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 North Carolina
Every county in North Carolina is on this site, including Randolph County, NC and Rockingham County, NC. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.