Washington County, OH Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Washington County, OH

Moderate

Soil across 50.5% of Washington County, OH comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 4.01% 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 Washington County, OH - 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 Washington County.

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.

Washington County's rank among Ohio counties

Among the 3,085 rated counties on this site, Washington County, OH ranks 558 most-constrained nationally, and 15 of 88 within Ohio. The county spans 632 square miles, home to 58,332 people.

See how another county compares

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Wyoming County, NY and Hall 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 Ohio

Every county in Ohio is on this site, including Pickaway County, OH and Miami County, OH. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.