Wise County, VA Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Wise County, VA

Low

Soil across 99.2% of Wise County, VA comes back "Low" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 1.34% linear extensibility. That's the easiest starting point on this site's scale - a standard foundation is the reasonable default here, though any one lot can still differ.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

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

Wise County: the real numbers

Wise 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, Wise County, VA ranks 2,669 most-constrained nationally, and 112 of 114 within Virginia. The county spans 403 square miles, home to 34,973 people.

Before you act on this

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Menominee County, MI and Stevens County, KS 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 Virginia

Every county in Virginia is on this site, including Nelson County, VA and Prince Edward County, VA. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.