What's Under the House: Fill Dirt and Moisture Issues
When placed under a foundation, fill dirt is arguably the most important structural component of a home, and that fill dirt is the leading cause of new home structural failures.
Walt Keaveny, a professional engineer and geoscientist for 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, explores fill dirt and offers tips for minimizing problems in a new NAHB Construction Liability resource, Let's Talk Dirt.
According to Keaveny, not only is fill dirt the most common cause of structural failure, it is also a very costly repair — nationwide it costs an average of over $50,000 to investigate and repair a structural failure caused by fill dirt. In some states the average cost exceeds $100,000.
Let's Talk Dirt provides information about fill placement, density requirements, testing, and the benefits of working with a geotechnical engineer.
Keaveny also explores moisture issues in basements in Ultimate Guide to STOP Basement Water Leaks. Over half of all basements have some moisture issues, with basement walls and floors the most common locations for water leaks in a home. Unlike improperly compacted fill dirt, water leaks in basements rarely represent a structural deficiency, according to Keaveny.
However, a water leak that is seen trickling is not normal, and it is beneficial to terminate the source of the water to avoid: (1) saturating soils that support the foundation, (2) rot and degradation of wooden framing, (3) damage to drywall and finishes, (4) damage to household items, (5) mold and (6) vermin.
To learn about the three major sources that cause water leaks, water migration into basements, damp proofing versus water proofing, and to view Keaveny’s Water Source Checklist, review the Ultimate Guide to STOP Basement Water Leaks.
Plus, you can stay current with the latest building materials and construction liability developments on the NAHB Construction Liability Resources page.
For any questions about construction liability, please contact David Jaffe.
Latest from NAHBNow
May 21, 2025
New Resources on the Safe Use of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP)Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) are vehicle-mounted machine lifts used to help workers complete tasks more efficiently in an elevated position. They are commonly used across the construction industry because of their ability to reach and maneuver around elevated areas.
May 20, 2025
Podcast: One Big, Beautiful Podcast – NAHB Talks Tax BillOn the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez are joined by AVP of Government Affairs J.P. Delmore to dive into the “big, beautiful” tax bill that’s been introduced.
Latest Economic News
May 21, 2025
Gains for Multifamily Missing Middle over Last YearThe missing middle construction sector includes development of medium-density housing, such as townhouses, duplexes and other small multifamily properties.
May 20, 2025
Single-Family Home Size Trending HigherAn expected impact of the virus crisis was a need for more residential space, as people used homes for more purposes including work. Home size correspondingly increased in 2021 as interest rates reached historic lows. However, as interest rates increased in 2022 and 2023, and housing affordability worsened, the demand for home size has trended lower.
May 20, 2025
Slight Gains for Townhouse ConstructionTownhouse construction expanded more than 2 percent on a year-over-year basis per data from the first quarter of 2025.