Settlement vs heave in Arizona

Settlement

Downward movement. The structure loses support in one area. Underpinning or piers are sometimes appropriate when the movement is significant and progressive.

Heave

Upward movement. The soil pushes the slab or foundation up. Installing piers into heaving soil can make the problem worse or simply transfer the movement elsewhere.

Mixed or stable movement

Many Arizona homes show a mix of both over time, or movement that looks dramatic on a floor map but has been stable for years. Visible distress does not automatically equal a need for structural repair.

Useful questions

• Is the movement recent or long-standing?
• Is it getting worse, or has it been the same for several seasons?
• Are there clear drainage, plumbing, or irrigation contributors?
• Does the pattern on the floor map look more like classic settlement, classic heave, or something less clear?

Repair is sometimes the right answer. Often it is not the first answer. Understanding which direction the soil is moving is the starting point, not the sales pitch.