Good morning all - I've tried to do my homework before asking, but
cannot find any good source of info regarding midwest clays, soil
expansion, and poured basement foundation cracking. We purchased our
home one month ago (located in Kansas City, MO) and within one week of
possession found settlement problems with the back living room
extension of the house due to clay compaction and the drying of an
underground spring due to the summer's dry weather. This was compounded
by the previous owners not watering the foundation during the hottest
periods. The house is a 2000sqft split/tri-level house with an
unfinished poured concrete basement / foundation.

I _do_ plan to hire the work of an engineer to oversee the repairs, but
have a quick question. After getting out the laser, it appears that the
rear-corner of the foundation has dropped approximately 3/8-1/2". In
the interim, I have set up a semi-buried perimeter drip-system 4 feet
from the foundation and timed sprinklers in the yard to try and
establish some moisture content in the soil.

I have also made and affixed acrylic 'gap rulers' on each side of the
cracks to monitor any further movement (which appears to be only
parallel to the basement walls - no inward/outward expansion).

My question: With the daily watering regiment, do you believe it's
possible to have any positive correction in the cracks with clay
expansion as the moisture content of the soil increases? I understand
this is not a permanent correction, but just a temporary stabilization
to get us through the winter.

Thanks for any insight/experience you can provide.