Wichita Falls Foundation Repair Guide: Clay & Piers (2026)

Updated October 25, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
County terrain	Rolling plains; mostly sandy, black and clay loams	Handbook of Texas (Wichita County)
Clay subsoil	Kamay series (type location Wichita County): 35 to 50% clay, smectitic	USDA NRCS soil series
Shrink-swell clay nearby	Tillman, mapped with Kamay and Wichita soils, cracks more than 48 in. deep	USDA NRCS soil series
Climate	About 27.9 in. of precipitation a year; July highs about 97°F	NOAA 1991–2020 normals (via Wikipedia)
Expansive soil	Wet soil heaves and lifts; dry soil shrinks and settles	TDLR technical bulletin
State license	No state license for foundation repair or general contractors	TDLR; Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
City permits	Building Inspections, 1300 7th St., 1st floor	City of Wichita Falls
Drought watering	Stage 1 at 65% combined Kickapoo and Arrowhead levels; hand, soaker and drip exempt in the city's Stage 1 notice	City of Wichita Falls
Before digging	Contact Texas811 at least two business days ahead	Texas811

Why do Wichita Falls foundations move?

Because the ground under them changes volume with its moisture, and the weather here keeps changing that moisture. The Handbook of Texas describes Wichita County as rolling plains in the eastern part of the Central Texas Rolling Red Plains, with sandy loams, black loams and clay loams making up most of the soils. Below the surface, many soils get much heavier. The USDA's Kamay series, whose type location is in Wichita County, has an average of 35 to 50 percent clay in its subsoil and is classed as smectitic. The Wichita series was established in Wichita County in 1924. USDA lists Tillman among the soils associated with both, and Tillman is a vertic soil, the shrink-swell kind, whose official description records cracks more than 48 inches deep.

TDLR's technical bulletin on residential foundations over expansive soils explains what that means for a house. When soil moisture is high, the soil heaves and can lift a building; when it's low, the soil shrinks and the building can settle. The bulletin cites estimates that expansive soils damage about a quarter of structures.

Wichita Falls' weather supplies the swings. Under 1991 to 2020 normals the city averages about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year, and the July average high is about 97°F. The record is 117°F, set on June 28, 1980. In September 2011 the city became the first in Texas to record 100 days at or above 100°F in one year. Months like that dry the clay along the outside of a house; a hard storm afterward soaks it again. Houses rarely move evenly, because one side gets more sun, more roof runoff or more tree roots than the others.

Settlement, heave or seasonal movement?

Settlement is part of the foundation dropping, usually at a corner or edge where the soil dried and shrank or was poorly compacted. Piers are the usual repair.
Heave is part of the foundation rising, often in the middle of a slab, because the soil there got wetter, from a plumbing leak or poor drainage. Piers at the edges don't fix heave; stopping the water does.
Seasonal movement is the house rising and falling with wet and dry periods. Steadier moisture around the foundation can reduce it.

An elevation survey, ideally compared with a second one from a different season, is the best way to tell them apart.

Which warning signs matter most?

Stair-step brick cracks that are wider at one end
Doors and windows that begin sticking or stop latching
Floors that slope or bounce
Gaps at baseboards, crown molding or the garage door
Cracks that keep returning after patching

What are the repair options?

Slab homes that have settled are usually supported with piers under the perimeter beam: steel push piers, helical piers or pressed concrete piers. Pier-and-beam homes are often leveled from the crawl space by re-shimming, adding or resetting interior piers, and repairing beams and sills. Either way, drainage and steady moisture around the house are part of a repair that lasts. See the pier comparison for how the systems differ.

How do drought rules affect foundation care?

The city's drought plan is tied to Lake Kickapoo and Lake Arrowhead. When their combined level falls below 65 percent, Stage 1 begins. In its Stage 1 notice, the city limited sprinkler watering to two days a week by address and set hours, while exempting hand-held hoses, soakers and drip irrigation. Rules tighten at later stages, so check the current stage before relying on any watering plan.

Does Texas license foundation contractors?

No. TDLR licenses trades such as electricians and air conditioning contractors, but not general contractors or foundation repair companies. The Texas Residential Construction Commission, which once registered builders, was abolished when its law expired on September 1, 2009, according to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. That leaves the checking to you:

Ask the City of Wichita Falls Building Inspections office whether your job needs a permit; Burkburnett, Iowa Park and Electra run their own
Get a floor elevation map and the contractor's explanation of the cause
Get a drawing of pier locations, the pier type and the expected depth
Ask for a pier log with depth and pressure or torque for each pier
Read what the warranty covers and whether it transfers to a buyer
Confirm the contractor contacts Texas811 at least two business days before digging
For a big job or conflicting bids, hire a licensed professional engineer, verifiable through the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

What can I do myself?

Keep gutters clear and extend downspouts well away from the house
Make sure the ground slopes away on every side
Water evenly around the foundation in long dry spells, within the city's current rules
Watch the water bill for unexplained jumps
Keep a dated log and photos of cracks and sticking doors

Common questions

Why is foundation trouble so common in Wichita Falls?

Many Wichita County soils have clay-rich subsoils, and TDLR notes expansive soil heaves when wet and settles when dry. Long, hot dry spells followed by heavy rain keep that cycle going.

Do foundation repair companies need a Texas license?

No. Texas has no state license for foundation repair. Ask the City of Wichita Falls Building Inspections office whether your job needs a permit.

Can I water my foundation during drought restrictions?

In the city's Stage 1 notice, hand-held hoses, soakers and drip irrigation were exempt from day limits. Check the current drought stage, since rules change.

Wichita Falls foundation repair guide (2026)