When building a home, you should have the soil on the construction site tested for plasticity to determine how it will change under different moisture conditions. This is important because some soil is so "plastic" that (if the condition is not corrected) it can actually break concrete floors, crack the walls and destroy the foundation of your home. Highly plastic soil is sometimes referred to as "fat clay" that swells excessively and loses stability when it becomes wet. Fine-grained soils that contain a high percentage of clay are greatly affected by water, turning to mud when it rains and undergoing large volume changes-sometimes up to 40 or 50 percent, as the soil dries. Not only do clays swell and lose stability when they become wet, but they also retard the drainage of water. If plastic soil is found on your building site, the ground must be over-excavated and replaced with clean gravel. Homebuilders often choose not to include a basement, or to protect the basement walls from excess moisture by surrounding them with a layer of gravel. A fine-grained clay-filled soil with a high plasticity index may require considerable treatment, especially if used in a moist location.

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Covington Real Estate
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Terri Covington, owner, established Covington Real Estate in 2003 after being a top producer for a franchise office for several years. Realtors affiliated with Covington are involved in the local community, including chambers of commerce, school district committees, local government, churches, and universities. Many of the agents serve in leadership with the Temple-Belton Board of REALTORS and the Texas Association of REALTORS. Terri shares, "God has blessed me with a wonderful organization of highly ethical and hard working REALTORS. We are like family and work together to get results for our clients." Being an independent office has afforded Covington clients flexibility in marketing and buying strategies. "We try to stay fresh in our marketing ideas and up to date with our education and negotiating skills." commented owner, Terri Covington.

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