Texarkana Foundation Repair Guide: Soils & Rules (2026)

Updated October 24, 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
Rainfall and heat	About 52.4 in. of precipitation a year; July average high about 93°F (Texarkana, TX)	NOAA normals via Wikipedia
Bowie County clay	Texark series: very-fine smectitic clay that cracks up to 2 in. wide and over 20 in. deep	USDA NRCS
Terrace clay	Annona series: smectitic, very slowly permeable, water perches after heavy rain	USDA NRCS
Texas license	No state license for foundation repair; TRCC abolished Sept. 1, 2009	Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
Arkansas license	Home improvement contractors on existing single-family homes need a license unless the job is $2,000 or less	Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
Permits, Texas side	City of Texarkana, TX Inspections and Code Enforcement, 220 Texas Blvd., Room 301	City of Texarkana, TX
Before digging	Texas811 in Texas; Arkansas811 at least two full business days ahead in Arkansas	Texas811; Entergy Arkansas

Why do Texarkana foundations move?

Clay soil that swells and shrinks, and a climate that soaks it and dries it in turn. Texarkana, Texas averages about 52.4 inches of precipitation a year, with an average July high around 93°F. That's a lot of water arriving in heavy rains and then a long, hot stretch that pulls it back out.

The USDA's official soil descriptions show how much of the local ground is reactive clay. The Texark series has its type location in Bowie County, in the Sulphur River bottom near Dalby Springs. It's classified as very-fine and smectitic (smectite is the clay mineral family that swells when wet), and when dry it opens cracks 1/4 to 2 inches wide that run from the surface to more than 20 inches deep. Annona soils, described from Red River County just west of Bowie County, formed in clayey sediments on old terraces; USDA lists them as smectitic with vertic features, very slowly permeable, and prone to a perched water table above the clay for short periods after heavy rain. Woodtell soils, also described from Red River County, formed in clayey material weathered from sandstone and shale and crack in the upper subsoil during most summers.

On the Arkansas side, Miller County is bounded by the Red River on the north and east, and its lowlands include level, poorly drained soils over Pleistocene terrace deposits. Texarkana, Arkansas itself sits on the flat Gulf Coastal Plain, with Nix Creek as its main drainage toward the Sulphur River. Flat ground plus slow-draining clay means water tends to linger around foundations.

Not all local ground is heavy clay. The Bowie series, a loamy soil of large extent in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, is moderately slowly permeable rather than a shrink-swell clay. That's why one evaluation can't speak for a whole neighborhood.

Settlement, heave or seasonal movement?

Settlement: part of the foundation drops, usually at an edge or corner where the soil dried and shrank or was poorly compacted. Piers are the usual fix.
Heave: part of the foundation rises, often mid-slab, because the soil got wetter than before, from a plumbing leak or poor drainage. Stopping the water is the fix, not edge piers.
Seasonal movement: the house rises and falls between wet and dry periods. Steadier moisture around the foundation reduces it.

A floor elevation survey, ideally repeated in a different season, is the most reliable way to tell these apart.

What are the repair options?

Slab homes that have settled are typically supported with pressed concrete, steel push or helical piers under the perimeter beam. Pier-and-beam homes are usually leveled from the crawl space with shims, new or reset interior piers, and framing repair. In both cases, gutters, grading and drains are part of making the repair last. See our pier comparison and drainage page.

How do the rules differ between Texas and Arkansas?

Texas. There is no state license for general contractors or foundation repair companies. The Texas Residential Construction Commission, which once registered home builders, was abolished when its law expired on September 1, 2009. Inside Texarkana, Texas, the city's Inspections and Code Enforcement office at 220 Texas Boulevard issues building permits in person, and its FAQ says hired residential contracts require a contractor registered with the city. Wake Village, Nash and other towns set their own permit rules.

Arkansas. State law requires a home improvement contractor, meaning anyone who repairs, alters or adds to an existing single-family residence, to be licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee of the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Jobs that cost $2,000 or less are exempt, but splitting one project into smaller contracts doesn't qualify, and each day of unlicensed work is a separate misdemeanor. Permits in Texarkana, Arkansas come from that city, not the Texas side.

How should I compare bids?

Get the elevation map and the contractor's explanation of the cause
Get a drawing of each pier location, the pier type and typical depth
Ask whether you'll receive a pier log with depth and pressure or torque
Ask what drainage work is included versus recommended
Confirm who handles the permit and the utility locate
Read the warranty: length, what's covered, readjustments, and whether it transfers
In Arkansas, get the license number and look it up

If bids disagree sharply, an independent licensed professional engineer can help. Verify Texas engineers with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and Arkansas engineers with the Arkansas State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors.

What can I do myself?

Keep gutters clear and run downspouts well away from the foundation
Make sure soil slopes away from the house on every side
In long dry spells, water evenly around the foundation
Watch for unexplained jumps in the water bill
Keep a dated log and photos of cracks and sticking doors

Common questions

Why do so many Texarkana houses have foundation problems?

Much of the local soil is smectitic clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and the area gets about 52 inches of rain a year followed by hot summers. The soil moves, and houses move with it.

Do foundation contractors need a license in Texarkana?

Not from the state of Texas. In Arkansas, home improvement work on an existing single-family home over $2,000 requires a license from the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.

Do I need to call 811 for foundation work?

Yes. Piering and drainage involve digging. Use Texas811 in Texas; in Arkansas, contact Arkansas811 at least two full business days before digging. Your contractor normally requests the locates.

Texarkana foundation repair guide (2026)