We performed a structural inspection on multiple properties in Nephi, Utah due to widespread reports of settlement, cracking, and shear displacement point to underlying soil problems made worse by rainstorms. The geotechnical report for this neighborhood classified the silty alluvial soils as collapsible, with a Collapse Potential (CP) as high as 14.67%—well above the 10% threshold considered severe. While collapsible soils can be built upon, they require strict mitigation, including over-excavation, engineered fill, and precise drainage. The absence of distress in nearby homes built by other contractors suggests that poor construction practices, not just soils, are at fault.
Homeowners reported that the project’s city inspector approved items that were never constructed, and that the inspector was later terminated. If accurate, this raises serious concerns about oversight and liability. The geotechnical report required several safeguards: placement of footings on at least 3 feet of structural fill, stabilization of soft soils, on-site monitoring by a geotechnical representative, and compaction of fill to 95% density, along with foundation drains and lot-specific testing. Documentation of these steps should exist, yet the observed settlement strongly suggests they were skipped or poorly executed. As a result, we concluded that these homes will require full pier supports to stabilize their foundations and prevent continued movement. Taken together, poor soils management, inadequate inspection, and questionable contractor practices have left this subdivision with homes that now need significant repair and structural reinforcement.
