clay soil shrinkage

Certain clay soils shrink on drying (and swell on re-wetting), making them shrinkable. Seasonal changes in soil moisture content may then cause structural movement. If the movement causes cracks, the cracks characteristically open and close according to season.

clay,
cracks in buildings (reasons),
desiccate,
shrinkable soil,
soil moisture content,
structural movement,
volume change potential

This definition is abridged from A – Z of tree terms: A companion to British arboriculture.
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