We matched the Oklahoma homes in Pier King’s customer records to USDA soil maps and Oklahoma geologic map data. The result is a city-by-city picture of the ground that moves foundations in our state.
The short version: most homes we see, around both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, sit on clay that swells and shrinks with the weather. But how much, and what’s underneath it, changes a lot from city to city.
| City | Main bedrock | Most common soils | On high shrink-swell soils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | Shale | Coweta, Dennis and Okemah | 43% |
| Oklahoma City | Shale | Renthin, Kirkland and Bethany | 80% |
| Broken Arrow | Shale | Dennis, Okemah and Newtonia | 46% |
| Claremore | Sandstone | Dennis, Apperson and Bates | 61% |
| Edmond | Shale | Renthin, Stephenville and Grainola | 65% |
| Owasso | Shale | Dennis, Okemah and Apperson | 69% |
| Sapulpa | Shale | Dennis, Collinsville and Bigheart | 47% |
| Bartlesville | Sandstone | Dennis, Bates and Shidler | 36% |
| Muskogee | Shale | Stigler, Dennis and Taloka | 75% |
| McAlester | Shale | Bengal, Talihina and Clearview | 77% |
| Sand Springs | Shale | Niotaze, Newtonia and Kamie | 32% |
| Norman | River terrace deposits | Kirkland, Renfrow and Stephenville | 65% |
| Collinsville | Shale | Dennis, Okemah and Bates | 51% |
| Moore | Shale | Renfrow, Kirkland and Norge | 83% |
| Midwest City | Sandstone | Stephenville, Kirkland and Teller | 34% |
| Skiatook | Shale | Parsons, Okemah and Niotaze | 50% |
| Pryor | River terrace deposits | Taloka, Dennis and Parsons | 83% |
| Yukon | Sandstone | Norge, Bethany and Pond Creek | 31% |
| Okmulgee | River terrace deposits | Wrightsville, Dennis and Bates | 26% |
| Vinita | Shale | Dennis, Parsons and Bates | 55% |
| Glenpool | Shale | Dennis, Okemah and Coweta | 66% |
| Miami | Shale | Taloka, Dennis and Parsons | 79% |
| Shawnee | Shale | Renfrow, Littleaxe and Aydelotte | 62% |
| Jenks | Shale | Dennis, Niotaze and Okemah | 52% |
| Grove | Chert and limestone | Clarksville, Eldorado and Britwater | 6% |
| Catoosa | Sandstone | Hector, Dennis and Okemah | 28% |
| Choctaw | Sandstone | Stephenville, Harrah and Littleaxe | 0% |
| Bixby | Shale | Dennis, Eram and Choska | 45% |
| Guthrie | Sandstone | Stephenville, Coyle and Ironmound | 0% |
| Bristow | Sandstone | Bartlesville, Niotaze and Collinsville | 30% |
| El Reno | Sandstone | Norge, Dale and Bethany | 4% |
| Stillwater | Shale | Renfrow, Norge and Grainola | 45% |
Soil and geology come from USDA soil survey and Oklahoma geologic map data, matched to the addresses in Pier King’s customer records. “High shrink-swell” means soils the USDA rates as high for linear extensibility, the measure of how much a soil swells and shrinks. Percentages include every home in our records, not only completed repairs.
Every Pier King inspection starts with what your house actually sits on. The same crack can have a different cause, and need a different repair, on shale clay than on sandstone or old river deposits. See when foundation problems show up and the warning signs to look for.
What do our customers say?
Every home sits on different ground, so the only way to know what’s going on with yours is an inspection. Our team will look at the problem, explain what’s causing it and walk you through a written estimate, with no pressure and no guesswork.
Call our Tulsa team at (918) 899-9808 or our Oklahoma City team at (405) 534-9788, or fill out our contact form. Both locations are open Monday–Friday, 7:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Pier King is highly reviewed by homeowners across Oklahoma, with a top rating on Google and an A+ with the Better Business Bureau. Our Tulsa and Oklahoma City teams bring the same service to every job, from the first inspection to the final walkthrough.
We repair your foundation right the first time and back it with a Lifetime Transferable Warranty allowing you to have peace of mind.
We understand that foundation repair is a big expense. We offer 0% financing W.A.C., and Pier King is partnered with TTCU for flexible project loans. Our team will walk you through the options during your free inspection.
Common Causes of Foundation Problems
Oklahoma’s clay soils swell when they get wet and shrink when they dry out. Homes built before soil testing was routine often weren’t designed for that movement.
All homes settle over time naturally, but if different parts of your home have sunk or sloped further than others, it’s time to call Pier King
If your home site was improperly graded or it sits at the bottom of a hill, foundation problems could develop as a result of gradual soil and debris accumulation, flash floods, or erosion
If your home never had gutters, or sits on a hard soil bed, water accumulating around your foundation will eventually cause it to swell, shrink, or crack
Even the smallest, slowest water leak from an underground pipe can cause extensive foundation problems
While most Oklahoma contractors are careful to build to code, some still take shortcuts resulting in foundation damage
Pier King has you covered!
