Provides engineers, architects, appraisers, and inspectors practical insight into the basic foundation construction and behavior in residential and light commercial structures. Discusses site drainage, engineering, preparation, and development; soil mechanics and chemistry and foundation design; identifying the presence and causes of foundation distress; preventing recurring distress, the impact of repair on property values, and other aspects. The photographs are generally of a low quality. Over a third of the material is new in the third edition; the dates of the earlier ones are not given. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.