Can the Texas A&M AgriLife soil lab test my soil for a foundation?

No. The Texas A&M AgriLife Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory runs agricultural tests (nutrients, pH, salinity and soil texture) aimed at plant growth, and its site does not offer geotechnical tests for foundations. It is useful if you plan gardens, pasture or erosion control around the home, and it has separate submittal forms for farm-scale and urban or small-area samples. For foundation design you need a geotechnical engineer or construction materials testing lab that can measure bearing capacity, plasticity index, moisture content and swell. Texas TB 10-01 lists the ASTM tests used to classify expansive soils, which is a helpful checklist when you ask a lab for a quote.

Sources

• Soil TestingTexas A&M AgriLife Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory
• FAQsTexas A&M AgriLife Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory
• IHB Technical Bulletin TB 10-01: Foundations on Expansive SoilsTexas Department of Licensing and Regulation