What is Teller soil and how does it affect Oklahoma foundations?

Reviewed by Preston, Oklahoma foundation repair consultant · Updated 2026-10-14

In short: Teller is a very deep, well-drained loamy soil that formed in old stream-terrace sediments in central Oklahoma. Its subsoil is sandy clay loam or clay loam with roughly 18 to 30 percent clay in the upper part, well below the clay levels of Oklahoma's strongly expansive soils. On Teller lots, drainage, leaks, erosion and fill quality are usually the first foundation factors to check.

Where does Teller soil occur?

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) keeps an Official Series Description (OSD) for each named soil. The Teller OSD places the series in the Central Rolling Red Prairies (Major Land Resource Area 80A) of Oklahoma and Texas, with moderate extent ¹. Its type location is in Payne County, about 1 mile west and 1 mile north of Perkins, and the series was first established in Johnston County in 1906 ¹.

Teller forms on the treads and risers of stream terraces on alluvial plains, on slopes of 0 to 8 percent ¹. A terrace tread is the flat top of an old floodplain level; the riser is the slope between levels. Teller developed in loamy Pleistocene sediments ¹, which ties it to the Quaternary alluvium and terraces of the OKC Metro and the North-Central region. Most Teller land is cropland for small grains, sorghum, peanuts and cotton ¹.

What are its key properties?

The "Bt" horizon is the subsoil layer where clay has built up over time; in Teller it runs from about 20 to 60 inches ¹.

Competing series in the OSD include Chickasha, and nearby soils include Dougherty, Konawa, Norge and Pond Creek ¹.

What do the properties mean for foundations?

Shrink-swell

NRCS rates shrink-swell by linear extensibility: under 3 percent is low, 3 to 6 percent moderate, 6 to 9 percent high and above 9 percent very high ³. Teller's subsoil is a loam-family texture rather than a clay, and its OSD records no cracking or slickensides ¹. The rated value for a specific map unit is in Web Soil Survey ². Even soils with modest clay respond to uneven moisture, so keeping moisture consistent around a foundation still matters ⁴.

Water and erosion

Loamy and sandy soils can wash out when water is concentrated beside a foundation, a process covered on erosion, undermining and washout voids. The ASCE homeowner guide recommends at least 3 inches of fall over the first 5 feet from the house, downspouts that discharge at least 3 feet out, and clay rather than sandy soil for backfill against the foundation ⁴. Leaking water or sewer lines create localized wet spots, and the guide suggests watching water bills for unexplained increases ⁴.

Fill and terrace edges

Terrace risers and lots near streams are often graded with fill, which can compress over time; see fill consolidation settlement. Because terraces sit beside streams, flood maps for a lot can be checked at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center ⁵.

Related

• Soil series in the OKC metro
• Fill soils and lot history
• Plumbing leaks under slab
• Norge soil
• Soil Series Index