Crawl Space Foundation Construction | Free DIY Home Improvement

Different Foundation Techniques and There Benefits For Housing

There are three basic foundation types and they are basement, crawl space and slab-on-grade. The different foundation techniques and there benefits will be examined here. There has been quite an upsurge in interest recently about the design as well as the construction methods of house foundations and the main reason for this has been connected to the conservation of energy, although people are becoming ever more aware of radon gas seeping into their homes.

House owners are now looking very carefully at the design of house foundations with a view to cutting costs and making a house more comfortable to live in. Many years ago, the down payment followed by the monthly payments for the mortgage installments were the most important considerations. Today however, with high energy bills and upkeep costs, the focus is beginning to shift. Homeowners not only want to be able to buy a house, they want to be able to live in it too.

The construction method used for the first foundation type, the full basement, is to dig the hole for the basement, erect forms the thickness required for the walls then pour liquid concrete into the forms. Once the concrete has dried the forms are removed and a solid insulated wall remains. This type of construction is utilized in areas where frost occurs in the ground. Using the proper insulation, a basement room can be conditioned to the extent that it can be warm enough for family activities on even the coldest days.

Another method used for basement construction utilizes concrete blocks for the walls. These blocks are usually hollow and reinforcing rods may be passed through the holes. Quite often, the holes are filled with liquid concrete. Insulating measures to guard against water seepage, radon and termite infestations should be considered.

The next foundation type is the crawl space. This is used on sloping ground or where the bedrock is fairly close to the surface making a basement foundation very expensive. The crawl space foundation is constructed by building a low cinder block wall the shape of the house on a concrete plinth, just wider than the wall, which is then faced with bricks. There is no slab to lay as the floor joists are attached to the wall and the interior of the wall is left as soil. The walls are built on top of the flooring timbers.

This type of construction makes it easy to run plumbing and electrical wiring under the house. It also simplifies maintenance and the relocation of these services if required, thereby cutting costs. The space under the house may be used for storage if certain steps are taken to keep out the elements and to protect the stored articles from termites.

The last foundation type is the slab-on-grade which is often utilized where the depth of a water table is less than 8 feet of the ground surface. The major components of this type are the slab itself with grade beams or footings around the edges making the slab thicker at its perimeter. The slab and the supporting walls are poured from liquid concrete and the floor is designed to be strong enough to support varied loads when poured onto compacted or bare soil without reinforcing.

The type of foundation chosen will depend on various factors, such as cost, aesthetics and the expectations of the buyer who will in many cases be interested in the different foundation techniques and there benefits.

About the author: Concrete Pumping Ontario provides the customers with trained, professional operators and reliable concrete pumping equipment and all related concrete pumping services.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=565750&ca=Business