subject: Foundation construction basics – Things you need to know [print this page] Foundation construction basics Things you need to know
Constructing a home is certainly a mammoth task in itself, what with the plethora of requirements that need to be fulfilled on an immediate basis. However, starting from the very basic, the most prominent activity for a house to be erected from nothing is foundation construction. A foundation is the first building block that ensures that the house that is built upon it has a base that can withstand the tides of time and wear & tear. Basically, there are three types of foundations :
Slab This type of foundation construction comprises of a concrete slab that is poured on the grade, with no accessible space in the slab construction. This kind of a foundation is popular in areas having a high level of water table, like Southern parts of the United States.
Crawlspace A crawlspace refers to a space that exists between the bottom of the first floor of the house and the soil, and has limited headroom. This kind of foundation is popular in areas having heavy clay content in the soil.
Basement Many foundation contractors use basement foundations in cold climates, where the foundation has to be situated below the frost level. This type of foundation comprises of a similar type of setting as a crawlspace foundation, albeit with more headroom.
All of the above-mentioned foundations are generally made out of concrete, although concrete masonry units or insulated concrete forms can also prove to be as effective. The former are basically hollow concrete blocks; in order to construct the foundation wally, blocks are held together using mortar.
As far as insulated concrete forms are concerned, they comprise strong foam insulation forms (consisting of hardware, mold and bracing to hold the concrete together). Concrete is poured into these, and once dry, the outside as well as inside forms are placed to insulate the wall. These are common in areas where foundation construction is mandatory as per the building code.
