he foundation is the first is predominant in areas where
piece of a home to be there is heavy clay content in
constructed and creates a the soil.
base for the rest of a home's
components. There are three types Basement Foundation
of foundations that are commonly
used in the U.S.: slab, A basement is an accessible space
crawlspace, and basement. between the soil and the bottom
of the first floor of a home. It
Slab Foundation usually has more headroom than a
crawlspace. Basement foundation
Slab is a type of foundation construction is predominant in
consisting of a structural cold climates where the
concrete slab poured directly on foundation needs to be situated
the grade. No accessible space below the frost level.
exists in slab construction. Slab
foundations are popular in areas All three foundation types are
(i.e. the Southern United States) usually constructed out of
where there is a relatively high concrete, but can also use
water table. (Water table refers concrete masonry units or
to the depth in the soil at which insulated concrete forms.
you find water).
Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) are
Crawlspace Foundation hollow, concrete blocks. To
create the foundation wall,
A crawlspace is an accessible mortar is used between blocks to
space with limited headroom, hold them together, forming the
typically between the soil and wall.
the bottom of the first floor of
a home. Crawlspace construction Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)
are made of rigid foam insulation place to insulate the wall. ICFs
forms (a system of support are common in regions in which
assemblies, including mold, the local building code requires
hardware, and necessary bracing the foundation to be insulated.
to hold concrete) into which Another benefit is that the
concrete is poured. Once the homeowner or builder is able to
concrete has gained its full finish basement immediately,
strength, the outside forms, the without adding studs.
inside forms, or both are left in
About the Author:
Mark Mathis is a building designer and publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources including http://www.HousePlanCentral.com,
http://www.HousePlanGallery.com, and http://www.moneytalks-bswalks.com. Be sure to visit each site and subscribe to our eNewsletters to receive special offers, promotions, and subscriber-only features.
Source: www.isnare.com
