Home Foundation Basics
The foundation of your home is vitally important, yet because it is largely unseen, it can be neglected. Very few people know anything about their foundations, or think about their repair and maintenance.
Below, you will find a brief summary of what a foundation actually is, as well as a brief look at the various types available. Following this, the ways in which foundations can be damaged will be discussed.
What is a Foundation?
To explain simply, a foundation is what your house sits on. You cant just put a house down on regular, unprepared ground. A house requires a very strong and stable base, so it can maintain its structural integrity, even if the ground below it shifts slightly.
There are a number of different methods for providing this solid foundation.
Types of Foundation
There are three common kinds of house foundations. Each has it pros and cons, so it is important to understand the differences between them.
€ Slab: A slab is generally seen as the easiest and often cheapest foundation to lay. This kind of foundation is ideal for flat land in a temperate climate - in cooler climates, a slab will lead to very cold floors in winter! It consists of a concrete slab laid onto the prepared house site. It is not just a flat piece of concrete - it generally forms an upside down 'U' shape, with the outside edges going up to two feet deep, whilst the inside section will only go four to six inches deep.
€ Basement: This foundation is exactly what it sounds like - a basement. A whole is dug and a concrete slab placed at the bottom. The walls are then built up, generally with concrete bricks, this essentially forms a concrete box. The structure is then built on top of this. Basements tend to be the most expensive variety of foundation, however they do provide the benefit of extra space that can be used for storage.
€ Crawl Space: This kind of foundation is the halfway measure, between a slab and a basement. It starts with a slab, which then has walls built up to a height of just a few feet, before the structure is built on top. This leaves just enough room for an adult to crawl, which gives this foundation its common name. This style is ideal for areas that may experience moderate flooding, as it keeps the actual dwelling clear of the ground. In addition to this, crawl spaces provide the perfect space for plumbing and electrics to be laid.
How Are They Damaged?
Most foundation damage can be placed into two broad categories - sinking and upheaval. Sinking is when the ground that surrounds your foundation begins to shrink, or subside, which will have a negative effect. The next is upheaval, which is a result of expansion in the surrounding soil, causing damage to a homes foundations. There are a number of indicators for both of these kinds of damage, including cracks and moisture build-up.
If you become aware of any irregularities in your foundation, you need to contact a professional repair company immediately. Damaged foundations can cause severe problems for the entire structure - the earlier you take action the better!
Below, you will find a brief summary of what a foundation actually is, as well as a brief look at the various types available. Following this, the ways in which foundations can be damaged will be discussed.
What is a Foundation?
To explain simply, a foundation is what your house sits on. You cant just put a house down on regular, unprepared ground. A house requires a very strong and stable base, so it can maintain its structural integrity, even if the ground below it shifts slightly.
There are a number of different methods for providing this solid foundation.
Types of Foundation
There are three common kinds of house foundations. Each has it pros and cons, so it is important to understand the differences between them.
€ Slab: A slab is generally seen as the easiest and often cheapest foundation to lay. This kind of foundation is ideal for flat land in a temperate climate - in cooler climates, a slab will lead to very cold floors in winter! It consists of a concrete slab laid onto the prepared house site. It is not just a flat piece of concrete - it generally forms an upside down 'U' shape, with the outside edges going up to two feet deep, whilst the inside section will only go four to six inches deep.
€ Basement: This foundation is exactly what it sounds like - a basement. A whole is dug and a concrete slab placed at the bottom. The walls are then built up, generally with concrete bricks, this essentially forms a concrete box. The structure is then built on top of this. Basements tend to be the most expensive variety of foundation, however they do provide the benefit of extra space that can be used for storage.
€ Crawl Space: This kind of foundation is the halfway measure, between a slab and a basement. It starts with a slab, which then has walls built up to a height of just a few feet, before the structure is built on top. This leaves just enough room for an adult to crawl, which gives this foundation its common name. This style is ideal for areas that may experience moderate flooding, as it keeps the actual dwelling clear of the ground. In addition to this, crawl spaces provide the perfect space for plumbing and electrics to be laid.
How Are They Damaged?
Most foundation damage can be placed into two broad categories - sinking and upheaval. Sinking is when the ground that surrounds your foundation begins to shrink, or subside, which will have a negative effect. The next is upheaval, which is a result of expansion in the surrounding soil, causing damage to a homes foundations. There are a number of indicators for both of these kinds of damage, including cracks and moisture build-up.
If you become aware of any irregularities in your foundation, you need to contact a professional repair company immediately. Damaged foundations can cause severe problems for the entire structure - the earlier you take action the better!
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