Dig deep into the different types of house foundations by looking into the options and materials availabe as well as other considerations in order to build a solid foundation for your home.
When building a home from the ground up, considering the main structure and systems would come up as one of the first decisions to make. It also stands as one of the critical factors to consider. House foundations come in different types and various techniques so learn all about them in order to find the right type for your home design.
Table of Contents
A. House Foundation Types
1. Basement Foundation (Two Types)
Full Basement
Basement foundations have structural walls extending underground. Two types are common: full and daylight. A full basement is entirely underground, either with no windows or small ones at ground level.
Daylight Basement
A daylight basement is on a slope. Some walls are below ground, blocking daylight, and others are partly or entirely above-ground.
Achieving a daylight or walkout basement requires the right slope on your lot. But if you don’t mind spending a lot of money on prepping your home build site, it is possible to grade the lot to accommodate a daylight basement.
2. Crawlspace Foundation
A crawlspace foundation involves short foundation walls on footings. These types of foundations are usually unheated but have ventilation to avoid moisture buildup. They use poured concrete or mortared concrete blocks, and they’re less expensive than a full basement.
Many people consider a partial basement to be a crawl space since you can store some items there but can’t convert it into a living space.
3. Concrete Slab Foundation
Concrete slab foundations, or slab-on-grade foundations, are a common option in many areas. They’re best for climates where the ground doesn’t freeze and thaw throughout the winter. These types of house foundations help protect against termites.
Accessing water and drainage pipes can be complicated, however, because those features typically lie underneath a few inches of concrete. Slab-on-grade foundations are one of the least expensive foundation options.
4. Wood Foundation
Wood foundations are often standard in northern areas. They can have a crawl space underneath, too. It’s also common to find basements that layer pressure-treated wood on top of concrete floors—but technically, such a combination would count as a concrete foundation.
5. Pre-Poured Slab
Pre-poured slabs are precast foundation panels that move into place with the help of a crane or other heavy equipment. They can make a foundation installation much faster, but they’re also more expensive than pouring a concrete slab
