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3 Types of House Foundations
Every house must have a foundation, but did you know that there are different kinds of foundations? Foundation type depends on a variety of factors, ranging from soil to climate to budget. That being said, most home foundations fall into three general kinds: basement, crawlspace, or slab-on-grade. If you are building a new home or thinking of moving, it’s important to consider the foundation of the home. Find the right type of foundation for your home.
Continue reading to learn more, and if you need new concrete poured or foundation repair for your current foundation, contact A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair in Nashville.
Basement Foundations
Basement foundations are designed for living space or storage. This type of foundation is defined by the functional requirements of the space rather than other structural considerations. Full basements are hollow, sub-grade structures and are built with either cinder block or concrete walls. Because the foundation is so deep, it’s vital to make sure that the walls are completely waterproof to avoid things like a leaky basement down the road. If you do find that you have issues with a wet basement, be sure to contact A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair in Nashville for foundation repair.
Basement foundations commonly come in two types: full or daylight. A full basement is entirely underground while a daylight basement is built on a slope with some walls above ground and others below. A daylight basement may also be a walkout basement if the grade of the slope is right. These types of foundations are trickier to achieve though and will cost significantly more than a more traditional foundation. Basement foundations can be finished or unfinished, and finished basements are used for living while unfinished basements are used as storage or places for water heaters and furnaces.
Crawlspace Foundation
A crawlspace foundation is built from short foundation walls on footings. This type of foundation is less expensive than other foundations, as it is using less concrete. Instead of a full slab or basement, the concrete is in pillars placed in high-load areas. The benefit of this foundation is that they have plenty of ventilation to avoid moisture buildup, which can cause water damage to your home. You can store some things in a crawlspace foundation, but because the space is open, there is no climate control. A crawlspace foundation can be very short or they can be larger, around four feet tall or so. They are typically ventilated with small vents through the foundation walls to reduce dampness.
Concrete Slab Foundation
Concrete slab foundation, or slab-on-grade foundations, are just what they sound like: a solid concrete slab resting directly on the ground. These types of foundations are commonly used in places where the winter is not cold enough for the ground to freeze, which causes the ground to shift and can lead to cracked concrete. Concrete slab foundations tend to be more affordable tan subgrade basements and do provide excellent protection against termites. The downside of a slab foundation is that the water and drainage pipes are encased in the concrete, which means that if you have a problem with your plumbing, the slab must be cut to fix the pipes. Also, a slab foundation means that you don’t have access to storage or extra living space.
A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair in Nashville
No matter what type of foundation your home has, it’s important that it’s sturdy and up to the task of holding up your home! If you have any problems with your foundation, such as foundation cracks or foundation settlement, contact us for foundation repair. We provide free quotes, and we’ll let you know whether you need foundation repair and what your options are. Along with foundation repair, we also specialize in concrete pouring and concrete leveling. Contact us today for a free quote.
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