Module 13 - Floor and FOundation Assemblies.pptx

STRAND Energy-Star Training Floors and Foundation © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 1. Basement Foundation A full basement foundation begins with a hole of at least eight feet deep to accommodate an underground living space whose floor space matches most or all of the home’s ground leve...

STRAND Energy-Star Training Floors and Foundation © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 1. Basement Foundation A full basement foundation begins with a hole of at least eight feet deep to accommodate an underground living space whose floor space matches most or all of the home’s ground level. You’ll place structural foundation walls on concrete footings that run the perimeter of the basement. Those footings need to be placed at least 12 inches below previously undisturbed soil and at least 12 inches below the frost line. You’ll then pour beams, erect foundation walls, and pour a cement slab inside the walls. © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 2. Crawlspace Stem Walls Short foundation walls on concrete footings, or stem walls, form the foundations of houses with crawlspaces. They form a space that’s exactly as it sounds: a slightly elevated space below a house through which you can crawl, and often provides enough room for storage, a furnace, and other equipment. © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 3. Concrete Slab Foundations A slab foundation, sometimes called a monolithic or monoslab foundation, is a flat concrete slab that rests on the ground and is poured in one single piece. The main advantage of a monolithic foundation is that they’re less expensive and quicker to construct. In fact, the installation is a simple process. A concrete-embedded beam runs about two feet deep around the perimeter of the slab, and wire mesh and steel reinforcing bars are embedded in the concrete. Since buildings that sit on a slab don’t have crawl spaces, homeowners won’t have to worry about the maintenance issues a crawlspace can present. © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 4. Wood Foundations Wood might seem like an unusual choice for a foundation, but it became a popular choice in the 1960s. Builders will use preservative-treated wood that is resistant to decay and easy to install. Because they don’t require concrete pouring or labor-intensive masonry work, wood foundations are faster and less expensive to install. Builders can also insulate these foundations and create a warmer crawlspace—and a less drafty house. Fun fact for those who doubt the durability of wood construction in the right climate: Archaeologists have found beams made of Cyprus wood in Egyptian pyramids that are over 6000 years old. © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 5. Pier and Beam Foundations In coastal areas, the best way to anchor a home above soil that’s constantly shifting, flooding, or eroding is to build a pier and beam foundation (also known as “piers and pile” or “pier and post” foundations). You’ll often find them in areas prone to hurricane conditions or major flooding. They need to support the home and protect it from moisture, so they require serious planning. They work in the same way an ocean pier does by fixing long pillars—often over 15 yards long to reach solid ground—into the deepest layers of stone and soil. Builders use them with heavier homes because the pillars displace the weight of the house over a large area, preventing the home from sinking. © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204 © 2023 STRAND Dallas I Texas 972 620 8204