| Foundation walls are the same basic | | | | concrete block or wood. The major |
| principal as retaining walls. Foundation | | | | factors determining the size and shape |
| walls are set up and poured the same | | | | of the footing are the weight of the |
| way. Foundation walls are notorious for | | | | structure and the bearing capacity and |
| letting moisture from the ground seep in | | | | stability of the soil. Foundation walls |
| through the mortar joints, block or even | | | | are built on the footings. They are most |
| concrete. Even in new construction | | | | commonly made of poured concrete or |
| concrete foundation walls take several | | | | concrete block. Foundation walls are set |
| months to cure properly. | | | | and poured on day two. On day three, the |
| Poured concrete and masonry block are | | | | forms are stripped. If you choose to do |
| the most common materials in new | | | | your walls out of block it could |
| construction. Poured concrete foundation | | | | possibly save you time but it is |
| walls provide the structural integrity | | | | considerably more work and time |
| necessary to bridge "soft" zones on | | | | consuming. Poured concrete walls can |
| "marginal lands," saving the builder and | | | | have special designs such as Brick, |
| consumer time and money when | | | | stone or many other designs. This will |
| construction takes place on fill or poor | | | | give your basement a different look when |
| soil conditions. And technological | | | | you finish it off. |
| advances in concrete mixtures provide | | | | Concrete is designed based on the |
| quality control for poured concrete | | | | strength it should attain in 28 days, |
| foundation walls constructed in | | | | but it takes time to reach that |
| inclement weather or freezing | | | | strength, and the concrete can be |
| temperatures. | | | | vulnerable during that period. Tensile |
| Footers (the things your foundation sits | | | | force is applied to concrete as it |
| on) may be built on loose material. It | | | | contracts due to the evaporation of |
| might expand or contract over time | | | | unused water. Concrete professionals |
| because of the weight on it, or you may | | | | know that unless the material used fills |
| be in an area with soils that move. | | | | the crack cavity completely, including |
| Footings are the widened portion at the | | | | the portion of the crack below the |
| foot of the foundation walls. They must | | | | floor, it can't be considered a |
| be placed below the frost line to | | | | permanent repair solution. The only |
| prevent the building from moving as the | | | | material capable of completely |
| ground expands and contracts during | | | | penetrating a concrete foundation wall |
| freeze/thaw cycles. | | | | crack is epoxy. Concrete is tested when |
| Foundation walls are surprisingly | | | | it is poured to ensure its structural |
| complicated things because they have to | | | | integrity. Foundation walls are designed |
| hold up the weight of the house, resist | | | | to bear the full load of the house. |
| the pressure from the ground surrounding | | | | Usually a basement is not backfilled for |
| them, and keep the basement dry and | | | | at least 10 days after the concrete has |
| warm. That's why building codes are so | | | | been poured and must have bracing |
| strict about them, and that's why they | | | | material in place before the dozer |
| require so much painstaking planning. | | | | pushes the heavy dirt into place. A |
| Foundation walls are constructed by | | | | drain tile is also placed around the |
| pouring concrete between sets of form | | | | exterior walls along with pea-stone on |
| work. Wall thickness is determined by a | | | | top so that any water that accumulates |
| structural engineer who considers the | | | | around the walls can be moved away from |
| height of the wall and the load it has | | | | the house and keep you basement walls |
| to bear. Foundation walls are typically | | | | dry. |
| load-bearing, lumber-framed walls | | | | As always just be sure to do your |
| sheathed with structural plywood panels. | | | | homework when trying to find the best |
| All lumber and plywood components in a | | | | contractor for the job. The lowest price |
| PWF are pressure treated with a | | | | is not always the best way to go and if |
| relatively high concentration of a | | | | you choose to make your final decision |
| waterborne preservative to withstand | | | | on just that fact, be prepared to be |
| decay from moisture and insect damage. | | | | disappointed most of the time. |
| Foundation walls are poured concrete, | | | | |