What You Need to Know about Foundation Walls

Foundation walls are the same basic principal asFoundation walls are poured concrete, concrete
retaining walls. Foundation walls are set up andblock or wood. The major factors determining the
poured the same way. Foundation walls aresize and shape of the footing are the weight of
notorious for letting moisture from the groundthe structure and the bearing capacity and
seep in through the mortar joints, block or evenstability of the soil. Foundation walls are built on
concrete. Even in new construction concretethe footings. They are most commonly made of
foundation walls take several months to curepoured concrete or concrete block. Foundation
properly.walls are set and poured on day two. On day
Poured concrete and masonry block are the mostthree, the forms are stripped. If you choose to
common materials in new construction. Poureddo your walls out of block it could possibly save
concrete foundation walls provide the structuralyou time but it is considerably more work and
integrity necessary to bridge "soft" zones ontime consuming. Poured concrete walls can have
"marginal lands," saving the builder and consumerspecial designs such as Brick, stone or many
time and money when construction takes placeother designs. This will give your basement a
on fill or poor soil conditions. And technologicaldifferent look when you finish it off.
advances in concrete mixtures provide qualityConcrete is designed based on the strength it
control for poured concrete foundation wallsshould attain in 28 days, but it takes time to
constructed in inclement weather or freezingreach that strength, and the concrete can be
temperatures.vulnerable during that period. Tensile force is
Footers (the things your foundation sits on) mayapplied to concrete as it contracts due to the
be built on loose material. It might expand orevaporation of unused water. Concrete
contract over time because of the weight on it,professionals know that unless the material used
or you may be in an area with soils that move.fills the crack cavity completely, including the
Footings are the widened portion at the foot ofportion of the crack below the floor, it can't be
the foundation walls. They must be placed belowconsidered a permanent repair solution. The only
the frost line to prevent the building from movingmaterial capable of completely penetrating a
as the ground expands and contracts duringconcrete foundation wall crack is epoxy. Concrete
freeze/thaw cycles.is tested when it is poured to ensure its structural
Foundation walls are surprisingly complicated thingsintegrity. Foundation walls are designed to bear
because they have to hold up the weight of thethe full load of the house.
house, resist the pressure from the groundUsually a basement is not backfilled for at least 10
surrounding them, and keep the basement drydays after the concrete has been poured and
and warm. That's why building codes are so strictmust have bracing material in place before the
about them, and that's why they require so muchdozer pushes the heavy dirt into place. A drain tile
painstaking planning. Foundation walls areis also placed around the exterior walls along with
constructed by pouring concrete between sets ofpea-stone on top so that any water that
form work. Wall thickness is determined by aaccumulates around the walls can be moved
structural engineer who considers the height ofaway from the house and keep you basement
the wall and the load it has to bear. Foundationwalls dry.
walls are typically load-bearing, lumber-framedAs always just be sure to do your homework
walls sheathed with structural plywood panels. Allwhen trying to find the best contractor for the
lumber and plywood components in a PWF arejob. The lowest price is not always the best way
pressure treated with a relatively highto go and if you choose to make your final
concentration of a waterborne preservative todecision on just that fact, be prepared to be
withstand decay from moisture and insectdisappointed most of the time.
damage.