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