New Foundation Construction

Get a sturdy foundation for your new home or building

Are you building a new home? The foundation is the most important part of the structure and as so, it should be built by foundation contractors with experience in new construction. Foundation is the one area of the house you do not want to overlook or attempt to cut corners. Below are the most common types of home foundations.

Basement Foundation

Basements, whether built with block, stone or poured concrete walls, are popular types of foundation because they house and provide easy access to plumbing, ducts, water heaters, and HVAC appliances. They also provide extra room for storage, a laundry room, and when finished, they add living space. The only problem with basements is that they are prone to groundwater intrusion and floods due to storms, plumbing leaks, and drainage clogs. Special attention must be paid to the foundation and yard drainage systems when building a basement type foundation. The soil around the foundation must be properly graded to divert water away from the basement, and the drainage system should be serviceable and divert to a powerful sump pump.

Crawl Space Foundation

In theory, crawl spaces combine the best of both words between basements and slab on grade foundations. In areas where the frost line is of concern, they raise the house just above it and provide easy access to plumbing, ducts, and appliances. They are also quicker and more affordable to build than a basement. The only problem with crawl spaces happens if they are vented. Vented crawl spaces tend to be very humid in the summer, and freezing cold in the winter causing pipes to burst and HVAC ducts to cool down the heated air as it passes through them, making the HVAC system work harder than it should. Modern crawl spaces are sealed, insulated and conditioned for better performance and energy efficiency year-round.

Slab-on-Grade Foundation

Slab foundations are only suitable for the warmer areas of the country, where the frost line is not a concern. They can be built easily and quickly, and the only concern is access to pipes, ducts, and appliances. In homes with slab foundations, part of the ducts and appliances are often housed in the attic, but some of the pipes run under the slab. If there is a serious problem with them, it might be necessary to break through the concrete.

When it is time to build your new home’s foundation, let HomePro Match find the best professionals for the job, right where you live.