Your Home's Foundation: Starting With A Strong Beginning

The foundation of a home is where all of the structural weight of the home is placed. If your foundation is damaged, the entire structure could suffer as a result, which is why a solid base is so important. The type of foundation your home has can vary depending on location, the ground it sits on, or simply the choice of material the builder has decided to use. Before you purchase a new home, it's always a good idea to look into the way it is built, particularly what kind of foundation it sits on. Having a good understanding of the different types of foundations for homes can arm you with better information about how to manage and take good care of the home you live in.

Slab

The most common type of foundation is a simple concrete slab. Sturdy and resilient, concrete is a popular building material. The concrete is poured into a frame, and then graded with the slope of the land in order to ensure that it is straight, and that water will be routed downward away from the home's foundation. In colder Canadian climates, a foam underlayment is often placed to add an extra layer of insulation and to protect against frost related damage. Concrete slabs are sturdy and provide a good simple foundation, but they can be prone to cracking in extreme weather circumstances.

Basement

Excellent storage and extra living space can be provided when a home has a basement foundation. Walls are placed using concrete slabs that are approximately four inches thick. Windows are usually added in order to provided extra ventilation and light. In areas above sea level, basements are ideal because they are less prone to flooding. Today's homeowners will often finish a basement to make it serve as an extra room. This is a good selling feature for potential buyers. Basements make good foundations as long as the homeowner properly maintains them, checking for any potential cracks in the floor or water damage.

Crawlspace

Much smaller than a basement, a crawlspace foundation provides just enough room to run items like electrical lines, plumbing, and other materials under the home where people can gain access. They've earned their name because there is usually just enough room for someone to crawl in them. There should be vent openings along the crawlspace to allow for good ventilation. Proper ventilation is essential to avoid mold damage. Openings should be sealed or blocked off in order to avoid pests from making their home inside the foundation. 

Guarding Your Foundation

A solid foundation is needed in order for a home to be stable, so it's important to be aware of potential trouble signs. Look for water seeping into the basement, or for cracking around brick inside or outside the home. You may even see your house begin to slightly droop or shift in one direction. If you see any of these issues, you should contact a foundation repair specialist like Ramco Foundation Repairs immediately. The sooner you address foundation issues, the safer your home will be.

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