Common Residential Home Foundations

Although homeowners don’t think much about foundations, they are crucial components of every home. They bear the entire weight of the structure. Foundations have an additional function. They must keep groundwater and soil vapours from entering the home’s interior. There are four options available when you decide on the foundation drilling in Los Angeles for your new home. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

How to choose a Home Foundation?

Basement

Basements are not only the most expensive option to install your foundation, they also offer the greatest value. Basements are a great option in the Bay Area because they can increase the square footage of your home without increasing its footprint. Basements can also be used as living space and storage. Basements can be a great choice if cost is not an issue. However, in areas where the water table is high they might not be a good idea.

Slab

Because of their cost and simplicity, slabs are the most popular type of foundation in California. Slab foundations are easier to maintain than other types of foundations, but they have their drawbacks. Foundation slabs can crack from earthquakes and expansive soils. Slabs still have cracking problems, but in recent years, Post Tension cables inside slabs have helped to reduce the problem. Slabs can only be used when the ground level is good, but any slope to the lot may make it less practical.

Crawlspace

A crawlspace foundation can be used in lieu of or in conjunction with a slab. To support the walls of the home, cinder blocks must be placed on top of footings. A crawlspace foundation is usually positioned at least a foot above the ground. This leaves an opening beneath the structure.

Because plumbing isn’t buried under a slab like it would be underneath a slab, repairs are easier. Additionally, the crawlspace enclosure contains conditioned air so it won’t feel as cold or warm as the home above. Crawlspaces provide protection from moisture entering the home. Crawlspaces are less expensive than a basement, but more expensive than slabs.

Pier and Beam

A complex of drilled beams and piers supports your home, as the name implies. The piers are driven into the soil so that they rest on solid rocks, while the beams support the house. This has the advantage that your house will not shift due to soil movement underneath. Although this foundation is more costly than a concrete slab it provides more long-term support.