What Type of Foundation Should I Go With? What Options Do I Have?

(Photo courtesy of Hamilton Building Services  2016)

      There are a surprising amount of foundation types. Some of the most common at this time are poured foundations, which use metal molds for the foundation. But this isn't the only option you have. Today, we will be talking about the 4 types of foundation and the pros and cons between them.

Poured Foundations

     A poured foundation is exactly what it sounds like, using wet concrete to fill the molds that make up the foundation. This can be used for crawl space, or full height basements. Poured foundations are stronger than block foundation, because there is more lateral strength, which means they can resist more outside pressure. There are no joints in a poured foundation, meaning it will be significantly easier to waterproof than a block foundation. Poured foundations, however, are not insulated by default without the need for additional framing on the inside of the wall, which can increase cost. However, poured foundation are typically less expensive than a block wall.

Block Foundations

     Block foundations (seen above) are fairly common. They have use as full basements, but are typically seen as crawl spaces, or just frost walls. Block foundations are typically less of an investment than poured foundations, meaning that that there is less of a crew and less materials used. However, the time associated with building a block foundation, specifically on a full basement, makes the endeavor less feasible. It's recommended that block foundation are used for crawl spaces for those looking to save money. The porosity of a block makes waterproofing more difficult.   

ICF Foundations

     Insulated Concrete Forms, or ICFs, are a type of foundation that provide an insulation to the basement. These foundations are made by placing a hollow foam block that is then filled with poured concrete. ICF Foundations are going to be far more efficient, with R-values greater than 20, with poured foundations typically less than 3. There is a price uptick by going with ICF, but the efficiency alone may be worth it.

Precast Foundations

      Precast foundations are basement walls similar to panelized walls that Hamilton Building Services provides, except are made of concrete. They are still made in a factor and delivered to site and placed in the ground. Often times they are insulated on the inside with steel reinforced concrete studs. No need from interior framing around the outside of the basement. If you require more insulation than the R21.3 that's provided with precast options, there are gaps between studs to put batting. With less construction time, you're saving on man hours on site, driving the price down making it fairly competitive to poured foundations.

     There's no correct answer to what you should get. It's going to be different depending on build location, budget, basement design, etc. If you're looking for a speedy build, with full basement for a good price, you cant go wrong with precast options. Block foundations are find for crawlspaces, as are poured options if you wanted more strength. Talk to an experienced contractor in the area that knows what foundations perform best.