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Advantages of a Precast Foundation System

Chris Vila joins Superior Walls� Mel Zimmerman to talk about a few of the benefits of a factory-built foundation system. Constructed in a controlled environment, the foundation walls can be delivered to the site and installed in a single day. The panels have provisions for wiring and plumbing systems, and even have pressure-treated lumber furring strips attached to the concrete to facilitate the easy installation of drywall. The cost of a factory built foundation system is comparable to a traditional foundation, according to Zimmerman.

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Advantages of a Precast Foundation System

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" So now to some a little bit more about your background and what exactly prompted you to come up with this process well I was a builder. And nice to build houses in the medium range houses that. We were using concrete block foundations and there is some problems with those kind of problems. Well we had water penetration through the walls we also had strength problems and also. They were quite damp and cold. Right and I just thought that customer deserved a better product so. This really turned out good. The space this year enough in the typical foundation will you put in and putting it in the reforms. And resented actually do the pouring. Wait a few days been taken to the stripping. We can be looking at anywhere from a week and a half to two weeks right sure what about this about superior -- this O'Brien and -- day. We have a controlled atmosphere where before they have the country's. From the be from the front looks like it's it's a stud and it's actually cement -- think -- right -- to steel reinforced concrete that. -- as they wouldn't furring strip bonnet. It has that Dow styrofoam. On it and noticing that these are these are drill outs for wiring. There don't drill outs for secondary. Wiring and secondary plumbing. They concrete is poured onto the insulation. And defend -- bonded together which makes it a composite and that he's of this. You can imagine how dry it is when you put your hand on this insulation that's hot dry the consumer gets -- so we're solving all of our water problems what about the costs. Which involved in now. An average foundation for something like this might cost around 24 point 5000 dollars. Yeah about this from really coming up coming out our classrooms. And that in some cases in this particular case we did but in some cases why we're running pretty close of the sank. And your cost includes the additional benefit of already having the windows all roughed out ready to go. Yes it this is great thanks a lot now you can't welcome."

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Foundation Inspection

Foundation repairs are expensive; help avoid major problems in the future by doing a regular checkup on your home. Inspect foundation walls for cracks; these can be caused by settling, expanding tree roots, or improper drainage. Inspect and clean out your gutters regularly and be sure that the drains direct water away from the foundation.

Choosing Between a Poured Foundation or a Crawlspace

Bob's back at the Mashpee site where he meets with developer Joe Valle to discuss the foundation that is being poured. Valle explains that the excavation work for an average foundation costs about $5,000 and includes the digging, backfill, and finish grading. The poured foundation also costs about $5,000, divided equally between the cost of labor and the cost of materials. Valle estimates it will take about 30 yards of concrete to pour the average foundation, which is equal to three truckloads. Bob questions the decision to pour a full foundation and wonders if it might not be more economical to build a crawlspace. Valle explains that the advantages of a full basement far outweigh any cost savings from digging and pouring a shallower foundation. The added living space is well worth the cost, especially since the foundation must be dug and poured regardless of the depth. As for a concrete slab, Valle says that the market does not support it in the Massachusetts area. Even with a slab house, a frost wall must be dug and poured, before the concrete arrives for the slab. Once the foundation is poured for this River Hill home, posts are set every 16 inches so that the sill can be bolted to the foundation and the house can be tied down to its base.

Demolition and Reconstruction of Victorian Foundation

Bob is with Tim Berky, the general contractor for the Rowley Victorian addition and kitchen remodel. He updates Bob on the progress since the footing for the new foundation was poured and repairs to the original foundation were made. Berky and his crew found dry rot in the existing entry and had to remove it completely. The mason had to create a sloping course to level out the existing entry foundation and repoint it to blend it into the new foundation work. Inside, Berky and his crew removed the bathroom fixtures, secured the pipes to prevent leaking, opened the walls to expose wires and pipes for shutoff, and began to cut the entry into chunks for removal. The sill was releveled and an adhesive was used to attach the new sill to the brick foundaiton.

Reviewing the Plans for the Foundation

Bob and Ryley make their first tour of the site where the foundation is already in place. Ryley notes that with a sloping grade you want to drop the foundation as you follow the grade so that you don't have a lot of concrete sticking above the ground. Bob points out that the beauty of a sloping site is that the basement provides really good living space. Looking at the smoothness of the foundation wall Ryley can tell that the contractor used new forms for the pour. The horizontal line in the wall indicates where during the pour one truck pulled out and another pulled in, not uncommon in a large pour. The honeycombing that Bob notices is purely an aesthetic issue which could have been avoided by vibrating the concrete during the pour but does not compromise the wall's structural integrity. Bob and Ryley finish up with a quick look at the plans for the basement layout.