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Installing the Precast Foundation

The basement walls are lifted into place and secured. The prebuilt walls have a insullation of R5 and have steel reinforced concrete studs. Each section is bolted together and sealed with adhesive. This foundation system uses a 5000psi concrete mix preventing moisture wicking through. The system is also ideal for cold weather installation as the concrete is already cured before delivery.

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Installing the Precast Foundation

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Precast Foundation System

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Innovative Septic System Installation

Clip Transcript For:

Installing the Precast Foundation

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" OK -- this is the difficult job -- to put in place news it forms the corner right. I got to get over this the -- at the moment Kara when he but the thinking -- as -- as."

" Aspirations of water. I didn't really don't have to break the wall after they'd get this thing is that."

" OK there I had corners together and it. That brief sections that are going here we'll effectively form are twelve by twelve foot pavilion that we were just looking at in the floor plan. That's right which is a little room separate from the main body of the house. All right do. We've got the pavilion basement complete and now we're going on with the house and it just literally happened -- you come up with this idea. The -- greatly needed that space. Yeah. I designed it. We've seen that happen got a real nice that you got a patent on it right yeah that's right. And what are some of the advantages of using this kind of -- that it's fully insulated. What's the."

" So you're looking at rigid insulation it gives you an arms fire and -- beyond it is a thickness of country this -- UH it's. A close to two inches yet and inside that thickness of two inches do you have reinforcing. Steel except fiber reinforced like. Polypropylene fibers millions of fibers per yard. Like country okay then the only steel that involved in the opening it in these these. Concrete studs that you go curators steel reinforcing and -- with a lot of other diagonal sealant at which he talks here your connectors okay. And how did the under the get put together. We just all began at the top and -- bottom and we use a sealant that it would at the joints to seal all the moisture."

" Now millions and -- we did you develop this system is good to kind of guaranteed to get -- dollars. On. How can you do that what is there about this system that'll help me have a drive -- abatement. Bob Bob -- foundations. Have paid 3000. -- 3500 PSI mix congress we heard around -- experience strength again and that our system has they have 5000 PSI mix. And therefore it's impervious to water the density of the concrete is what you're talking about density of the pact creates poured in a controlled atmosphere okay. There when you've got that high density it. Not been alone anymore if you're awake through it that's right and therefore you don't have that an additional similar to. Put it to the other advantage. It's that poured in a controlled atmosphere again. Because. You can that they got in the wintertime when you have a short window of time that you need to get the -- him. Yep and you don't have to worry about the cold weather. Because you don't have security and -- and they have -- time great. Now what are some of the advantages that. Inside respect it was the -- obviously going to finish it paid off the all they have me. Make it foam insulation and you have the whole -- on your electrical wiring through. You have your would laugh anything to walk anymore and quite -- you can -- Easily put in Batt or you can put in more rigid. And if the pressure treated throughout here for a variety -- drywall right on. Not defective thought things that competitive -- competitive with support traditional."

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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.