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Laying Precast Foundation System

Ryley meets with Jim Whiteside, construction manager for Habitat and they look at the pre-cast foundation by Superior Wall Systems.

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Laying Precast Foundation System

Clip Transcript For:

Laying Precast Foundation System

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" I see you've already got the foundation and yeah. How did that -- fire and went very well. Just take a week ago there was nothing here we've dug a hole we've put the bed of gravel down. Is it -- in that truck came and crane crane -- all the pieces into place in this pre fabricated foundation journalists is that Clinton is taking that's going on -- had any glitches or anything yet the only problem that we've had was that there is a bakery here and we had to dig very deep down for this the -- on the porch my fashion. Because normally go down around 42 inches that's the minimum requirement to live below the frost correct but. Here we had to go down nine heat because you have to go to undisturbed soil. We want to me right here that we would suffice. It wouldn't sink at all OK well we were here last week and anti some filming of this foundation -- so why pick a lot."

" A pre cast foundation was delivered to the job site on a flatbed truck. We use in the superior walls system for the foundation that I you know -- them. The handles. -- lifted one at a time by crane and carefully and precisely maneuvered into place and insulation. The superior walls system really makes the job -- easy and fast day installation begins with economy. Foundations rest on a bed of compacted crushed stone. The panels are built with steel reinforced concrete studs using a waterproof concrete mix of 5000 PSI of the concrete for the panels is -- from the factory controlled optimal conditions. Which -- a strong foundation that resists cracks and leaks. After a careless grace the feet of polyurethane sealant is applied before. The positioning of the adjoining panel. Another panel is lowered into position. Temperatures sections are bolted together with steel hardware at the top. And -- yeah. The cars. -- Process is repeated as the rest of the panels are lowered into place both together. Beauty of this system is that because the panels are precast. Foundation can be installed pretty much year round in most weather conditions. Panels -- pre insulated with one -- of rigid insulation. Inside edges of the wall studs come with a factory installed pressure treated wood yeah the studs also comes pre cast with -- wiring. Which makes an abrasive finish a basement into a comfortable living. The average sized rectangular foundation can be installed -- 45 dollars. After all the panels of -- in place group against or in the concrete for the basement school. This crew worked pretty fast in the basement we'll be done no. As soon as we finish -- in the basement -- we can get to -- and forest floor joists and subfloor. And backfill the foundation. The superior walls system the whole foundation is installed in the day. And I schedule that's pretty good."

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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.