MEET MARIA
If you want to build a new house, one of the considerations is to choose the right kind of foundation. Before building basement and foundation, you need to understand about the local groundwater and soil conditions. As an example, constructing a full basement could be time consuming and expensive, because you need to blast through solid rock. In other cases, the soil is relatively soft, but the water table is high, which could threat your foundation and basement with water damage. If you make mistake not considering the soil and groundwater situation, you may risk the structural integrity of your house in the long run. If water damage to your foundation and basement is persistent, this could significantly lower the price of your house or no one will be willing to purchase your home.
Using concrete slab for making basement and foundation is attractive, because the overall cost is low. Make sure that you choose the right method, so you can accelerate the construction schedule. After you pour the slab, you can start with the wall framing. However, make sure that you prepare special slots for pipes and electrical cables. So, you can access them easily during repair tasks. Eventually, you will need to repair piping and wires, so you don’t have to blast into the concrete slab. Thermal conduction is an issue if you have concrete wall for the basement. It will conduct cold into the basement during and the concrete itself can be near frozen. So, you need to have a layer of insulation embedded inside the concrete block to reduce heating bills during winter.
You may also consider using crawl space foundations, so HVAC systems and plumbing can be easily accessible. The wall of the crawl space should be properly insulated. You need to place vapour barriers over the soils, so you can fully control the moisture. The foundation walls and their seams must be properly sealed. If you don’t set up the vapour barrier, moisture will travel to the wooden components of your house and eventually to things inside your house. Over the years, the foundation wall, wooden components of your house and the interior will be humid. This is a great habitat for mold problems. In severe weather, crawl spaces can provide protection if you install access door. So, it can work as a form of emergency bunker.
When building foundation or basement, you should consider about the cost per square foot. With the right method, you can make sure that the overall costs will be much lower. Full basement may make the house more attractive for potential buyers. A full concrete-encased basement could protect the whole family, even if the house is directly on the path of tornado. With proper insulation technique, it shouldn’t be hard to keep your basement dry, even during a very wet rainy day. You need to set up the drainage system properly and avoid allowing water to collect near the basement wall. Thick, non-degrading, waterproof plastic sheet can also be inserted inside the concrete wall to further reduce penetration of moisture.
