The strength of any single building or premises lies in its foundation. It is therefore of utmost importance to ensure that the foundation of a building is very strong to guarantee long life for that particular building.

There are several typical home foundation types that are typically used on new home constructon in the United States.   These types include Slab, Crawlspace, and/or a standard Basement, and each type has its own specific advantages and disadvantages.

Slab  Foundations – The slab foundation is a very common type, and can be one of the more cost-effective options, depending on the local conditions and requirements of where the home will be built.  The slab foundation is relatively simple to construct and is typically least expensive to construct, however certain parts of the country are not as conducive as others to build this type of foundation, due to differences in frost line locations and the individual geographic characteristics of the underlying land.

Crawlspace Foundations – The crawlspace foundation is another very common type in the United States, and involves building a home on a series of pilings whereby an open space of 2-3 feet of space is created for locating air conditioning systems, plumbing, and other miscellaneous items such as lawnmowers, etc.  This type is typically more expensive to build than a Slab but less expensive than a Basement.    Advantages of this type include providing additional space for locating the above type items, providing easy access to the underside of the home (for repairs, etc), and providing an elevated living area to help with flooding situations, etc.  

Basement Foundations – The basement foundation is more commonly built in colder regions where the frost line is greater than a few feet deep.  Basements can be finished or unfinished, and can add anything from extra storage space to a recreational area.  It is a common concern that people have in relation to basements that they are likely to leak. This problem however can be solved through proper drainage and tanking as experts indicate.  One major benefit to this type of foundation is the creation of additional, and relatively inexpensive living space in the home.

It is clear that each foundation type has its relative advantages and disadvantages. Consult with your builder about your specific house plans to  decide which option is best for your needs…

Best wishes in building your new house plans!