Our parody on the Twelve Days of Christmas continues. We dare you not to sing them out loud!
Six formers forming,
Five golden kings! (of finance that is!)
Four house plans to choose from,
Three French city planners,
Two steel-toed boots,
and a journal for my hopes and dreams!
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Laying your foundation is the first part of seeing tangible progress in the building of your home. It is also the most important and the term has worked its way into much of our language. Relationships require a strong foundation, so does financial planning, but what does it all mean?
The foundation of your home has several purposes:
It lifts your house above the ground.
It keeps moisture and cold out of your home.
It ensures your house holds steady even though the earth surrounding it is prone to movement.
Careful consultation with your builder will help you choose the best foundation for your building site. Your options are basically pier foundation, slab, basement or crawlspace.
Ask your contractor, insurance professional and even realtors the following questions:
What is common for my area?
While many people like the bonus space of a basement, certain areas prone to flooding or with shallow bedrock simply do not have the option. You have no choice but to respect the limitations of your location.
What effect will the various options have on resale value?
Realtors are the best ones to answer this question. Seasoned professionals will know what the ongoing issues are in a given area.
What do professionals recommend?
You CAN build any type of foundation, or any house for that matter, if you are prepared to pay for it. Working with your contractor or foundation specialist will help you determine the best solution for your location and your budget.
Because of the structural importance of the foundation, you must choose wisely or face possible expenses of thousands of dollars. Always check references on the builder you are using thoroughly before you sign on the dotted line and find out what type of warranty they provide. Start with your local CHBA or other building association to find professionals that take pride in their professionalism.
Are there any requirements or restrictions on my choice?
Be sure you check with the city or municipal office where you will be building to find out if there are any restrictions on your choice of house foundation.
If you plan to build in a subdivision, check the “Covenants and Restrictions” or building scheme information. If you are still deciding on your land, consider your choice of a home foundation as an important criteria for choosing your building lot or land.
Your structural engineer and your potential builders should also be aware of general practices and restrictions in your area of the country.
While many people like the bonus space of a basement, certain areas prone to flooding or with shallow bedrock simply do not have the option. You have no choice but to respect the limitations of your location.
Finally, it would be prudent to check with your insurance agent about your planned type of foundation.
Now that we have armed you with your information shopping list, we can throw one more term at you that deserves mention… ICF or Insulated Concrete Forms. These are leave-in-place rigid foam forms that also provide R-Value to your basement walls. Stay tuned to our blog for more information on that topic in the new year!
Stay tuned for all 12 days or look at the full 12 days of building series for articles you may have missed!
Happy Holidays!
