Depending on the home you select, foundations may be available as slab, crawlspace, or full basement. Different types of foundations may be optimal depending on the plan you choose, your region, your budget, and your personal preference. Many plans can be professionally modified to meet your ideal foundation choice for your needs.
Slab foundations are concrete slabs, between 6 and 8 inches thick, upon which the houses are built. They are the least expensive type of foundation and are common in areas where high clay content causes problems with settling or where there is inadequate subsurface drainage.
Crawlspace foundations, common in moist climates, the house is built on stem walls approximately two feet high, creating a crawlspace under the house.
Full basements create more space in a home-whether finished, for living space, or unfinished, for storage space -- and offer flexibility in design on sloped lots. They require more labor and are consequently more expensive and time-consuming to build than slab or crawlspace foundations.
Unfinished Basement A basement foundation system is basically a deeper variation of a crawlspace foundation system. However, instead of a dirt floor, a poured concrete slab floor is utilized. Most homes usually incorporate an interior staircase to access the basement. Basement foundations become practical, when footings for a crawlspace foundation are required to be dug four feet or more. Also, if you are building in an area that is prone to severe weather, a basement is recommended.
Unfinished Walkout Basement Sometimes called a daylight basement, this application is more practical for a sloping lot. Walkout basements, either finished or unfinished, have a portion of one or two of its perimeter walls exposed to the exterior with door access to the lower yard. Often an outdoor deck off of the house floor above is incorporated as part of the design.
Finished Walkout Basement Sometimes called a daylight basement, this application is more practical for a sloping lot. Walkout basements, either finished or unfinished, have a portion of one or two of its perimeter walls exposed to the exterior with door access to the lower yard. Often an outdoor deck off of the house floor above is incorporated as part of the design.
Basement/Slab Basement/Slab foundation combines elements of both the full basement and the slab foundation. The majority of the foundation is a full basement and the rest is a slab. This type of foundation system is usually found in houses with attached garages and where there is a living area, such as a family room, that is adjacent to the garage.
Pier / Piling Essentially, a crawlspace foundation, this system is utilized when soil conditions dictate that deep footings be utilized to support the house. Engineering is required to determine the proper size and placement of footings and piers.