What Is The Best Foundation For Your Home Addition?

The best basement foundations is the one that will support your new structure. It should be strong enough to withstand all of the forces exerted on it by wind, snow and other elements. If you are adding an attic, crawl space, or basement, then the floor joists must also have adequate strength to carry the weight of these additions. You can use wood beams as well as steel I-beams in this case. Steel has greater tensile strength than wood so if you need more stability, go with steel.

If you want to add rooms such as bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living areas etc., then you need to make sure that they are supported properly. This means using concrete footings which provide lateral support. These footings should extend below grade level at least 12 inches deep. They should be poured into place before pouring any walls. In some cases, you may not even need them because most foundations do not require them. However, if you live near a body of water, then you might consider installing piers instead of footings. Piers help prevent erosion from occurring around your house.

There are different foundation types for any home foundation and addition foundation need on an existing house. From a stone foundation, concrete poured one, frost lines, house foundations, and crawlspace foundations, there’s always several types of house foundations to choose from in home building. Every house foundation type has a different set of needs – and this simply cannot be let to decide through personal preferences. 

 

Why a new foundation?

If you already own custom homes, chances are there’s no room left over for another building project on a basement or crawlspace. But what about those times when you don’t yet own a home but would like to start saving up for one? Or maybe you just love doing things yourself and think that you could save money by constructing everything yourself. Whatever the reason, building a new foundation is often necessary. Here are three reasons why:

 

1) A New Foundation Will Help Protect Against Flooding

Flood damage is common in many parts of North America. When flooding occurs, it causes severe structural problems. Water seeps through cracks in old buildings and damages their supporting structures. As time goes on, the problem gets worse until eventually the entire building collapses. To avoid this scenario, you should install a new foundation whenever possible.

 

2) A New Foundation Can Prevent Erosion

Erosion happens when soil erodes away due to heavy rainfalls. Over time, this process leads to land loss. Buildings built on unstable ground tend to sink deeper into the earth while those built on stable ground remain above the surface. Installing a new foundation helps protect against erosion since it provides additional support.

 

3) A New Foundation Allows More Room Inside

When you construct a new foundation, you increase the size of the footprint of your home. That way, you get more space inside without having to tear down anything else. Of course, you still have to pay attention to zoning laws and local ordinances regarding how much area you can expand your property.

 

How Much Does Building a New Foundation Cost?

Building a new foundation isn’t cheap. Depending on where you live, you can expect to spend anywhere between $10,000 and $50,000. Some people choose to hire professionals who specialize in construction work. Others prefer to tackle the job themselves. Either way, you’ll end up spending thousands of dollars. The good news is that once you finish, you won’t ever have to worry about repairing your existing foundation again!

 

Foundations to Consider for Building Home Additions

 

A concrete slab foundation with piers

This type of foundation has been around forever. It consists of poured concrete slabs supported by steel beams called “piers.” This kind of foundation works well if you need extra stability because it offers plenty of strength. However, pouring concrete takes lots of time and effort so it might not be ideal for everyone.

 

Concrete block wall foundation

Concrete blocks are easy to build and inexpensive. Plus, they come in different shapes and sizes. Blocks are usually laid horizontally and stacked vertically to create walls. Because they aren’t very sturdy, you’ll probably need to reinforce them with metal rods.

 

Wood frame foundation

Also known as timber framing, is similar to concrete block foundations except that instead of using concrete, wood planks or boards are used. Timber frames are typically made from 2×4’s, which makes them strong enough to hold most homes. They’re relatively quick to put together too. If you want something simple but durable, then this may be an option worth considering. 

 

Steel-reinforced concrete foundation

Steel-reinforced concrete is one of the strongest types of foundations available today. You can use rebar to strengthen the structure even further. These kinds of foundations require some skill though, so make sure you know what you’re doing before starting.

 

Brick veneer foundation﹑

If you don’t mind working outside all day long, brick veneers are perfect for building a house. Brick veneers are basically bricks attached to each other. They look great and provide excellent insulation properties. Unfortunately, they also cost quite a bit. But if you love the idea of being able to walk through your own backyard anytime you like, then brick veneers could be just right for you.

 

The best contractor for your foundation construction

There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a builder for your project. Here are three things to keep in mind:

 

1) Experience

How experienced is he/she? Do they have experience with residential projects? Have they built any additions recently? What do their previous clients say about them?

 

2) References

Ask for references. Find out whether his past customers were satisfied with the results. Also ask how much did it cost him/her to complete the project. Was there anything unexpected during the process? Did they charge more than expected? Were there delays?

 

3) Insurance & Bonding

Make sure the company carries liability insurance and workers compensation coverage. Check to see if they carry general liability insurance. And find out if they offer bonding services. A bond means that the contractor will pay back money if the customer doesn’t get paid.

 

When looking for a contractor, consider these questions:

• Is the contractor licensed and insured?
• Does the contractor specialize in foundations?
• Will the contractor work within my budget?
• Can I meet the contractor at the job site?
• Are there any hidden costs?
• Who owns the property where the foundation will go on?
• Where does the foundation sit?
• How big is the area around the foundation?
• What kind of soil conditions exist near the foundation?
• How deep should the foundation be dug?
• What type of foundation material should I choose?
• Should I hire a structural engineer for basement foundations or an addition foundation?
• When will the foundation be ready?
• How soon after completion will I receive payment?
• How often will I have to visit the job site? 

 

If you’re in Northern Colorado and you’re looking for a reliable general contractor who can easily get your done in the best, fastest, and safest way possible, you may want to call Local Map Construction at 720-635-2941 or send an e-mail to get a response ASAP. 

 

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