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Concord Foundation

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Concrete Foundation

The type of foundation that your home is built on will have an impact on its structural integrity. One of the strongest and most popular foundation types is the concrete foundation. This is a foundation that is made of a concrete slab placed on a sand layer to ensure proper drainage. When a house is built on a slab, it contains no crawlspaces and it has no space left beneath the floor. If you are considering buying a home that has any type of concrete foundation, you need to understand the benefits and drawbacks of this kind of foundation. Call (925) 329-3594 for free quotes and estimates.

The reason why such houses don’t have crawl spaces or a basement but are simply built on a concrete slab is that the location will probably have a bedrock or a high water table. This makes the concrete to be poured onto the ground at the same time. At times, post-tension cables can be added or reinforced using steel rods known as rebars to help the slab bear the weight of the house.

The house is then built on top of the concrete foundation. Some of the areas where slab foundations are common to include southern states that have warm climates or where the ground isn’t likely to freeze, resulting in cracking of the foundation.

Learn More About Concrete Foundation

Here are some of the pros and cons of a concrete foundation.

Pros of Concrete Foundation

  • Less drying time - A concrete slab will dry faster. When the downtime is minimal, it means that the construction can move fast without any form of delay. You will not want to wait for several days for the  curing of concrete in the poured basement
  • No flooding or gas leak risk - Foundations that are made of slab don’t pose any flooding or gas leak risk. You will not see any radon from the crawl spaces or basement.
  • Pest protection - With a concrete slab, you can protect your home from termites and other such insects as there will be no crawl spaces beneath your house.
  • Cost-saving - This is one of the biggest benefits of a concrete foundation. You will save a lot when constructing a house on a concrete slab as you will not need to budget for a basement or crawl space.
  • Fewer steps - Homes with a slab foundation are often built close to the ground with crawl spaces or basement. This ensures that the steps needed to enter the home are minimized. The ease of access is advantageous for the physically disabled.

Cons of Concrete Foundations

Despite the many benefits of this construction type, a concrete slab foundation isn’t for all homeowners. Here are some reasons to avoid it:

  • Pests can enter through walls - Even though termites and other types of pests can’t get into the home from beneath, they can still pass through retaining walls. This is especially the case in a wooden house.
  • Ductwork needs insulation. - The heating and air conditioning ductwork runs through the ceiling of the ground floor. This raises the need for higher insulation at the right temperature.
  • No space for the HVAC unit. The   air conditioning and heating unit will need to be installed on the ground, taking the much-needed room
  • Slab cracks - This is one of the key cons of a concrete slab. It can have a substantial effect on the structural integrity of your home. This can prove difficult and very expensive to repair. Some of the causes of cracks include tree roots, earthquakes, frozen ground or soil displacement
  • Lower to ground - When a house is very close to the ground, some people find it very ugly

To decide whether you need a concrete foundation, you will need to speak to a masonry contractor Concord who will guide you on the right foundation for your location. You can contact Concord Concrete and Masonry on (925) 329-3594 to discuss your project.

 

 

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