The foundation of a home is the load-bearing portion of the structure. It’s not pretty or exciting, but essential to the long-term sustainability of a home. The purpose of a foundation is to support the structure, keep out groundwater, and act as a barrier to water and soil vapor. There are three types of foundations: slab foundation, crawlspace/conventional, and basement foundations. In the south, a slab and conventional foundation are the two most common types (Reinbrecht Homes, 2020).
Slabs are typically the least expensive option and lowest maintenance. There are disadvantages of a slab foundation. The plumbing systems are buried under the slab. Should repairs be needed, you may have to break through the slab to make repairs. Some slab foundations are “post tension” slab. The two most common reasons for a home builder to use a post tension slab relate to cost and type of soils in the area. A post tension slab is a concrete slab that has steel cables running through it that have been placed under 33,000 +/- pounds of tension. This tension makes the concrete slab and foundation much stronger than concrete without reinforcement and may help reduce cracking (Buyers Ask, 2020).
Conventional foundations have a crawlspace and are elevated off the ground. It is not uncommon to find conventional foundations in homes built prior to the 1950s. Access to utilities is easier. The disadvantage to conventional foundations is they are prone to moisture which may support the growth of fungi or mold.
If you are considering buying or selling a home, call one of our agents at Right Size Realty to discuss your criteria for a home.
Rodney McCoy 601.383.1019 rmccoy@rightsizerealty.com
Jamie McCoy 601.259.0461 jmccoy@rightsizerealty.com
Andrew Tyre 601.842.4270 atyre@rightsizerealty.com
Allen Wilson 601.985.9231 awilson@rightsizerealty.com
Paul Tyre 601.709.9002 ptyre@rightsizerealty.com
Dianne Nelson 601.421.7094 dnelson@rightsizerealty.com
References:
Buyers Ask (2020). What is a Post Tension Slab – Does Your Home Have one? Retrieved from: https://buyersask.com/articles-of-interest/post-tension-slabs-what-are-they/#:~:text=A%20post%20tension%20slab%20is,Previous%20Next
Reinbrecht Homes (2020). 3 Most Common Home Foundations: the Pros & Cons. Retrieved from: https://www.reinbrechthomes.com/blog/3-most-common-home-foundations-the-pros-cons/