Get a Free Quote. Always Reasonably Priced
Building a residence on a conventional basement foundation, crawlspace foundation, or a slab in grade with frost walls is a common decision homeowners must make. We, at Oly Mattera Construction, believe that the design and construction of the concrete foundation should be tailored to the geography and climatic conditions that it is expected to perform under.
The foundation type should be chosen by taking into consideration the type of soil underneath it and the loads placed on top of it. We understand that the long-term performance of the foundation is greatly influenced by the employment of concrete pouring best practices like proper lot grading, adequate site surface water drainage, or a proper landscaping plan.
Types of Concrete Foundations:
■ Conventional (T-Shape)
This is the most common foundation type to support a structure and the method is mostly employed in the areas where the ground freezes. We place a footing below the frost line and then the walls are added on top.
Creating a crawlspace has major benefits; the heating and air conditioning ductwork and plumbing can be installed in it as well as easily maintained. Any repairs that have to be done to these systems will be less expensive due to better accessibility. A crawlspace also elevates the house, making it less prone to termite and water damage. Crawlspaces can also be constructed on sloped lots using tiered concrete footings; however, the lot’s grading plan must provide adequate drainage. This is to prevent damage from adverse surface water drainage.
■ Slab-on-grade
We pour a slab on grade foundation, the building code requires a depth of 42” below grade, we install a footing with rebar to protect against settlement and form and pour a concrete wall over the footing. The slab is a single layer of concrete, several inches thick, which rests on a bed of gravel to improve drainage. We also cast a wire mesh or add fiber mesh to the concrete to prevent cracking of the concrete.
There are advantages to building a slab in grade foundation. After removing the topsoil, concrete slab foundations can be built on grade over undisturbed soil for areas that have a high water table or a house entry that require finished surfaces (bluestone, finished concrete surface).
A slab is also the more preferred choice in regards to pests being prevented from getting under the house. A leaking toilet or shower pan will not damage a concrete slab floor. A slab can also help insulate a house, saving money on heating bills.
Our company specializes in concrete foundations in the Fairfield County Area and throughout Connecticut. Our experience, capabilities, and personnel are top notch. We offer quality services at very reasonable prices.
Contact Oly Mattera Construction today (203-856-9074) to learn how we can help you with your new concrete foundations project.