Foundation Contractor - Concrete Or Wood Foundation

Like most people..you might think I'm crazy by mentioning a wood foundation as an option to concrete. Wood foundations started to really catch on in central Saskatchewan. This Province sees some of the most brutal changes in weather. I know..I grew up there.

Truthfully though..I only build concrete basements. But..why would I mention a wood as an option. Because they actually work. I know you all know this but let me explain. Most of the crucial work is done on the outside surface of the wood foundation. By that I mean..sealant, moisture repelling and thoughtful backfilling.

Wood used by a Foundation Contractor is pressure-infused with chemicals to resist infestation and decay, and the process is so effective that manufacturers are now recommending treated plywood and lumber as an alternate material for crawl space, basement, and stem wall grade beams. Not to mention that wood foundations are easier to insulate and finish on the interior of the basement.

Some theories suggest that a concrete footing isn't necessary, but you would have a hard time convincing this old dog that. I firmly believe that a proper concrete footings are the basis for a solid and long lasting foundation start.

The framing members are usually 2x8 treated material sheeted with 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch treated plywood. I would never use anything less than 3/4 treated ply and would probably use a 2x10 or 2x12 framing stud. This allows the contractor to install thicker and a higher R value insulation. This is where a wood foundation stands superior to a concrete one.

The wood will not crack over time thus eliminating any moisture leaks. More insulation provides for a warmer basement...this is a huge bonus in a cold environment. And finally my favorite...the finish work and installation of additional framing can be directly nailed to the foundation. Concrete on the other hand needs to be strapped, drilled or the use of a powder actuated device is need to nail framing directly to the concrete.

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Contractor Horror Stories

Horror stories. Everyone's heard one, and they're a major reason why many people are reluctant to enter into a remodeling or new home project. building is a complicated, expensive, emotional undertaking and for some people the risk of encountering a problem is too high.

But for others, the challenge and excitement of creating something completely new and unique is irresistible. Designing and building a new home or reworking the one you're in can be a very fulfilling experience - if you've done your homework and you've prepared yourself for the possibility that everything may not always go exactly as planned...as in these two true stories:

Carved In Stone (Not)

Chuck and Jim opened the rear doors to Chuck's van and carefully lifted out the new polished granite countertop. They'd parked the van in the driveway at the back of their client's house, aligned with the kitchen door so that the countertop could be carried straight in. Large stone countertops are fragile, but this one was especially so because of the holes that had been precut in it to allow for the sink and cooktop to be dropped in later. Inside, Chuck and Jim positioned themselves next to the cabinets where the countertop was to be installed and began to slowly rotate it into place.

Jim heard it first - a soft "pop", just before the countertop cracked on either side of the sink opening. The heavy stone pieces slipped from their hands and landed with a double thud on the kitchen floor.

The client was watching when the disaster struck, and the sound she made was nothing like a pop, a crack or a thud; it was more like stifled scream. This was just too much to bear. It was the third time Chuck and Jim had broken the kitchen countertop.

Too Good to Be True

Jim and Tracy desperately wanted to build their new home in Cherrington Woods and couldn't believe their luck when they found that the very last lot in the subdivision was still for sale. Lot 43 was on a cul-de-sac, and backed up to a ravine. The price was reasonable, even cheap for the area, and since the rest of the lots on the street had already been built on, Jim and Tracy wouldn't have to put up with any one else's construction mess once they had moved in.

After the closing, Jim called the Architect that their real estate agent had recommended and set up a first meeting. Among the topics discussed was the need to conduct a subsurface investigation of the site, to try to discover any conditions that might require special foundation engineering. But since it was the last lot in the subdivision, and no soil problems had been found on the adjacent lots, the likelihood of bad soil or rock was low. Jim decided against spending the money on the soils tests.

Which was unfortunate, because a soils test wouldn't have found bad soil; it would have found very little soil at all. What it would have found is tree stumps, old fence posts, lumber scraps, and other construction trash to a depth that exceeded the planned depth of Jim and Tracy's foundation. When Cherrington Woods was being developed, the excavator had used the lot for a trash pit. A lot of what had been cleared off of the top the subdivision during the grading had been pushed onto the area later known as lot 43 and then buried under five feet of dirt.

Ultimately, the foundation had to be dug six feet deeper than planned to get to stable soil. Jim and Tracy ended up with a big hole in their checking account and a very nice racquetball court in their basement.

Hang In To The End

When something goes wrong on a construction project, it might be the fault of one of the parties involved in the project, or it might be one of the those things that no one seems to be able to predict. Either way, the goal is the get the project back on track and moving as soon as possible.

Some problems have to be taken in stride. In the vast majority of cases, the joy and satisfaction of fresh new living space soon fades the memory of any problems during construction.

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