Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Foundation Tips
Foundation and
Basement Checklist
In all, foundation work is singularly unrewarding. You
spend days bent over, digging, prying out rocks, pour-
ing concrete, laying stone. And not much of this is vis-
ible progress. It seems to be a fact that builders, as well
as those who inspect and criticize their work, like to
see more happening faster. So you might want a min-
imal foundation, either drystone or footing-and-
masonry just at the corners. You can always fill in later,
you know.
But whatever you do, make it solid. Cover a lot of
area with the foundation to resist settling. Get it high
enough to discourage termites and rot, and even grass
fires. You'll also appreciate the added crawl space
when doing plumbing or electric wiring under there.
Building code requirements of at least 18 inches of
height are just barely enough.
And make it look right. Concrete blocks are cheap
and fast, but ugly. And by the time you've bought
them, laid them, then veneered over them, they're not
cheap anymore. Solid stone can be the cheapest or
most expensive, depending on whether you've had to
buy the stone and pay a mason or collected it free and
not paid yourself. Count on from $20 to $50 a square
surface foot, including all materials, for stonework you
hire done. Generally, tighter mortar joints cost more.
Inspect prospective masons' work before you hire
them.
Drudgery though it may seem, there's still a bit of a
thrill in turning the first shovelful of foundation earth.
You're actually on your way now; your log house is out
of your head and on its way up. Enjoy.
Build a longer, wider stone
foundation on softer ground.
Plan for settling unless you build
on solid rock.
Have your footing ditch inspected
before proceeding further.
Check into the possibility of a
basement if your site is a hillside.
Seal basement walls with masonry
coating and tar.
Install plumbing pipes before slab
is poured.
Bring the foundation up at least
a foot aboveground before laying
the first log.
Set the first logs and joist ends on
metal flashing.
Have the footing poured and let
the concrete cure at least two
days.
Haul in more foundation stones
than you think you'll need.
Make the foundation solid, wide,
and high.
