There is a lot of confusion about the different types of foundations and their uses. This blog post will clear up all that confusion and teach you everything you need to know about foundations. We will start by discussing the different types of foundations and their purposes.
After that, we will talk about the materials used to make Asheville NC foundations and how to choose the proper foundation for your home. Finally, we will provide some tips on maintaining your foundation and doing foundation repair. Are you ready to learn? Let's get started!
Types of foundations
There are three main types of Asheville NC foundations: concrete, masonry, and wood. Let's take a closer look at each type.
Concrete foundations: A concrete foundation is made from poured concrete or concrete blocks. It is the most common type of foundation and is best for Asheville NC homes with a basement or crawl space.
Masonry foundations: A masonry foundation is made from brick, stone, or concrete blocks. It is best for homes that will not have a basement and are located in mild climates. Masonry foundations are very durable but can crack if they get too wet due to moisture damage or freezing temperatures during winter.
Wood foundations: A wood foundation is made from treated lumber and is best for homes located in areas with severe weather conditions. Wood foundations are not as durable as concrete or masonry foundations, but they are the least expensive to build.
Purposes of Foundations
Now that you know about the different types of foundations let's talk about their purposes.
Concrete Foundations: A concrete foundation is best for homes with a basement. The concrete blocks or poured concrete create a solid base that can support the weight of a home and prevent it from sinking into the ground.
Masonry Foundations: A masonry foundation is best for homes with no basement. The brick, stone, or concrete blocks create a solid base that can support the weight of a home and prevent it from sinking into the ground.
Wood Foundations: A wood foundation is best for homes that are located in areas with severe weather conditions such as high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. because the treated lumber is less likely to break or become damaged during these conditions.
Materials for foundations
Now that you know about the different types of foundations and their purposes let's talk about what materials are used to make them.
Concrete Foundations: This is made from poured concrete or concrete blocks. The concrete is mixed with gravel, sand, and water to create a thick mixture poured into forms or blocks. Concrete can also be used in building retaining walls, basement walls, concrete slabs, and concrete floors.
Masonry Foundations: A masonry foundation is made from brick, stone, or concrete blocks. The bricks, stones, or blocks are laid in a mortar bed and held together with cement mortar.
Wood Foundations: A wood foundation is made from treated lumber. The lumber is stacked and nailed together to create a platform that can support the weight of a home and prevent it from sinking into the ground.
How to choose the right foundation for your projects
Now that you know about all three types of foundations, let's talk about choosing the right one for your Asheville area home.
Concrete Foundations: This foundation is best for homes with a basement. The contractor will likely recommend a concrete foundation to build a new home. If you are remodeling an existing home and want to add a basement, you must install a concrete foundation.
Masonry Foundations: A masonry foundation is best for homes that will not have a basement and are located in areas with mild climates. If you live in severe weather conditions, such as high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc., you may need to install a wood foundation instead of a masonry foundation.
Wood Foundations: A wood foundation is best for homes that are located in areas with severe weather conditions such as high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. because the treated lumber is less likely to break or become damaged during these conditions.
How to choose the right foundation for your projects
Now that you know about all three types of foundations, let's talk about choosing the right one for your Asheville area home.
Concrete Foundations: This foundation is best for homes with a basement. The contractor will likely recommend a concrete foundation to build a new home. If you are remodeling an existing home and want to add a basement, you must install a concrete foundation.
Masonry Foundations: A masonry foundation is best for homes that will not have a basement and are located in areas with mild climates. If you live in severe weather conditions, such as high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc., you may need to install a wood foundation instead of a masonry foundation.
Wood Foundations: A wood foundation is best for homes that are located in areas with severe weather conditions such as high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. because the treated lumber is less likely to break or become damaged during these conditions.
Things You Will Need for Building Foundations
Concrete Foundations: Forms, concrete blocks, gravel, sand, water, and a mixer.
Masonry Foundations: Bricks, stones or concrete blocks, cement, and a mortar bed.
Wood Foundations: Treated lumber and nails.
Things to consider when building your foundation
Concrete Foundations: These foundations should be built on level ground with a slope away from the house. The forms or blocks should be placed in straight lines, and the corners should be square. The concrete should be mixed with the correct proportions of gravel, sand, and water and poured into the forms or blocks.
Masonry Foundations: A masonry foundation should be built on level ground with a slope away from the house. The bricks, stones, or blocks should be laid in a mortar bed and held together with cement mortar.
Wood Foundations: A wood foundation should be built on level ground with a slope away from the house. The treated lumber should be stacked and nailed together to create a platform that can support the weight of a home and prevent it from sinking into the ground.
Now that you know all about foundations, consult with a contractor to determine which type of foundation is best for your home. And, remember, always follow the building codes in your area to ensure that your foundation is up to code.
Choosing the right foundation contractors in Asheville NC
There are many things to consider when it comes to selecting the proper Asheville NC contractors for your project. Do you want concrete residential services that will go in and build everything from scratch? Or would you rather have a family-operated company come in and lay the groundwork before they start building anything else?
If so, then maybe it's time to look at some of these top five foundation constructors for your project. When deciding on the right commercial foundation contractors for your project, you first want to determine how big or small an area will be covered by this type of work. Maybe hiring a local Asheville NC contractor will do if it's just one room. However, if it's a whole house or even an entire neighborhood, you might want to go with an Asheville commercial service specializing in this type of work and licensed for such tasks. When choosing the right Asheville professional contractors for your project, the second thing you want to consider is how much experience they have been with doing this type of work. If you're looking for a North Carolina company to build the entire foundation, then you'll want to make sure that they've been in business for at least five years.
You also need to find out if they have any complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau or other agencies like this. Often, these Asheville companies will have their websites so you can easily find out more information about them.
The third thing that you need to know is whether the NC services will provide the materials and equipment necessary for your project. If it's only a small job, this won't matter as much, but if it's something more extensive than a few rooms, you'll need to make sure that they have suitable materials and equipment available.
The fourth thing you will want to know is whether or not the service is insured against damage caused by their work. This is especially important if it's a large project because there could be many things going wrong during the entire process of construction, including fires and floods.
The fifth thing you need to know is whether or not the foundation repair contractors offer any warranties for their work. Often, these NC companies will only guarantee the quality of their work and won't provide any proof. This can be a good thing if it's just some minor issues with your foundation, but if it's something significant like a total collapse, then it's probably best to avoid them at all costs.
The sixth thing you need to know is whether or not they have any service guarantee for their work. If it's just some minor issues with your foundation and there are no major problems yet, then this isn't needed, but if there are problems with the foundation and it's affecting your home, then you will want to make sure that they are willing to come back and fix it for free.
The seventh thing you need to look for is an environmentally friendly company. Often, these residential and commercial companies will use recycled materials in their construction, which can help reduce the amount of waste produced.
The eighth and final thing you need to look for when choosing the right foundation services for your North Carolina project is how much they will charge you for their professional services. This can vary significantly from company to company, so it's essential to get quotes from a few of them before deciding.
Choosing the right Asheville commercial contractors for your project doesn't have to be complicated. You need to think about a few things to make sure that you get the best deal possible and so that you don't waste any money on unneeded work.
Once you have all of this information, you should find the right company for your project.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Everything you need to know about foundations! If you're in the market for a new foundation or are just curious about all the different types out there, be sure to contact your local WNC concrete contractors for more information and a free consultation. We hope this post was helpful and informative!
