3 Types of House Foundations

Every house is built on a foundation, but not every house is built on

the same type of foundation. Foundation type is based on several factors,

such as the house design, the geographical location and climate, soil and

moisture conditions, and the project budget. But chances are your house

has (or will have) one of these three foundations: full basement,

crawlspace, or slab-on-grade. Other variations are possible, but these

three are the main types that you will encounter in residential construction.

Basement: Full and Daylight

A full basement foundation is the deepest of the three major foundation

types. A full basement matches most or all of the floor space of the level
above and it is generally at least six feet high. Newer homes typically have
taller basements to facilitate converting to living space.

The primary advantage to a full basement is all the extra space that it
gives you. In some homes, finishing a full basement can nearly double the
home's living space. A full basement can be conditioned (heated or
cooled) like the rest of the house, or it can be unconditioned.

A full basement consists of structural foundation walls that bear

on foundation footings running along the perimeter of the basement.
Footings usually extend below the frost line, the depth to which the ground
freezes in winter.

One functional variation of the full basement is the daylight basement.

Built against a slope, the daylight basement has one or more sides that
are completely embedded in the ground, from floor to ceiling. However, as
the slope descends, one or more sides of the foundation are exposed and
can have large windows and doors, which bring in daylight.

Basement foundations in modern homes are made with poured concrete

or mortared concrete block. Very old homes may have full (but usually
small and short) basements with stone walls.

Crawlspace

Foundations that create a crawlspace consist of short foundation walls

that stand on footings. The walls may be very short—creating a space that
you literally have to crawl (or belly crawl) through—or they can be four feet
tall, or so, providing enough room for storage and sometimes a furnace or
other equipment.

Typically, crawlspaces are unheated spaces and may be ventilated with

small vents that penetrate the foundation walls to promote a small amount
of airflow through the crawlspace.

Crawlspace foundations are less expensive than full basements

because they require less excavation and less foundation wall material

and labor to build. Like full basement foundations, crawlspace walls

typically are made with poured concrete or mortared concrete block.

 Concrete Slab-On-Grade

A slab-on-grade foundation is a solid-concrete slab that rests on the

ground. Grade refers to ground-level, and slab refers to the monolithic
concrete pad. Slab-on-grade foundations are most commonly used in
climates that do not experience ground freezing and thawing, as this can
lead to cracks in the concrete and shifting of the foundation.

Slab-on-grade foundations tend to be less expensive than the subgrade

(full basement or crawlspace) foundations and can offer better protection
against termite infestation (also common in warmer climates).

One notable downside of slab foundations is that water supply and

drainage pipes are encased in the concrete. In the event of a problem, the

concrete slab must be cut into to access the pipes. Also, slab foundations

offer no storage or living space.