Why choose a pillar and beam foundation?
Building a house is an exciting adventure. Homeowners can choose wall coverings, flooring materials, updated appliances, room size variations, and windows and doors. But, what most homeowners don’t realize is that building a home starts from scratch, from the ground up.
The most important step in building a new home is choosing the most efficient and safest foundation for the location of your property. Investigating the foundation bases is essential to secure the structure of your new home. Some contractors know the foundation and will help you choose the best one for your home. But, there are many who will search for a foundation of their choice without discussing the choice with you, the owner.
Two foundation options that a new homeowner should consider are slab-on-grade foundations and pier and beam foundations. The two are quite different when it comes to construction, cost, and longevity.
Slab-on-ground foundations are constructed of reinforced concrete and are generally shallow, quick to build, and inexpensive. For a builder who doesn’t have to live in the houses he builds, a slab foundation is a dream. Slab foundations are used with homes that do not have basements. A major disadvantage of slab-on-ground foundations is that they are not resistant to seasonal movement changes and moisture disbursement due to root growth. In other words, slab foundations are not a long-term option for homes in North Texas. Another disadvantage is that usually all the pipes are placed under the foundation slab, which causes a very expensive procedure in case of a water pipe break.
Pier and beam foundations, on the other hand, lose a few steps above a grade slab foundation. A pier and beam foundation incorporates a crawl space (usually at least 18 inches) under the house and a concrete-filled foundation to support the slab. This type of foundation is not considered a time saver, but it is more secure and convenient. The crawl space allows access to heating and plumbing utilities without having to break through the concrete slab. The piers mean the foundation is less susceptible to damage from ground movement, a problem experienced by many North Texas homes with slab foundations. If an extreme soil change occurs, the foundation is easily adjusted, a process that is much less expensive than slab foundation repairs, a process most homes in North Texas will have to undergo.
Since pillar and beam foundations leave homeowners walking on a suspended wooden platform, they are much easier on the body’s joints. Pier and beam foundations are preferred by back pain sufferers over slab foundations.
Pillar and beam foundations are generally used for homes built in the northern part of the country because the climate consists of freezing and thawing conditions. This condition requires that the foundation be built deep into the ground. The safety feature here is that deep foundations are rarely affected by weather changes. However, the changing terrains of North Texas make P&B foundations the best and most durable foundation option in the area.
Monster Constructors is professionally known for placing pier and beam foundations in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. They will test the land the house will be built on to figure out the best foundation for that particular area.