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Types of Basement Construction

What Is a Basement Foundation?

A basement foundation is constructed below ground level and is typically made of poured concrete or concrete masonry units (CMUs). Basement foundations are commonly found in regions with colder climates, where the foundation needs to be deeper to protect it from frost heave.

Basement foundations are useful because they provide additional space that can be used for various purposes, such as a recreation room, home theater, office, or storage area. They’re also used to house electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

Concrete Foundation Repair Solutions

Our concrete foundation repair solutions include carbon fiber straps, wall plate anchors, and helical tieback anchors. These repair solutions stabilize bowing and/or cracked basement walls, restoring the building’s structural integrity.

The most common types of basement construction are:

Poured concrete
Cinder blocks
Precast panels

Poured Concrete

Poured concrete basements are the most common type of basement construction. This type of basement construction starts by pouring a footing for the basement foundation. After these are set, forms are used to hold the poured concrete walls in place as they dry. Poured concrete walls tend to be stronger than other types of basement walls.

Something to consider before choosing a poured concrete foundation…

High hydrostatic pressure outside a poured concrete basement can cause water to seep through due to the pressure, creating floor and wall cracks.

Cinder Blocks

Block or masonry walls are the least expensive type of basement construction. This type of basement wall construction is made from cinder blocks. Steel rebar is sometimes used to reinforce the masonry wall. This method requires less time than other methods of basement construction.

Something to consider before choosing a brick or masonry foundation…

A block concrete basement wall will bow easier than other types due to the pressure against the walls that weakens the mortar joints.

Precast Panels

Precast panel basement wall construction is the method where the walls are molded at another location. Then the walls are transported to the building and placed on footers. This type of basement construction is quite strong but not as common as poured or block basements.

Something to consider before choosing precast panels…

Precast panel basement construction can have moisture problems if the joints are not properly sealed, causing moisture vapor to get trapped in the panels. These panels can also attract insects unless they have been treated with boric acid.

Whatever type of basement foundation you have, Epp Foundation Repair can help. We fix basements!

WRITTEN BY

Dave Epp

Dave is the President at Epp Foundation Repair with over 27 years of experience in the industry. Dave has worked on thousands of foundation, basement, concrete, and crawl space repair projects since 1993. Dave is involved in several civic and church organizations and enjoys coaching youth sports, mainly football, golfing, and elk hunting.