Foundation

Feature: Ready-mixed 5-bag concrete used in all footings.
Benefit: A 5-bag mix will reach a strength of 3000 psi in 28 days, assuring the necessary stability and uniform settlement for your foundation and bearing walls. During this 28-day curing period, lesser bag mixes may not reach the desired strength to properly support the structure--especially during colder months where the concrete mix is slower to cure.

Feature: Site-poured concrete walls with ½” re-bar reinforced rods.
Benefit: Site-poured walls with reinforcement are better able to resist cave-ins and cracking caused by lateral pressures of water, earth, and wind. They are also more water-resistant and fire-resistant because solid concrete is dense and joint-free as opposed to concrete block. One basement window with well and drain is standard.

Feature: 3” perforated drain tile to be installed both inside and outside of foundation wall footing (covered with silt sock when necessary) and connected to sealed sump pit. Drain tile and footings to be covered with a 12” radius of 3/4” clean stone.
Benefit: 3” perforated drain tile is used on both sides of footings with bleeder tiles at regular intervals to prevent ground water from rising above slab-level and flooding the basement. The drain tile network empties in to the sealed sump pit which then redistributes excess water to the storm sewer. A 12” radius of crushed stone around the drain tile and 4-6” of clean stone beneath the floor slab aids in the proper channeling of water.

Feature: Foundation walls include one coat damp-proofing and full height R-5 1” Styrofoam insulation covered with aluminum coil stock at the top of the foundation wall.
Benefit: Damp-proofing is a vapor barrier that retards water penetration. Water-proofing may be suggested in areas of high water tables or poor soil conditions, but is not typically necessary. Since concrete by itself is a poor insulator, full-height R5 1” Styrofoam insulation is used on the outside of foundation walls to prevent heat loss. It is then covered with aluminum coil stock to prevent UV deterioration and enhance aesthetic appeal where applicable.

Feature: 4” PVC convection airflow vent-stack for radon mitigation.
Benefit: The U.S. Surgeon General has issued a report (click here to read it) stating that radon causes thousands of deaths each year and millions of U.S. homes have elevated levels of this unhealthy gas. Our convection airflow system draws the radon gas through the soil and exhausts it harmlessly above the roof of the home. In addition, utilizing site-poured walls and a sealed sump pit further reduce possible radon leakage with proper caulking.

Feature: A recommended upgrade from our standard basement windows are egress windows & wells.

Benefit: In addition to allowing for more natural light in basement applications, egress windows and wells offer the secondary exit required in basements with sleeping rooms (thus providing added value to below-grade living space). Produced from polyethylene with a UV inhibitor, the wells are maintenance free and include a contoured bottom with drain to effectively route water to the drain tile.