Foundation

Introduction

Some homeowners insurance policies offer coverage for the home’s foundation, however, this is not a standard practice. The foundation repairs are typically covered only in the event that the foundation moves or shifts as a result of water damage stemming from the home’s plumbing system. For the most part, homeowners insurance does not cover the home’s foundation unless you purchase additional coverage for a monthly or yearly premium. While typically, the foundation is not insured for a house, there are many issues which create loss potential regarding the foundation.

Causes, Symptoms & Solutions to Foundation Failure

Foundation issues effect all types of structures, old, new, residential, commercial and industrial. Recognizing the signs and symptoms! Most signs & symptoms of foundation failure are easy to spot.

Types of Foundations

A sturdy foundation is essential when constructing a house. While most homes are framed, wired, plumed and finished in a similar manner, they don’t all have the same type of foundation. A home’s foundation type depends upon the soil composition as well as weather concerns, cost considerations, local building codes and personal choice.

Full

A basement foundation consists of concrete or block walls that extend into the soil, providing an underground space that can double as a living space or a storage area. Constructed from concrete or block, basement walls are traditionally at least nine feet deep, allowing for an eight-foot interior ceiling and additional room for running duct work and wiring.

Crawl Space

A crawl space is handy when the homeowner doesn’t want a basement but wants the ability to run mechanical elements beneath the house. The depth of the frost line usually determines the depth of a crawl space, so individual communities have different crawl space requirements. A crawl space foundation contains poured concrete, concrete blocks or other types of stack-able masonry products.

Slab

A slab-on-grade foundation features one layer of reinforced concrete that rests upon the soil. If footings are desired, they are poured as part of the slab. The wall rests directly on the slab. Plumbing, wiring and duct-work may run in the walls or through the slab surface. Slab-on-grade foundations are beneficial in patio homes where no basement or crawlspace is desired.

Stem Wall Slab

There is also a stem wall slab, different from an integrated slab described above, where there is a stem wall on a footer installed. In this occurrence, the wall rests on the stem wall and not directly on the slab.

Pier

A pier-and-beam foundation is suitable for locations where the soil is moist or rain is abundant. A pier and beam foundation, which lacks a supporting perimeter, is popular in warmer climates where the plumbing beneath the home will not suffer from freezing temperatures. However, they are also found in cold climates, with an additional sub-floor for insulation purposes. In the Northeast, they are also an economic choice for seasonal homes where the utilities are turned off and heating is not a major issue. The piers rest upon concrete footings. The home’s floor joists attach to beams that rest upon the piers. Piers can be of variable heights, and some houses that sit on mountainsides or over a body of water have pier-and-beam foundations

Wood Basement

Wood foundation systems were first developed in the 1960s, after the development of preservative-treated lumber and plywood allowed wood materials to be used in applications which previously would be subject to decay. Because wood foundations are significantly lighter than concrete or block walls, they may be placed on gravel beds, eliminating the need to cast and cure a concrete footing. A concrete slab may form the floor within the foundation, but most manufacturers promote the use of a treated wood floor system.

Foundation Construction Types

Concrete Block

Also called concrete masonry unit, cement block, and foundation block – is a large rectangular brick used in construction. Concrete blocks are made from cast concrete, i.e. Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel for high-density blocks.

Reinforced/Poured Concrete

Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars (“rebars”), reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. Poured concrete foundation walls are stronger than hollow core masonry foundation walls.

Stone

Stone foundations, the most common type of foundation on buildings built before 1915.

Brick

Red brick was used for foundation construction in the early 1900’s.

Wood

Wood foundations have never really caught on but you may run into one during your surveys. Wood foundations resist cracking, are easy to insulate and finish for additional interior living areas. Over 300,000 U.S. homes have been constructed with wood foundation systems beginning back in 1960

Foundation Elements

Finished vs. Non Finished Basement

Whenever possible, we try and identify if a basement is finished or unfinished. By finished, we mean that the interior is similar in grade and quality to the main level of the home. Sometimes, you can determine if the basement is finished during a exterior survey. Why the focus? Because of the extra cost or value that needs to be insured. 

The cost per square foot for a finished vs. unfinished basement can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the basement, the materials and finishes used, and the location of the home. However, here are some general estimates:

• Unfinished Basement: The cost of an unfinished basement typically ranges from $10-$25 per square foot. This includes basic concrete floors and walls, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, and basic lighting.

• Finished Basement: The cost of a finished basement can vary widely depending on the level of finishes and amenities included. On average, homeowners can expect to pay between $30-$100 per square foot to finish a basement. This can include flooring, walls, ceiling, lighting, electrical and plumbing fixtures, and other finishes.

Walkout Basement

As with a finished basement, we identify and call out the presence of a walk out basement as it typically adds value to the home which will impact the insurance valuation. Make sure your photos provide detail of the presence of the walkout features. Typically, a walkout basement provides a clue that the basement has some degree of interior finish.

Garage in Basement

When a garage is present in the basement area, attempt to get the area of the garage. Typically you can get a measurement of the width or garage door area. You can assume depth the garage area is approximately 22-24 feet deep.