There are 8 types of Foundations :

• Basement Foundation.

• A basement foundation begins with excavation of at least eight feet deep for underground living space whose floor space matches most or all of the home’s ground level. Lining up structural foundation walls on concrete footings that run the perimeter of the basement. Those footings will be placed at least 12 inches below previously undisturbed soil and at least 12 inches below the frost line. You’ll then pour beams, erect foundation walls, and pour a cement slab inside the walls.

  The advantage of a basement foundation is the extra living space , in fact, it can double the home’s square footage if homeowners decide to finish it. Basement foundations are durable and resistant to fire and extreme weather.

  Basement is the most expensive foundation type, and unless you’re building a daylight basement—a basement built on a hillside that opens to the daylight on at least one side. This the space created by this type of foundation can feel cave-like, as it lacks natural light. It’s not advisable to build a basement if you live in an area with flooding risks.

  For homes built on a slope, the daylight basement, which has at least one side embedded in the ground from floor to ceiling, can be a nice alternative to a full basement foundation, even allowing a separate entrance to the home.

• Crawlspace Stem Walls.

• Low foundation walls on concrete footings, or stem walls, form the foundations of houses with crawlspaces. This type form a space that’s exactly as it sounds: a slightly elevated space below a house through which you can crawl, and often provides enough room for storage, a furnace, and other equipment.

  A major advantage of crawlspace foundations is protection of the home. By lifting the base of the house, its walls are protected from flooding and other environmental hazards.
  The space allows easy access to plumbing,HAVC , electric wiring and other systems. And raising the base of a house elevates the entire home, which can result in a more aesthetically pleasing house. It’s also a less expensive option than digging a full basement.

  These types of foundations are
  especially common in North Carolina Triangle homes, Triad and Piedmont areas . They’re also a popular choice among architects designing homes where earthquakes occur frequently.

• Crawlspace foundations are more resistant to termites because of their elevation from the ground, they can be exposed to mold and mildew because of the moisture that can accumulate below them. While they’re a less expensive option than a basement, crawlspace foundations require maintenance: homeowners will need to make sure below-ground walls are free from cracks, check for leaks around plumbing components, and install vapor barriers to keep it dry.

• In addition to making it easier to reach plumbing and piping, crawl spaces keep houses cooler in warmer climates by allowing air to move freely underneath the structure.

• Concrete Slab Foundations.

• This type of foundation, a monolithic foundation, is a flat concrete slab that rests on the ground . You can usually pour it in one single piece. 6- to 8-inch concrete pad underneath a structure .

• In fact, the installation is a simple process. A concrete-embedded beam runs about two feet deep around the perimeter of the slab, and wire mesh and steel reinforcing bars are
  embedded in the concrete. Since buildings that sit on a slab don’t have crawl spaces, homeowners won’t have to worry about the maintenance issues a crawlspace can present.

  A property poured concrete slab won’t have weak points that could crumble over time and cause costly foundation repair issues. But you won’t usually find them in cold climates: As the ground freezes and thaws, cracks can form in the concrete and it can shift.

• Pier and Beam Foundations

• In NC coastal areas, the best way to build a home above soil that’s constantly shifting, flooding, or eroding is to build a pier and beam foundation . You’ll often find them in areas prone to hurricane conditions or major flooding. They need to support the home and protect it from moisture, so they require serious planning.

  They work in the same way an ocean pier does by fixing long pillars—often over 14 yards long to reach solid ground—into the deepest layers of stone and soil. Builders use them with heavier homes because the pillars displace the weight of the house over a large area, preventing the home from sinking.

  You’ll need to bring a structural engineer on board to oversee a project since they’ll need to do a soil analysis to make sure you’re building the structure in the right conditions. Driving concrete piers requires heavy equipment, so you’ll need to prepare for the added time
  and expense.

• Concrete Masonry Units.

• Full basement walls, crawlspace walls, stem walls and piers are built with concrete masonry.
  Concrete masonry are best for below grade applications, because of its strength, durability, economy, and resistance to fire, insects and noise.

• Often referred to as cinder blocks, are a common building construction material. They are economical and are often the best solution for structural elements like commercial building walls and elevator shafts. They can also double as fire protection, so they make a great choice for structural walls between units in multi-unit residential and commercial buildings.

• Without grout and reinforcing, the wall lacks the capacity to resist those lateral loads as its relying only on the grout in the horizontal joints between blocks

• Concrete Panels.

• Poured concrete foundations have been popular for a few decades, they’re easy to build, durable, and cost-efficiency

• Provide an insulation value of R-23, with four access holes in each standard stud to provide greater ease in wiring and plumbing.

• Below-Grade ICF Walls.

  ICF Foundations offer some extra benefits to both the builder and the occupant but require additional elements, like waterproofing and an ignition barrier.

• You don't need to rent out forms and you don't need to remove them. Once the concrete is cured and it serves as insulation.

• Blocks are 10', 12', 16 insulated on both sides, the concrete you pour between the form is far more protected from the elements than it would be in a regular poured wall. no need for expensive heating during the winter months.

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