I'm starting to price out building a house and my wife and I are stuck on what kind of basement. I would like a cement basement but no one has the forms around here anymore and a wood basement I could put up myself. I'm just wondering price wise which is better....
2007-01-20 05:13:57 · 8 answers · asked by touringtaylor 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
As a long time custom builder, I would certainly support concrete.
No forms? Not necessarily a problem. There are some very effective systems which use foam form kits, such as Quadlock or Owens-Corning Formular. With these, you build the foundation wall with interlocking foam blocks- then pour the core with concrete. The forms stay in place and become insulation. Nothing to tear down, virtually no trash to dispose of, and no insulation left to install later. The systems are light of course, and easy to cut to fit. They go up fast so labor is easy.
Go on line and search for "foam foundation forms", and look it over. Many options.
2007-01-20 08:38:13 · answer #1 · answered by pegasusaig 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My family's company has been building wood foundations for the past 40 years and have had no recurring issues. My house has a wood foundation and I like it better than cement or stone. Less mold and condensation with wood and find that it's easier to heat.
2007-01-20 05:24:01 · answer #2 · answered by Dani 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest using CMU short for Concrete masonary units if no one has concrete forms. These blocks come in standard sizes of 12" X 12" X 16" and 8" X 8" X 16". They are installed after your pour concrete footings. After the CMU walls are up, you should waterproof them and fill the hollow cells with concrete. This will cost you more money than a wood foundation, but they will be there forever.
2007-01-20 07:52:44 · answer #3 · answered by jbuilder7916 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2017-01-24 22:25:04 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can rent forms from a supplier or you can use 3/4 plywood, lumber for whalers, and use wedges with snapties. You can use the plywood and the lumber in the framing of the house. I did the latter method many times when I was growing up.
2007-01-22 10:27:01 · answer #5 · answered by rlfriga@sbcglobal.net 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2015-01-25 08:40:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cement is best..
Wood eventually, even pressure treated, decays.
If I had to use wood I wouldn't build.
2007-01-20 05:20:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dig a hole and lay concrete blocks...you don't have to have forms.
2007-01-20 06:48:06 · answer #8 · answered by sugarbud 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a finished basement that can be lived in my be a little more expensive but it ups the overall value of your home significantly
2007-01-20 05:43:55 · answer #9 · answered by piratesofmaddness 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋