foundation construction...should I attempt it?

[shamban]

My wife and I have bought some land and we plan on building ourselves. We want to do as much of the work as we can ourselves. We have agreed on most everything except the foundation. We are planning a full basement and she feels there is no way we can do it ourselves. I have no experience with foundations, but I have been reading a lot about it. I think it is something that would be hard work, but with the right equipment, could be an area we could do ourselves. My father-in-law says I am nuts!

Does anyone have any advise for me on this? Is it more than the DIY'er should attempt? I would appreciate any insight!

Thanks,

Joey

[Tom R]

I don't know what your background is, but I'm sure anyone 'able and willing' can do it. The 'hard labor' is actually the easiest part. It's the technical knowledge and the attention to detail that dictates the 'make or break' of any phase of the construction process. You could come 'on site' here every night for a 'pow-wow' with some of the concrete experts for any guidance you might need. I think my main question to you would be, What is your time frame? I'd say, if you already work full time, and you're attempting this too, forget it, too much lost on the 'learning curve'. But if you have all day every day to work on your project, nothing would make you prouder! Either way, Good Luck, and don't forget to include us on your project.

[Rich]

Tom makes some excellent points - it's not typically a DIY job.. but with patience and time you can do it. There are other methods that are not as difficult as forming it with forms or plywood.. such as ICF (insulated concrete forms). The manufacturer will actually come out and train you on how to place them correctly. I would give you advice on how to do this - but it really depends on what type of system you use .. block or panel. I'll just leave it at that.

[doyle]

Rich, I was thinking the same thing. Those hollow styrofoam blocks that clip together look like they would be a great DIY project. I've seen them used several times on 'This Old House" and 'Hometime' and wondered if a person might need any special skills to do their own foundation this way.

I believe you would have to pay the extra cost of a concrete pump truck, and also would have to rent a vibrating machine. What else special would be necessary? Don't those type of walls need a perfectly level footer to fit together properly?

You suggested that the form company would come out and train you. You reckon that would include the knowledge you would need in placing the rebar inside the forms? Seems I remeber there being rebar both horizontally and vertically in the forms.

Is any one company better than the other? Or is this still a relatively new process that's slow to catch on? I know they sure don't use them down here in the south, not that I've ever seen, anyways.

[Rich]

Not all that necessary to have a perfectly level footer - as the first course can actually be placed just like masonry - a little grout to shim up. Or the forms can actually be cut with a handsaw to fit.
Most ICF manufacturers have given the plastic ties right in the blocks with a holding clip for the rebar built right in.
All of the different systems have their pros and cons. The blocks are easy to fit together but there are sometimes problems at the corners and there are more pieces. The panelized systems cover a lot of area quickly and corners are more easily done with a few plastic clips. Most of the systems, if installed correctly, have the plastic spacer clips that protrude inside to give you nailing spots for drywall. The biggest problem with any of the systems is keeping them plumb and level. I've seen and heard of quite a few of them not turning out (wavy walls) because not enough bracing was used.

[shamban]

Thanks Rich, Tom, and Doyle. This is great advise on a great forum. I did not know about the stryofoam blocks.

Has anyone had experience with a wood foundation? My wife says" no way". I would also be concerned about rotting and , more than that", a basement full of arsenic.

But they seem really easy. You can order them pre-made and they install in a day. I asked them about rotting and they say they warranty them for 75 years. The EPA has stated that treated wood is okay for foundations ( I went to their website). But I just don't know. Maybe the new ACQ stuff?


Thanks again for all help!

Joey

[Rich]

I've never done a wood foundation - although many people in some pretty rough areas of the country swear by them. That's about all I can say without swaying my answer to concrete or styrofoam :)

[mjpliv]

If I had to think of one reason not to attempt a DIY foundation it would be you only have one shot at getting it right. Its not like you can pull a few nails and straighten things up later.

Maybe you could work out an arrangement to provide an experienced foundation contractor with the labour (yourselves) under his direction. There is a bit of an art in creating a square, plumb and level foundation wall.

[nosretapaj]

I consider myself a fairly able amateur builder and have just completed my first foundation (for a 14 X 20 foot addition with a full basement). I was going to have it all done but the original quote for the entire foundation was over 20K!!! So I shopped around and found a contractor willing to do the parts I couldnt or didnt want to do, such as, digging, leveling, waterproofing, drains and backfilling (for about $4000). The only other person I needed to hire was a mason: I ended up only doing the footings... and the total cost to me was about $7500. In essence I ended up being my own contractor, but it went well.

[Cole]

Good for you, I bet you learned some info!!!

[roger g]

Read everything you can. Make things square and level and you shouldn't go too far wrong. Just learn that when things go wrong (not if but when) you must be able to come up with a plan "B". Get used to making mistakes and then fixing them, it happens even to the proffessionals but you are not there to see them.
I tried wood foundation walls for a very small project and was not happy. I had to tear it out a use blocks. In the town where I just bought a house to renovate, is a house that has been on the market for more than a year and the house isn't bad looking at the price looks fair but the real estate agent said it isn't being sold because it has wood foundations.
You might think that wood foundations are okay but will others when you want to sell.


roger

[Dragon]

Having once replaced a wood foundation I can personally testify that they are NOT ok.