| If you are having a home built, you may have | | | | inspecting the internal appearance of the "footer" |
| heard this term and not realized what the builder | | | | or the reverse. Most reputable builders will not |
| was talking about. The "footer" refers to the | | | | skimp on this important building component, but |
| underground support of your basement or | | | | sometimes there are ones that do. The other |
| foundation walls. Many times, this is not something | | | | thing to consider is the composition of the land |
| the average homeowner ever sees, but it is the | | | | your home is being built on, so there are different |
| most important part of support, when it comes | | | | "footer" recommendations and building codes in |
| to your home and the way your foundation will | | | | different parts of the country. |
| settle. There are important width and depth | | | | The general rule, when no building codes exist, is |
| requirements for the concrete footing that | | | | that the looser the ground the home is being built |
| supports your basement walls. The concrete | | | | on, the wider and deeper the footer needs to be |
| should be sturdy and mixed in the density that is | | | | to give adequate support. Obviously, there is a |
| required by building codes. | | | | difference in building a home into rock, than there |
| While many foundation inspections might include a | | | | is in sand. The idea of the concrete footing is to |
| "footer" inspection during new home construction, | | | | support the walls and balance them, giving them a |
| it is important that this is the case. If not, you will | | | | foundation to rest securely on and to help |
| want to be sure and inspect it yourself, because | | | | distribute the load. You might think of a "footer" |
| a footer that is not wider than your basement | | | | as the foundation for the foundation of your |
| walls and deep enough to add support with the | | | | home. This is the reason it is so important. |
| ground around it is like building a basement wall on | | | | Most building codes will require that footers are |
| sand, it is going to lean or worse, as the weight | | | | several inches, or over a foot wide and should be |
| of the home is built on top. Many times, | | | | several inches or over a foot deep, with concrete |
| homeowners won't see this important part of the | | | | that is very dense, for support. Some building |
| foundation before backfill is put on top and around | | | | codes will require concrete testing of the mix that |
| it. This is a process you should make sure is | | | | is used to pour the "footer", so you can rest |
| important to your builder and a question to ask if | | | | easier if you have strict building codes and |
| you are having a home built. | | | | inspection requirements in place. If not, it is a |
| Most footings are supposed to be dictated by | | | | subject that should be approached with your |
| building code, but there are ways that some | | | | builder and make sure that you understand the |
| builders get around cheaper "footers", which take | | | | exact requirements and the planned specifications |
| less concrete, depending on the scope of the | | | | for your "footer", and it should all be spelled out in |
| foundation inspection. If it is inspected after | | | | any contracts, when you are having a home |
| completion, it is possible that they are only | | | | custom built. |