| WHICH FOUNDATION IS BEST? | | | | foundations |
| There are six different foundation types | | | | - remodel friendly |
| commonly used throughout the US. | | | | Cons: |
| 1. FOOTING AND STEMWALL | | | | - harder to engineer for high wind and high snow |
| This is the most common foundation. It consists | | | | load applications |
| of a below frost grade concrete footing with a | | | | - only moderately popular with bankers and |
| vertical poured or block stemwall on top of the | | | | appraisers. |
| footing, shaped like an inverted T. | | | | - slightly more difficult to insulate and finish into |
| Pros: | | | | living or office space |
| - very popular with architects, engineers, | | | | - may not last as long as a stemwall or monolithic |
| appraisers, and building departments | | | | foundation |
| - versatile: used for homes with crawl spaces and | | | | 4. EMBEDDED CONCRETE PILING |
| basements, in garages, shops, and commercial | | | | Usually a round concrete piling, embedded 4' |
| buildings. It is occasionally used in barns. | | | | resting on a larger diameter concrete pad at the |
| - useful in uneven and unstable ground • can | | | | hole bottom. |
| be used in deep frost zones | | | | Pros: |
| - can be used with a wooden floor or a concrete | | | | - more popular than embedded pressure treated |
| floor | | | | wood with some owners and builders |
| Cons: | | | | - eliminates wood with ground contact |
| - More expensive. Requires 2 form ups, 2 | | | | Cons: |
| inspections and 2 pours or block laying | | | | - considerably more expensive to install |
| - takes longer | | | | - takes longer to install |
| - requires more excavation and backfill | | | | - requires Sonotube or equivalent to shape the |
| - takes more concrete | | | | piling before pouring |
| - sometimes requires a concrete pump truck | | | | - more difficult to attach to building |
| - requires more form material | | | | - not commonly used other than cabins and small |
| 2. MONOLITHIC FOUNDATION | | | | homes |
| This is a floor slab with sides turned down to | | | | 5. PRESSURE TREATED WOOD FOUNDATION |
| frost depth. | | | | Pros: |
| Pros: | | | | - inexpensive |
| - acceptable to architects, engineers, appraisers, | | | | - fast to install |
| and building departments | | | | - easy to insulate |
| - less expensive than stemwall foundation | | | | - eliminates concrete |
| - easier and faster to install | | | | - great for inaccessible places |
| - easier to build on | | | | - less eco friendly |
| - better for multiple uses | | | | Cons: |
| - lends itself to remodeling | | | | - may deteriorate over time in certain climates |
| - less excavation and backfill | | | | - not as popular as concrete with bankers, |
| - popular for in floor heating systems | | | | appraisers, and building departments |
| Cons: | | | | 6. LARGE CONCRETE FOOTING BLOCK |
| - takes planning to locate and install plumbing and | | | | FOUNDATION |
| electrical | | | | Pros: |
| - more difficult to insulate | | | | - fast |
| - floor is harder than wood | | | | - simple and inexpensive to install |
| - might require a concrete pump truck | | | | - allows free air flow |
| - difficult to install on a rainy day | | | | - allows easy access |
| 3. EMBEDDED POST (POLE BARN) FOUNDATION | | | | - little or no excavation |
| Pressure treated post is buried approximately 4' in | | | | Cons: |
| ground, set on concrete footing pad. | | | | - not popular with architects, engineers, appraisers, |
| Pros: | | | | bankers, or building departments |
| - fast and inexpensive to install (unless your land is | | | | 7. ANY COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE |
| a rock pile or soup hole) | | | | Pros: |
| - requires rental of inexpensive augur and skid | | | | - combination foundations make good sense for |
| steer loader | | | | multiple use buildings, especially when combining |
| - final leveling can be done after posts are installed | | | | living, office, workshop, garage, or animal space |
| - concrete floor is optional and can be installed | | | | Cons: |
| after building is built | | | | - moderately expensive |
| - sidewalls, doors, and windows are easy to | | | | - may require additional inspections |
| install | | | | This list was compiled by Uncle Howard's Barns a |
| - larger clear spans are common | | | | leading supplier of Horse Barns, Barn Kits, Barn |
| - 12' post grid layouts make stall installation easier | | | | Homes, and Barn Doors. |
| - works well in combination with other | | | | |