Stem walls are most often built either of masonry (CMU or cinder blocks) or of concrete. ![]() Stem walls made of concrete are sometimes referred to as “two pour foundations.” The first pour being for the footing and the second for the stem walls themselves.ĭuring the construction of the stem walls above the footing, you’ll want to use vertical bars to assure that the walls do not slide off of the footing (a special concern in areas prone to earthquakes).Īfter you’ve constructed the stem wall, you can attach a sill plate (the structural base of the frame of the house) to the stem wall with anchor bolts (their number and size typically dictated by local building codes). If you are building on material with a high load bearing value (LBV), like bedrock, your footings may be smaller than at a site with sandy soil, which has a low LBV. The exact dimensions of footings will vary and will be determined in part by the type of soil at the site. They should also be a minimum of 12 inches wide. These concrete bases for the stem walls should be a minimum of 12 inches below the line of undisturbed soil and 12 inches below the frost line (or they should be frost protected). You’ll only need large equipment like rollers for bigger projects. Use a plate compactor and make additions to the soil (like gravel), if needed, to achieve a soil that is adequately dense and uniform for your project. You’ll want to remove any large stumps, and also confirm with local authorities that no trees on the lot are protected. Remove any plants as well as other debris. While there are variations on how stem walls are constructed, several first steps are common to all of them: (In those situations, the amount of concrete required for a slab foundation can quickly become expensive.) How are stem wall foundations constructed? By raising the base of the house, the entire structure is elevated.Ī special case: If the lot you are building on is on a slope, a stem wall foundation has some particular pluses in that its height can be varied depending on the ground elevation at different points. The end result can be a more beautiful home. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |