The Secret to a Strong Home: Everything You Need to Know About Foundations

Jennifer DeVito
Oct 24
2 min read

Before your walls go up, your home needs a strong backbone: the foundation. The foundation might not be the prettiest part of the home, but it is still very important. It’s the support system that ensures your house stands strong for decades. Understanding your options gives you peace of mind and also helps you make smart design and budget decisions.

Choosing the Right Foundation

There are three main types of foundations, each with its own advantages:

Full Basement ($$$): The foundation walls are poured at a height which allows you to finish this space and have extra living areas. This is ideal if you want to maximize square footage now or later.
Crawl Space / Mechanical-Only Height ($$): The foundation walls are poured at a shorter height allowing room for only mechanicals to be run below. Perfect for home extensions and saving money without a full basement below.
Slab Foundation ($): There is no extra space below this foundation, saving the most money and the best option for someone who does not need extra living space.

Components of a Foundation

Every strong foundation has a few key components:

Footing: This part of the foundation is made first out of poured concrete with rebar reinforcements. The purpose of the footings is to support the foundation walls and prevent settling. A footing is placed below the frost line and then the walls are added on top.
Walls: A foundation wall is a wall which rests on the footings of the foundation. It provides support for the weight of a house and a level platform for the house to stand on.
Rebar: A steel reinforcing rod placed in concrete to increase it's strength.

Customizing Your Foundation

Every foundation is unique, below are the various options you have to choose from:

Foundation Wall Height: The typical foundation wall is 8' tall but, this doesn't mean the ceiling height will be 8' throughout the entire basement... There are beams and mechanicals that will hang below, making the ceiling height in those areas lower. If your budget allows, you may choose to do a taller foundation wall, 9', which will give more head room when walking below those dropped areas.
Foundation Wall Ledge / Brick Ledge: If you are doing a stone or brick facade on your home, the foundation wall can be modified to include a Brick Ledge.
A Brick Ledge: The upper section of the foundation wall which is made into the shape of a shelf and reinforced to support the weight of finished materials such as brick, stone or other veneers.

Why Foundations Matter

The foundation is literally the base of your dream home. From extra living space to waterproofing and utilities, these decisions set the stage for everything above it. By understanding the process, you can make choices that save money, improve functionality, and protect your home for years to come.