Everything You Need to Know About Foundation Before Buying a House

When buying a home it is important to know about the foundation. I am a real estate agent, not a contractor. This post will help you understand the three basic types of common foundations. I will describe each and compare each one to help you better understand the pros and cons of each.

The Three Most Common House Foundations

1. Basement

A basement is a dug out space below ground. The height is usually high enough that an average height person can walk around without cowering down. There are several types of basements.

Enclosed Basement – There will or will not be windows. If there are windows, they will be too small for a person to fit through. These are the most common.

Daylight Basement – There will be windows which are large enough for a person to fit through. These are egress windows which can be used to escape the home in an emergency.

Cellar Basement – These have no windows and are often made of small blocks or earth. These are most common with homes built before the 1960s.

Walk-Out Basement – These are found commonly with homes built on a hillside. These are actually very valuable. A walkout basement means on at least one side the earth on the outside has been dug out so that you can walk right out of the house.

2. Crawl Space

Under the home, there is space between the earth and the bottom structure of the home. The height of this space varies between one and four feet high. Three to four feet is most common.

3. Slab

A home built on a slab is built directly on the concrete slab. There is no space between the earth and the bottom structure of the home.

Slab vs Crawl Space

One is not really better than the other. Honestly, if I had to pick, I think I would pick a slab house.

Whether a house is on a slab or on a crawl space does not much matter. A home’s foundation drives how the home will be built. The only benefit to a crawl is that you may be able to store some things in a crawl space. However, I do not think I would want to do so. Crawl spaces are damp, dark, and dank. Also, many have an earth bottom meaning there can be bugs down there.

The other benefit of a crawl, but to me is a negative, is that you can get to plumbing and HVAC pieces by accessing the crawl space. These parts run along the underside of the home. However, I do not necessarily see this as a benefit because I do not like going in crawl spaces.

In a slab home these elements are all found in the walls. So, if there is a problem, you may need to open the wall to get to it. However, many slab homes are built with access points so you can get to pipes and HVAC duct work in the walls.

What Is A Crawl Space?

A crawl space is a space underneath a home. The crawl space is usually three to four feet high. The home is built up off the ground. The space between the earth and the underside of the home is the crawl space.

The bottom of the crawl space can be earth, gravel, sand, or concrete. If the bottom is earth or sand, or gravel, a vapor barrier should be installed to keep moist air from clouding around the underside of the home. The HVAC duct work, electrical components, and plumbing often run along the underside of the home. You can get to those items to make repairs by crawling through the crawl space.

Sometimes a crawl space is referred to as a crawl space basement. This is a misnomer. A crawl space is not a basement.

Where Is The Crawl Space In A House?

Are you having trouble finding the access hatch for a crawl space? Try looking in these places:

1. Utility Room
2. Laundry Room
3. Bedroom, storage, or linen closets
4. Outside through a cellar door

Conclusion

There are few differences between a home on a crawl space vs a slab. Each has its own benefits and negatives.

If you have more questions about homes or want to buy a house in Northwest Indiana, feel free to reach out to one of our qualified Quadwalls Connected Agents.