[Greenbuilding] [BULK] concrete vs block vs ___ foundation wall

[Lawrence Lile]

I've done this job, using a treated wood foundation.  I would not do
that again, I had more faith in treated wood back then.  Jacking up the
house, then putting the foundation under it is no easy task, and we did
a lot of it in the mud.  Yuck.  Well, I was 25 and a lot stupider back
then. 

 I would recommend anything but concrete.  Concrete block can make a
great foundation, and lends it self more to the DIY'er, IMHO.  

Pouring a wall under an existing house sounds like a logistical problem,
compared with placing blocks.  Would you jack the house up too high,
then let it back down on the concrete wall? Would there be room for the
concrete truck to swings it's chute between the top of the wall and the
house? I dunno.  

Concrete block foundations are more common in the South and West for
some reason.  More brickmasons, probably. You'll still probably want
some kind of poured footing though, under the concrete blocks.  Can't
think of a greener alternative to concrete blocks, unless you can go
with some kind of recycled or fly ash content bricks.  

--Lawrence Lile   

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Reuben
Deumling
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 11:47 AM
To: Greenbuilder list
Subject: [BULK] [Greenbuilding] concrete vs block vs ___ foundation wall
Importance: Low

I plan to replace the 6x6 posts supported by brick piers every 7 feet
around the perimeter of my 1894 house with a "real" foundation one of
these days.
The house is basically a small rectangle sitting on a basement with
roughly 3' walls below grade. My question is whether the foundation wall
could profitably be made of blocks (and if so of what material) rather
than being poured concrete. I am assuming the footing would have to be
steel reinforced conrete either way. I also plan to lift the house
approximately two feet in conjunction with the foundation replacement to
allow for headroom in the basement. I plan on doing the foundation work
myself.

Other questions would be
--how building codes (or inspectors) generally view alternatives to
poured foundation walls, --what relative (material) costs of the
alternatives would be, as well as --any environmental, thermal, or
structural pros and cons of concrete foundation walls vs. other
alternatives.

I've calculated I'd need about 9 yards of concrete for the wall if I
were to pour it.

Thanks.

Reuben Deumling
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