Replies

1. 
   Bob_Walker | Dec 10, 2000 02:18pm | #1

   *
   My personal view is concrete is far better than block for a full foundation, but others disagree.

   The foundation does 3 things: hold the house up, keep the soil out of the basement, and help keep moisture out of the basement.

   For the first, they're equal. For the second and third, concrete is better, although it still needs damp or mositure proofing.

   To a large extent, it depends on your soil type: expansive clay soils need more lateral strength; and on the construction techniques: gravel backfill v. earth backfill.

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Dec 10, 2000 06:08pm | #2

   *bob... this is another one of those double posts...gabe's conclusion thta they are equal is based on the block foundation being installed to a very high spec..footing .. vertical bars... in-course reinforcement.. solid filled cores...and proper waterproofing.. if all of those are complied with.. then , yes.. the block is equal to the conc. wall..in residential real-world... the poured concrete will be superior in all aspects.....comparing average job to average job....b but hey, whadda i no ?

1. 
   tedd | Dec 11, 2000 08:09pm | #3

   *Wack a block with a 6# sledge and then wack a concrete wall. Which one would you want under your house.What a lot of folks don't know is that the mortar in block and brick walls is the weakest part of the assembly. So if the blocks break so easily, what'd'ya think the joint will do.

1. 
   Ryan_C | Dec 11, 2000 10:32pm | #4

   *Okay but we've all seen cracks in both, we've all seen water come into a basement made of both.I think block is adequate and around here you can do block cheaper. I'll use block.

1. 
   Tim_Kline | Dec 13, 2000 05:54am | #5

   *b WBA At Your ServiceWhen the cracks come and the water starts flowing, a $300 epoxy job will fix the concrete wall. The block wall will require complete excavation with a membrane over the crack for an equivalent quality repair.

2. 
   tedd | Dec 13, 2000 07:33pm | #6

   *If you have your mind made up when you come here, why not say so and then ask how your plan can be improved.Cracks in poured concrete are usually, but not always, surface crazing and are not important to structure. Full blown cracks are a sign of improper site prepartation, concrete installation, or catastrophic failure due to under washing foundation, etc.BUT your observation of water in basement is not an issue of whether you use block or reinforced concrete. "Water" in a basement is a problem and not the same as humidity and moisture that migrates through the wall.

3. 
   Art_B | Dec 13, 2000 07:53pm | #7

   *In what area are you building?If West coast or Madrid fault area (StL, So.IL,W. KY), only way to go is reinforced poured concrete.

4. 
   Martin_Shorman | Dec 22, 2000 07:02pm | #8

   *I'm a concrete fan, so I vote for solid reinforced concrete. Blocks have only 2 1.25" webs, plus the solid areas on the center and ends. Ted's comment on whacking a block is good, plus the fact that a system is only as strong as its' weakest link, i.e. the joints. Blocks are usually made of 2000 psi concrete, and the joints may only hold a few hundred pounds. Compare this to solid reinforced concrete and there is no comparison. In addition, you can mold concrete to anything you can form, say a radiused wall section, arches, etc. Be sure to look at the styrofoam forming systems. These are great for ease of construction and energy conservation.

5. 
   A._Harris | Dec 26, 2000 05:52pm | #9

   *I would agree that a solid concrete foundation is generally considered stronger but many times block is adequate for a foundation. When we do block work we use only double open end bond beams. This means the grout is not interupted by block webs so the wall is much closer to being monolithic. If you are seriuosly considering block, I would not let the previous statements disuade you. I think there are some benifits to block. And unless you're in earthquake country The strength should be exceedingly adequate. If strength is a concern, you can upsize the block in those areas.

6. 
   FredB | Dec 26, 2000 09:53pm | #10

   *Everyone has given the structural reasons. But consider the installed cost before you make up your mind.

7. 
   Jim_Walters | Dec 27, 2000 07:39pm | #11

   *I'm just now designing a hill side house for a client and for the first time will use a poured wall system. My last house was block, couldn't find a decent blocklayer and when I finally found one I spent the next two months fighting with the guy. Around here the price is supposed to not be much more expensive and the poured wall guys are pretty good.

2. 
   YL | Dec 27, 2000 07:39pm | #12

   *
   Could some homebuilders out there give me their preferences for using block versus poured foundations. I'm sure this is a subject that has been discussed back and forth for years but I'm I may be looking to have a new home built soon and would like some opinions. The home would have a full basement. I have very limited background in homebuilding.