*
I’ve been trying to figure out ways to get more headroom in the basement.
It’s pretty much impossible to find a foundation contractor in this area who does form work greater than 8′ so I’m wondering about the possibility of using a treated 6×6 mudsill to gain a couple of extra inches…
Any thoughts????
A standardized approach, quick-to-install hardware, and a simplified design make building custom casework cost-effective.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Hi Paul, Have you looked into ICF's. There are a lot of systems on the market that come in 16" increments.
6 courses equals 8'. Just add one more course and you are at 9.33'. E-mail me and I may be able to direct you to someone in your area.
*A row or two of concrete blocks on top of the foundation wall will easily get you more than 6"
*Call the concrete supplier and ask them who has tall forms. Commercial concrete workers will have them, not sure how they will price out in a residential job, or if they'll even be interested. One residential guy here rents tall forms when needed, customer cost is only a few hundred dollars more.It's common to double up the mudsill, laying two 2by6's on top of each other for an extra inch and a half. Don't forget to lengthen the anchor bolts.
*Paul: i've used PT 6x6 & PT 4x6 for sills, especially when i'm doing insulated slabs on stem walls...just make sure you get .040 retention of the PT, no problem with either size, if it's one story the 4x6 should be fine, two story go with the 6x6.......i like a half-lap at the corners, i think the 6x6 is superior to stacking 2x6's .. use a longer foundation bolt or countersink your bolts.. you need 7" embeddment..as far as getting max head room, keep this in mind..get your cellar hole as level as possible... we always put 12" of 3/4" stone in the hole as a sub support and leveling course.. every inch your hole is out of level is one less inch of headroom....some of the form equipment is only a nominal 8 foot wall, my sub can only pour 7' - 9" MAX.. check it out .. ask 'em what is the max you can pour, assuming i get my hole level?..residential form guys usually pour 8' just like you say.. osme of the high end guys and the commercial form companies can pour anything you want.... for a premium...3
*Have you considered a concrete block foundation? 12 courses of standard blocks gives an 8' wall. This heighth will be reduced by the thickness of your floor slab (nominally 4"). You can get this back with one additional course of half high blocks. I like this option because you can finish the basement out with standard materials. If you need more headspace you can run a course or two of standard blocks. My only reservation about the thick sills is shrinkage.
*Honestly, I'm surprised. Seems like all the concrete guys around here have 9' forms exclusively. Maybe it's just a regional thing ?
*
Residential guys around here commonly do up to 10' walls, however, the labor goes up exponentially. The labor for a 9' wall is 50% more than an 8' wall.
*
Paul, your 6x6 will certainly be strong enough of a mudsill.
Around here, they simply lay a course or two of block on top of the poured 8' wall. Simple and strong.
I have framed a short stub wall many times for a local builder. He thinks its better because he can stuff it with insulation. I'm skeptical, but it does work. To pass code, it must be sheathed on both sides.
I'd go the block route, but it might be cheaper to lay 6x6's or 8x8's.
Let us know.
blue
*Jim - I don't think the labor goes up nearly that much, unless they have some kind of forms that cause problems with 9' walls. I have a friend who's a concrete contractor, and he only uses 9' forms. When he wnts 8' walls, he just levels the concrete off a foot lower in the forms.
*
I've been trying to figure out ways to get more headroom in the basement.
It's pretty much impossible to find a foundation contractor in this area who does form work greater than 8' so I'm wondering about the possibility of using a treated 6x6 mudsill to gain a couple of extra inches...
Any thoughts????