What is the Best Type of Foundation for a Custom Home?

December 10, 2020

When working with custom home builders to design and build your home, you’ll need to consider various design-related choices and factors. Choosing the foundation type for your custom home is, arguably, one of the most important decisions you can make for your custom home. A strong foundation is a crucial component of designing and building homes that last, so it’s important that you have an understanding of the different types of home foundations there are to choose from.

At 4G Design Build, we are one of the premier custom home builders in North Carolina, serving Lake Norman, and the surrounding areas. The 4G team is dedicated to helping our clients design and build the home of their dreams, but before we start talking about the kitchen and other design aspects of their homes, we work with them to determine the best type of foundation for their home. There are three main common types of foundations: basement, crawl space, and slab foundations. In this blog, we’ll talk about some of the advantages and setbacks of each so that you can be better equipped to make the right choice for your custom home.

Choosing the Best Foundation for Your Custom Home

The ideal foundation plan for custom homes is often dependent on various factors such as soil type, lot slope, house style, and climate. Fortunately, most custom home plans can be implemented with these different foundation options. 

Basement Foundation

When it comes to finding the right foundation, one of the first things you should consider is whether or not the lot has a slope. If you have a sloping lot, a basement foundation is going to be your best choice. While this foundation type does come at a higher price point, any other option will not be much cheaper and won’t offer much of a return. With basement foundations, you get the additional perk of extra living space. While basements typically aren’t built as a heated space, it gives you the option to finish the area in the future, which will help increase the living space and value of your home. Another thing to keep in mind with basement foundations is that they are easier to both install and maintain mechanical systems in your home. Basements are the ideal location for heaters and other electrical appliances and equipment.

Crawl Space Foundations

A crawl space, in the simplest terms, is a smaller basement. Brick, cinder blocks, or poured concrete are used to raise the elevation, and stem walls are extended from the footings around the perimeter of the foundation to support the home to create a two- to three-foot gap between the ground and the main floor of the house. While crawl spaces are not livable, they do offer some advantages as a foundation type. They not only offer a middle-ground when it comes to the price points of home foundations, but offer access to plumbing, heating and cooling, ventilation, and other systems under your house. 

Slab Foundation

A slab foundation allows a house to sit flat on the ground. There is no space below the house like a basement or crawl space, and therefore, a slab foundation is the most cost-effective way to build a home. Slabs are the foundation of choice in warm climates where frost isn’t an issue. One of the setbacks of slab construction is that the sewer pipe, and even most of the electrical conduit, must be in place before pouring the concrete. With these systems embedded in the concrete, repairs down the road are made much more difficult. Keep in mind, however, when the slab foundation is poured it will be tested with pressure to ensure there are not any issues. 

Each type of foundation has its advantages and disadvantages, and the best one for your custom home will depend on the lot, your budget, and other various factors. Luckily, when you work with custom home builders like 4G Design Build, you’ll get professional advice on which is best for your unique circumstances. 

Thinking About Building a Custom Home in NC? Work With 4G Design Build

Building a custom home is a great experience. There should never be too much doubt or stress involved. When you work with the team at 4G, we’ll help you feel confident and excited about your new custom home from the beginning of the process until the end. If you are interested in building a custom home, start your planning today! Contact 4G Design Build.

If you would like to learn more about these foundation types, check out this video. For more videos and answers to frequently asked questions related to building custom homes, be sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel and keep an eye out for the next video in our series.