General

Nearly all building sites have the potential to experience problems with ground moisture, particularly when the water table is high or drainage is poor. Poor site drainage and difficult site conditions, such as “loose” soils or fills, can contribute to eventual building settlement, foundation wall cracking, and aggravated moisture problems. As residential development continues in many markets and development space is at a premium, the luxury of selecting sites which offer good soil and surface conditions is often an amenity that’s simply not available. Thus, this section gives recommendations that recognize the need to be resourceful with the building lots which are available.

The objective of a foundation is to separate the building materials and the indoor environment from the earth while also providing adequate structural support. The following rules of thumb and recommended practices should serve to minimize the potential for durability problems related to foundations (which are among the most common durability issues listed in Section 2.3).