Did you enjoy playing blocks as a child? Maybe you liked stacking them up and then letting them tumble down. Or maybe you enjoyed creating the most elaborate structures you could dream of. People with this affinity for playing blocks often find that they like working as contractors and construction workers. After all, these jobs are sort of like playing blocks for grownups! You get to build things, albeit these things are much more complex than block towers. Sometimes, you also get to knock things down. If you like this analogy as much as we do, then we invite you to read more about construction and contractors on this website.
If you are planning to build a new home, you probably know that the foundation is one of the most important parts of the entire project. A strong, properly constructed foundation is necessary to support and stabilize the remainder of the structure and the weight of the contents and people who will be housed within the home.
Two of the most common types of residential foundations are those formed from poured concrete and those made from pre-formed cinder blocks. Those who are entering the planning stages of a new home construction project can use the following information to help them understand the potential benefits they may gain by opting to use a poured concrete foundation for their project.
Greater lateral strength
A properly designed and constructed poured concrete foundation is known to have far greater lateral strength than one built from individual cinder blocks. Much of the improvement in lateral strength is due to the fact that poured concrete foundation walls are able to be extensively reinforced with interconnected steel throughout the entire foundation. When pressure is placed on any part of the foundation, the distribution over a wide area reduces the strain and potential for damage.
Although cinder block foundations are also reinforced, usually with steel rebar that is grouted into place, the individual blocks make it much more difficult to interconnect the steel to provide increased lateral strength. With less lateral strength, cinder block foundations are more apt to shift and crack when subjected to movement in the soil or the freezing and thawing of moisture in the soil around the foundation.
Better resistance to age-related condition issues
Another reason to choose a poured concrete foundation, instead of a cinder block foundation, is the increased resistance to age-related condition issues related to the way in which a poured concrete foundation is formed and poured. A cinder block foundation, with pre-formed blocks held together by layers of masonry, is much more affected by age and exposure to the elements than the smoother, less porous surface of a poured concrete foundation.
While the formation of cracks can be a problem in both types of foundation, the cinder block foundation is much more likely to form deep cracks that follow the masonry seams that hold the blocks in place. To learn more about the benefits of a poured concrete foundation for your new home construction project, contact a reputable concrete foundation service in your area.