Foundation Options for Modular Homes

There are a lot of decisions to be made when designing your dream home. Choosing a foundation for your modular home should be done carefully. You will want to consider the price, construction time, and land when selecting a foundation. Modular homes can be placed on a slab, basement, or crawl space, depending on your preference and budget.

The foundation of home is necessary to support the considerable weight of the house and to provide a level surface in which to place the home. A strong, well-built foundation is essential for a sturdy and secure home. This is true whether you are building a traditional or modular home.

Slabs, basements, and crawl spaces are the three main foundation systems used for most houses. Each system has its own unique benefits that make it attractive to homebuilders and homebuyers. When choosing a foundation for your home, you should take time to consider each of your choices.

Slab: A concrete slab is simply a flat, concrete pad that is poured directly on the ground. It usually consists of three to five inches of concrete. Because it takes little labor, site preparation, or formwork, a slab is typically the easiest foundation to build. While it is ideal in warmer climates, it has issues in places where the ground freezes in the winter. The freezing may cause the slab to shift, which could be detrimental to the stability of your home. Slab foundations are the most affordable option as compared to crawl spaces and basements.

Basement: Once a modular home is complete, it can be lifted by a crane and placed on a basement foundation. While a basement is more expensive than a slab, it is a good investment. Many homebuyers appreciate the added living space that can be used for a variety of purposes. Well-constructed basements are usually considered a positive selling point for most buyers. Using durable materials means that your basement will stay comfortable and dry, no matter what the weather is like outside. There are basement options for modular homes that are highly energy efficient. The strong walls are well insulated to maximize energy conservation and prevent unnecessary energy loss through the basement walls. Saving energy is good for your wallet as well as the environment.

Crawl Space: A crawl space is the area between the ground and the bottom of a house. It is much lower than basement and usually does not allow enough room for an adult to stand upright. While it does not provide livable space like a basement, a crawl space provides support for the house, allowing it to get off of the ground. This is especially important in areas that have damp soil or are prone to termite infestations. With a crawl space, plumbing and ductwork is more easily serviced than with a slab.

Some modular homebuilders offer controlled crawl spaces that are completely sealed and insulated from the outside environment. They are designed to protect the area from the elements, including damaging moisture. These systems are popular because they offer the following benefits:

Improved energy efficiency
Improved structural longevity
Floor protection
Helps to regulate temperature
Adds value

Determining which foundation system is best for your home may largely depend on your budget and lifestyle. Talk with you builder about the different options available to you.

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New Options to Decorate Existing Concrete

These days, concretes are decorated in different ways to enhance the beauty of your house and other construction. There are options such as the integrate colorants as well as the imprints that can change the way a slab of concrete will look. However, these methods can be tried only when the concrete is in the process of formation. But, there is no reason to assume that the existing ones can't be transformed into a decorative concrete. In fact, there is more than one way to design the already set concrete.

The first among them are of course, the concrete dyes. These dyes are available in different compositions and forms. They are widely applied to both the commercial as well as the residential buildings along with the bridges, floors, and countertops. Earlier, these dyes were largely made of the printing inks that get dissolved in alcohol and then this solution was applied to the surface of the concrete to create the required shades. However, the main drawback of the process was that when it was exposed to the sunlight the alcohol solution faded out. This is why this process was more useful for the interiors.

However, the manufacturers then discovered different other carriers such as lacquer thinner, acetone etc. in which these inks can be dissolved. They also have a deeper penetration level as well. Also, some UV inhibiting agents were added as well to ensure that the dye is protected from the UV rays. Unfortunately, the color still used to get faded in sunlight.

The acid staining is certainly one of the most effective solutions in this respect. In fact, it is not a process of dying the concrete; rather it is a chemical reaction. In this process, a mixture of water, acid and salt is added to the concrete and then ammonia and water is added to neutralize the effect. In the mean time, chemical reactions take place between the solution and lime and other minerals inside the concrete. This results in the formation of new colors.

Since the surface of the concrete is inconsistent to the amount of minerals, the reaction creates a unique texture on each of the surfaces. The process has a greater penetration as well ranging from 1/16 to 1/32 of an inch. However, if there are any exposed rocks there in the concrete it will not accept the staining. There are different chemicals used in this process and that includes iron chloride, hydrochloride acid, and the sodium bicarbonate.

Another option to stain the existing concrete is the water based staining. This is much similar to the acid staining in creating the translucent look. However, the main difference between them is the fact that while the acid staining reacts to the concrete and alters the look of the concrete material, the water staining creates a coat that covers the concrete. There are different types of water based staining including acrylic, polymer, and epoxy; and they all work in different ways.

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