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Stepped Foundation Walls
Stepping Foundation Walls Provides Cost and
Aesthetic Benefits
By: Mark J. Donovan
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A stepped foundation wall simply
means that the foundation wall does not maintain the same height for the entire
length of it. Stepped foundation walls are commonly constructed on building lots
that have gentle sloped finished grades.
Stepping foundation walls is a common
practice in the building industry. It is done for several reasons. First, it is
aesthetically more appealing to have a foundation wall that roughly follows the
finished grade of the surrounding soil. |
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Having a foundation wall that
effectively rises out of the ground from say 10” on one side of the home to
48” on the other side can be unsightly, particularly if there is no nice way
to mask off the foundation exposure.
A stepped foundation wall also
offers cost savings. Concrete is expensive compared to the cost of lumber.
Installing a framed cripple wall, in place of an exposed foundation wall, is
much more cost effective.
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In addition, unlike
a concrete foundation wall a cripple wall offers much more flexibility in terms
of installing basement windows, and punching through various utility conduit
pipes to the outside of the home.
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When considering a stepped
foundation wall it is important to first talk with your local building
inspector to understand the foundation height above grade requirements.
Depending upon where you live the
foundation wall will need to protrude above the finished grade soil by a
specified amount.
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Photo By Mark Donovan |
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This is necessary to protect the
lower extremities of the home, such as the wood sill plate, from water and
insect damage.
In addition, stepping foundation
walls requires some engineering and planning. Foundation walls should not be
stepped too close to corners or jogs in foundation walls. Both vertical and
horizontal rebar should also be used when installing a foundation, and
particularly around stepped foundation wall areas. |
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