Most homes are built on one of three types of foundations: a crawl space, a basement or slab.A crawl space is a raised foundation in which the home is built slightly above the ground. There is usually just enough room to crawl into and through the space. Pipes and other mechanical elements of a home can often be accessed in the crawl space. The floor of the crawl space is typically soil.
A basement is an expanded crawl space, essentially a floor that is either partially or completely below ground level. They can be finished or unfinished.
The most common and economical type of foundation is a slab, or concrete foundation. The slab is created by pouring a few inches concrete onto crushed gravel.
The decision as to what kind of foundation to use when building a home is based on factors such as climate, soil type, the depth of bedrock, the location of the water table and appearance.
California has millions of homes built on crawl space, basement or slab foundations. A little over 9% of these homes were constructed before 1939. Approximately 23% of California homes were built between 1940 and 1959, and an addition 16.8% were constructed from 1960 to 1969.
Initially, most homes were built with crawl spaces and basements. Concrete slabs became popular during the building boom that occurred after World War ll. They were less expensive than other types of foundations, and could be constructed quicker. Some slabs were poured with a thick edge. Others were poured between short walls made of masonry. The slabs were approximately three to four inches thick.
As time went on, it became clear that some type of reinforcement was needed to minimize slab cracks and breakage, requiring foundation repair. The problem was solved by using steel rebars (reinforced bars) and mesh.
Even with today’s advanced building technologies and materials, a home can still have foundation issues, especially older structures. Many times the problem is due to settlement. Foundation settlement occurs when the foundation moves down to a point that is lower that its original position.
Settlement is generally caused by changing soil conditions. For example, increase compaction or soil that shifts. Settlement can also occur due to changes in the moisture content of the soil. When soil gets wet, it expands, when it dries, it compacts.
When a foundation settles too much, it can lead to cracks in walls and ceilings. Windows and doors can become more difficult to open or close, and floors can buckle or begin to slope. House leveling issues may arise.
Although foundation settlement is usually more apparent in homes with a slab foundation, any type of foundation can be damaged by settlement.
If you have an older home, make sure your foundation is inspected on a regular basis. A seasoned foundation contractor or foundation repair expert will know how to tell if you have foundation problems and where to look for possible foundation issues. And they can fix any problems before they become serious.
When a foundation isn’t properly maintained, the damage will only get worse over time and eventually weaken the entire structure.
There are three types of 
SEATTLE, WA: Big Trees Inc., (
There are several ways in which a home can be retrofitted, depending on the home’s specifications and the condition of the foundation. Shawn Kyles, Julian Construction’s chief home inspection specialist, has written an article covering the different uses of retrofitting. Mr. Kyles stated: “Following the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the severity of structural issues in residential neighborhoods varied considerably from house to house depending on the steps each homeowner had taken to fortify their home. Statistics show time and again that during seismic activity, houses that have been retrofitted will have less damage than a home that hasn’t been reinforced. This was the case in the Long Beach earthquake of 1933, which resulted in the structural failure of brick buildings without reinforced masonry walls, including many school buildings in the area. Buildings with reinforced concrete had very little, if any, structural issues. In the aftermath of the magnitude 6.25 quake, California’s Riley Act was adopted, which required local governments throughout the state to establish building departments and inspect newly constructed homes and businesses. During the years that followed, new building codes were implemented requiring the bolting of any wooden walls to the structure’s foundation.”
LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, Inc. (
In the article, Susan Mary Malone states: “The old saying goes in this business that it’s tougher to get a good literary agent than to make a sale to a publisher. And in reality, that’s pretty much the case. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? These folks aren’t in the business for grins. Agents are the front line in vetting a manuscript. They wade through piles and piles of often terrible stuff (how many writers think their manuscripts are perfect and need no editing/critique?) to find a gem or two buried in the muck. And even then, that gem almost always needs work. The manuscript that is completely ready to go is that proverbial one in a million. So, how can you find a good agent?”
Katsura is the common name of two species of 
Water can damage both the exterior and interior of a home. This includes moisture - small amounts of liquid spread out over an area, either in the atmosphere or on an object. When a water problem isn’t fixed, it can eventually lead to 
The situation arose when a neighbor of the homeowner came onto the property and cut down their trees, all to improve the offending neighbor’s view. The homeowner called Big Trees Inc. to help on the matter. The location of the project made it difficult to bring the trees to the site, however by procuring a large crane and positioning it in the street they were able to reach the planting bed for the new trees. The new trees were brought in from the company’s tree nursery and installed with a crane. The project was completed in one day, and the landscape was completely restored to its condition prior to the trespasser’s violation.