Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The Advantages & Disadvantages of a House Built on a Slab Vs. a Crawl Space

Slab Advantages

Homes built on slabs have less risk of flooding or leaking gases, which creates a healthier environment than homes built over crawl spaces and basements that are susceptible to flooding, gas leaks and mold. Slabs often eliminate the need for extra steps because they are lower to the ground. Senior citizens or people with physical restrictions are attracted to one-level homes that don't have a lot of steps to climb.

Slab Disadvantages

Shifting soil, invasive tree roots and earthquakes pose serious problems for homes constructed on slabs. Any cracks in the foundation can cause major, long-term issues that are often very difficult and costly to repair. Slabs are prone to insect infestations as well.

Crawl Space Advantages

Crawl spaces can work well in dry climates, and they are generally less expensive to build than basements. Well-insulated crawl spaces built with mold-resistant materials and proper ventilation for your region offer more storage space than a slab but less than a basement.

Crawl Space Disadvantages

Crawl spaces that aren't insulated properly from elements attract moisture, mold and rodents. Vented crawl spaces in homes located in drier climates tend to pose fewer issues than insulated and sealed crawl spaces in humid locations, but none of them yield impressive energy savings compared to homes designed with insulated floors built on slab or over a finished basement. If you must choose a crawl space design for your California home, choose a sealed crawl space that discourages mold and saves energy.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

How to Know If a Wall Is a Weight-Bearing Wall



A house of cards succinctly illustrates the concept of load-bearing walls; every horizontal card must be supported by vertical cards; and as cards build upward, their weight bears down on the lower walls. A real house works the same way, except that the load-bearing walls aren’t so easy to locate. Identify these important walls using a few rules that apply broadly to buildings before starting your project. Always remember, though, that even if it doesn’t fit one of these categories, it might still be a load-bearing wall.

Note exterior walls -- and original exterior walls concealed by later additions. These walls directly support roof trusses or rafters. Side walls are primary load-bearing walls in simple gable-end framing, but hip roofs and complex roof lines depend on more than just the side walls.

Locate the floor joists that run across the house between outside walls. Look in the basement or up under the house in the crawl space; joists may be from 2 to 4 inches across and 6 to 10 inches deep and run parallel to each other across the building, terminating on opposing sills or foundation walls around the perimeter of the building. Any wall that runs perpendicular across these joists qualifies as a load-bearing wall. If your house is more than 14 or 15 feet wide, assume that every wall parallel to the central wall running across joists is a load-bearing wall.

Climb up to the attic and chart the pattern of truss joists. Compound post-20th century roof lines and complex Victorian and Revival roofs may require additional walls to support turrets, dormers and hips.

Examine walls carefully when you pull the wallboard off. Plumbers and electricians favor load-bearing walls for utilities. A heavy post concealed in a wall provides a clue to previous remodeling of a bearing wall. A wall directly under a wall on an upper floor may be a bearing wall.

Check doors, windows and other openings that contain extra timber, called headers, above these openings; double 2-by-4-inch jambs along the sides and 2-by-6 or larger headers compensate for missing studs in bearing walls.

Consult with a Das Haus Design professional at 818 280 99292 for a FREE consultation or to inspect for load-bearing elements. Your local building code may require this step and, unless your house is brand new and the builder has marked every load-bearing element, it’s the only way to surely identify weight-bearing walls.