The Problem of Soil and Houses

Once upon a time, the standard for home foundations was good old trustworthy rock. Almost anybody could decide where he wanted to build his house by digging a trench and stacking rocks up until the foundation was high enough to provide protection from water damage. By then stacking a little higher on a wall or two, the foundation would ultimately be level enough to build on. Typically those stone foundations were only a foot or so in height and were not designed for long-term application. They may have supported the home, but they offered little or no protection from the elements, insects, and rodents.

 

As a result, builders began using mortar to hold the stones together and to eliminate the intrusion of unwanted elements. This was a better means, but it still provided no assurance of longevity. These foundations would often settle and crack, which left the homeowner with the burden of ongoing maintenance.

 

Normally, it is not this complicated. After all, the pyramids in Egypt were built simply by stacking large stones upon one another. So why doesn't that tactic work for us in our modern day structures? The answer is not with the method of construction as much as it lies with the soil that the home is built upon.

 

To be Continued...