Which is a Better Buy, Quincy Homes With a Raised Foundation or Solid Slab?

The debate rages on! The issue of which foundation makes for a better home has pitted industry experts against each other for years. Since the Quincy Real Estate market contains plenty of both it will be useful to examine the pros and cons of each foundation.

Raised foundations definitely allow for easier under the house maintenance to be done. The ease of crawl spaces means that things like A/C units can be routed with underground tubes to equip the house with central heating and air. It’s important to have easy access to your air conditioning unit for general upkeep maintenance. Other household fixtures such as water pipes, drain pipes, vent pipes, electrical conduits, and ducts are easily installed with raised foundations.

The ability to monitor a home’s plumbing system is crucial especially when considering to purchase a foreclosure or bank owned home. Since these homes often sit on the market for long periods of time without the plumbing being used there is a chance the plumbing system may dry out. If this happens then the plumbing attachments may start to leak around their seals. Once the system is used again these seals should be carefully monitored.

Raised foundations have a wide variety of compositions, ranging from single level to multiple level raises. They tend to be easier to inspect if termite infestation is suspected. However, depending on how they are built in terms of congruity to the earth the exposed timbers maybe more susceptible to subterranean termite infestation. It will be very important to monitor any soil that comes into contact with foundation anchors or timbers for dampness. Soil dampness would be an item that a homeowner may correct in order to prevent termite infestation.

Slabs have several advantages that include more stability and greater energy savings. Since there is not a pocket of air underneath the home hot and cold air can’t get trapped and have a cooling or heating affect on the home. One contractor told the Grove that since he lived in a hot arid place he actually put a whole bunch of river rocks underneath his house to encourage a cooling affect. One thing to look out for on slab foundations is foundation movement. An unsettling foundation can cause repair problems in excess of $30,000 if the foundation is severally cracked.

So, which foundation is the best? It all depends on the construction of the house. For older homes that require plumbing maintenance it might very well be better to have a raised foundation. If crawl space will not be required for vital housing system maintenance than go for a slab.

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