Foundations, Basements & Slab-on-Grade

When renovating or building a new home in the US or Canada with a Basement or a Slab on Grade, in the EcoHome Foundation & Basement guide section you will find the basics on foundation, basement & slab design, under slab insulation, site selection & preparation, excavation, drainage & radon gas prevention and mitigation

Basements improvements

Basement full of water? How to start fixing the damage from a basement flood

All basements are prone to flooding, which is why we don't really like basements much. So, if it's your turn to look with dismay at your unplanned basement pool and wonder what to do next to fix things, read this guide and we will try our best to help. Flooded basement? That really sucks... Basement flooding can be…

Slab on Grade

Slab-on-grade technical guide

A slab-on-grade home or building is more affordable, more comfortable and more Eco-friendly. Here is a technical guide & design guide for construction of a slab on grade foundation. Slab-on-grade construction - technical guide Deciding to build your home with a slab-on-grade foundation instead of a conventional…

Foundation choices

Slab-on-grade vs foundation and crawlspace or basement

Considering between slab-on-grade construction compared to foundations and crawlspace or a basement? Take the first step of home design in deciding which foundations to build on. Is an insulated slab on grade the best foundation choice? Or is a basement better? Traditionally, home construction often starts with a…

Basements

Finishing a basement to be water resistant - reducing the damage from basement flooding

If you're unfortunate enough to have a basement that flooded, or that floods regularly over the years, this guide gives our top tips and information on how to rebuild a finished basement to make it more resilient to water damage in the future. Building a flood-resistant basement: Simple, sustainable solutions for…

Basements improvements

The ultimate guide to basement under floor heating and waterproof floor screeding

Turn an old damp basement into useable living space with proper waterproofing, insulation and a nice under floor heating system. In many homes, basements are increasingly being converted into functional, comfortable, and often very livable spaces, but getting them to be warm, dry, and usable poses a unique set of…

Basements

Should you buy a home with a finished basement?

Most finished basements are moldy or will develop mold in the future because they are usually built poorly. Learn what to look for when home shopping. Basements, downstairs in more ways than one For those wishing to become homeowners, one of the decisions you'll face when buying a new property is whether or not to…

New foundations and slab-on-grade

What causes frost heave? Preventing frost heaving is down to good foundation design

Frost heaving of home foundations, basements, decks & garden walls in cold climates can cause issues - especially in clay soils that hold water - Ecohome built to prevent frost heave recently, here's what we did. Frost protected foundations - essential in cold climates Protecting homes and buildings in cold climates…

Radon in Homes - Mitigation

Radon levels by State and Province - why a radon test is essential

As so many searches are done online for Radon Gas Maps, Radon Gas safe levels and Radon Maps by State of USA or Province of Canada - We decided to stress the importance of testing for Radon gas in homes as November is Radon Awareness Month. Radon gas maps - levels by State or Province Radon maps show where the risk…

Basements improvements

Why basements flood & how to prevent flooded basements

Basements flood, full stop. As a hole in the ground similar to a swimming pool, once all is done to stop water getting in, we then need to remove any water with a sump pump, a sump pump battery backup & maybe a sump pump alarm to stop basements flooding. Spring flooding of basements is very common and most times can…

Foundations and Basements

Slab on grade or crawlspaces, which is better?

One of the first decisions when building a home is what type of foundations to sit your home on - cold-climates, termites, problem expansive clay soils, insulation & vapor & radon barriers all need to be considered. What is the difference between a slab on grade and a crawl space? A slab on grade, or ‘frost…

Basements improvements

Why are basements moldy? How to fix or prevent a moldy basement

Basement mold and mildew can easily be avoided with better designed walls. Common building practices trap moisture in wall assemblies preventing them from drying. That musty, moldy basement smell that we have come to accept as unavoidable, is actually quite avoidable. The solution is really quite simple - stop…

About

Foundations and Basements

Building science for foundations and slab on grade options are explained, for example raft slabs as a frost-protected shallow foundation. EcoHome helps readers understand the issues that affect energy efficiency, moisture management, slab on grade forming techniques, how to choose between a crawlspace or a slab foundation and radon control and removal so you can build more efficient Green homes and better insulated crawlspaces that will last a lifetime.