I tell people when I talk with them about construction that there are a thousand and one decisions that need to be made throughout the building project. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities in the creation of your dream. Let's talk about an example when you are just beginning. It is important to decide at what elevation you wish to have the top of the foundation. This ultimately determines how many steps you will have to go up or down to enter or exit your new home. This can be important depending on your physical condition or can be important for the asthetic value of your home, ie. your curb appeal. For example, a country or farm style design looks much nicer with an elevated front porch. A contemporary home can be elegant with a zero grade approach to the front door. Or if you are my age you may not want to have many steps into your home thereby making it more accessible. So determining the grade or elevation of the top of foundation is critical. It does not seem like rocket science but like all things if you take your eye off of the ball, before you know it, it is too late to make any changes. Concrete is very unforgiving. Once in place, changes are expensive.


A typical foundation in the Pacific Northwest has an 8" thick footing with a 24" stem wall to create the crawlspace. This is topped with 6" sill seal, a 1 1/2" treated plate, your joists at 16" on center (either 9 1/2" or 11 7/8") and a sheet of 3/4" tongue and groove plywood. This is your sub floor and its height above grade determines the number of steps you need to grade.

I will continue, each day to talk about the myriad of decisions and issues that you will have to make and am always available to you for information you may need no matter where you are at in the process. Just drop me a post and I'll get back to you in a timely manner.

Thanks for listening,

Regards,

John Arthur Anderson, CPBD
President, Blueprint Design Consultants, Inc.
4071 Hannegan Road, Suite R
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360 733-7206 Fax (360) 733-4596
john@bdcgreen.com

Building Industry Association of Whatcom County,
American Institute of Building Design
National Council of Building Design certification
Master Builders Association, Design Professional Council
Built Green member