What’s the difference between building a house on piers versus building a house on slab?

There are so many things one should consider while choosing a new home to purchase or at the beginning of a new construction project. Not everyone can give you right suggestions and people will flood your mind with lot of unnecessary advices and suggestions. Ill-advised decisions can have minor repercussion in terms of home building and poor choices can actually have a far-reaching implication on your house.

Therefore, one of the most vital decisions is to decide the type of foundation for your home in order to save you from regrets. Whether you are purchasing a new one or getting it constructed; foundation matters a lot. There are several types of foundations you can choose for your new home but there are certain factors to consider depending on the circumstances and structure of your house. These factors include soil type, foundation, area, elevation and many more.

Now have you been to a coastal area and have you ever looked at the homes? Well, those homes are based on the foundation of pier. You would never know this type of foundation unless you guessed or asked. Houses on piers are common in coastal areas and places where saving the roots of the tree is a major concern. But these days, in the mid of the city as well, people have started making houses based on the foundation of piers. Although, slabs are equally demanded but piers has become the new fad. Whatever the reason be aesthetics, utility, saving the roots or even elevation, piers as a foundation has become very common. It’s best to have at least a little knowledge between piers and slab and a minimal understanding of piers’ pros and cons.

It is not uncommon for a layman to face a fair bit of confusion when confronted with houses on piers. While they may bear a passing resemblance to the house erected on piles but there is actually a difference between the one made up of pile and another made up of piers. Pile foundations are constructed by boring holes that are digged to the bedrock to allow load support. On the contrary piers are supported at the surface of the ground by a separate type of footing. Piles are used to create a stable foundation on unstable soil but piers are designed only to raise the elevation of the structure in relation to the ground level.

Pros of piers- In flood prone there are high chances that the excessive moisture destroys the foundation of the house. But with the help of piers the elevation of the house increases and thereby protecting the base of the house from the moisture.

Pros of slabs- Houses on slabs foundation are built quickly. So, this way they tend to be less expensive and easy to install. Moreover, in hilly areas houses that are based on slab foundation are prone to the moisture present in the air.

Just by considering the differences between the two, one can decide which type of foundation is good for them.

About the Company

DMI Drilling Construction has been providing retaining wall services to clients across Washington State since 1991. The company specializes in a variety of techniques, including the creation of caissons, soldier pile wall, piers and soil nails, that are meant to ensure stable foundations and safer working conditions.

DMI Drilling Construction has been providing retaining wall services to clients across Washington State since 1991.