Foundation work
Pier & Beam, Crawl Space and Footing Installation
Concrete footings, block walls and support piers for raised floors and crawl space foundations in the Lake Livingston area.
Raised foundations, built from the footings up
A pier-and-beam or crawl space foundation holds the floor up off the ground on piers or block walls, which sit on concrete footings. The space underneath gives access to plumbing and wiring, and the design can suit lots where a flat slab would take more earthwork.
Onalaska Builders digs and pours footings and builds crawl space foundations with our own crews, and we can prepare the site with our dirt work services first.
This work includes:
- Digging and pouring steel-reinforced concrete footings
- Block walls for crawl spaces
- Support piers
Plain English
Footings, footers, piers and beams: what they are
- Footing (or footer). The two words mean the same thing: the widened concrete base, usually reinforced with steel, that spreads a structure's weight into the ground. Every foundation type starts with them in some form.
- Pier. A column, often concrete or masonry, that rests on a footing and supports the beams above.
- Beam. The horizontal member that spans between piers and carries the floor framing.
- Block wall. A masonry wall on a continuous footing that encloses and supports the edge of a crawl space.
- Crawl space. The open area between the ground and the floor, which leaves plumbing and wiring reachable.
Choosing a foundation
When is pier and beam the better choice?
Pier and beam is not always the answer, but it is worth considering when:
- The lot slopes. Piers can be set at different heights, which can mean less grading than leveling the site for a slab. This comes up often on lots that fall toward Lake Livingston.
- You want access under the floor. Plumbing, wiring and ductwork can be reached for repairs and changes without cutting concrete.
- The house needs to sit higher. A raised floor keeps living space further above the ground.
- You are adding onto a pier-and-beam home and want the new section to match. See home additions.
The right choice still depends on the lot, soil, drainage, the building design and budget. If your plans specify a foundation design, that design governs.
Long-term care
Keeping a crawl space dry
Moisture is the main thing to manage under a raised floor. Water that collects in a crawl space can lead to damp framing and soft soil around the piers. A few basics help:
- Grade the ground away from the foundation so rain does not run under the house. See excavation and grading.
- Deal with standing water around the home with drainage solutions.
- Keep gutters discharging away from the foundation. See gutter services.
- Watch for signs of movement, such as sloping floors or sticking doors. See foundation repair.
Lake and timber country
Raised foundations around Lake Livingston
Sloped lakefront lots, low ground and changing soil conditions across Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties all affect which foundation makes sense. Raised foundations are one of the options worth weighing on many of those properties.
We build footings and crawl space foundations within about 35 miles of Onalaska, including Livingston, Point Blank, Coldspring, Shepherd, Groveton, Trinity, Huntsville, Cleveland and Willis. See our full service area.
More foundation work services
Related services
Questions
Crawl Space & Footings questions
Is a footer the same as a footing?
Yes. Footer and footing are two names for the same thing: the widened concrete base, usually reinforced with steel, that spreads a structure's weight into the ground.
When is pier and beam better than a slab?
It is worth considering on sloped lots, when you want access to plumbing and wiring under the floor, when the house needs to sit higher, or when you are adding onto a pier-and-beam home. The right choice depends on the lot, soil, drainage, design and budget.
What is the difference between pier and beam and a crawl space foundation?
The terms overlap. Both raise the floor above the ground and leave a crawl space underneath. Pier and beam describes the structure of piers and beams; a crawl space foundation may also use block walls around the perimeter.
How do I get an estimate for footings or a crawl space foundation?
Call (806) 480-0328 or send the estimate form with the town or ZIP code, what you are building and whether the lot is sloped. Mention whether your plans include a foundation design.
Get started
Building on a raised foundation?
Tell us where the lot is and what you are building. Send the form or give us a call.