Building a basement

ErinP · #21 02/14/10, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retire2$

I do not have any of the rebar in the wall tied to the footer.

So how did you tie your walls to your footers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by retire2$

Putting styrofoam on the outside wall would be a good idea if you are not going to finish the basement.

I'm curious why you would recommend this...
Everything I've read said you should insulate the outside of the walls, particularly if you're planning on finishing the basement into living space.

Jalopy · #22 02/14/10, 09:35 AM

When we built we used forma-tile around the footings inside and out. We put in rebar in the footings and a 2 X 4 inch keyway then we set stryrofoam forms and used those for the walls. The forms are engineered with wire mesh that gives support to the concrete walls. On the inside of the forms on two foot centers running horizontally is a 5/32" x 1 3/4 inch metal strap that allows for the screwing of drywall or other materials for finishing. We finished half of our basement. The rest is currently just the styrofoam showing. I put a water proofing on the outside and then back filled with crushed limestone about one half way up. There is a drainage tile that takes water away from the forma -tile drain. Also I put drain openings and under ground tile at each corner of the house so that the gutters were drained underground and away from the basement walls. probable overkill but I did not want to fight water problems in the basement. And the styrofoam walls help maintain the temperature. Good Luck.

retire2$ · #23 02/14/10, 11:54 AM

Erin, here are my replies to your questions about my posting.

For tieing the block to the footer I put down a bed of mortar (just as if you were going to lay up a mortared block wall) to level and plumb the first course. The rebar in the block was an after thought after I had stacked all the block and before filling the block with concrete. The rebar helps for lateral stress on the wall.

Styrofoam on the outside of the block would help with moisture control and as a thermal barrier from drawing heat away from the basement. This would especially be needed if you were using the basement walls as a heat sinc.

ErinP · #24 02/14/10, 05:42 PM

Quote:

For tieing the block to the footer I put down a bed of mortar (just as if you were going to lay up a mortared block wall) to level and plumb the first course. The rebar in the block was an after thought after I had stacked all the block and before filling the block with concrete. The rebar helps for lateral stress on the wall.

Did you have a keyway, or something? I guess that's what's puzzling me; what is to keep the walls from shifting on the footers? Just that layer of mortar?

Quote:

Styrofoam on the outside of the block would help with moisture control and as a thermal barrier from drawing heat away from the basement.

I agree.
That's why your first statement threw me.

retire2$ · #25 02/14/10, 08:22 PM

Erin, Yes a bed of mortar is all that is used when you are laying up a block wall. A keyway can be used when you are going to have a poured wall.

ErinP · #26 02/14/10, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Yes a bed of mortar is all that is used when you are laying up a block wall

Hmmm...
I wonder if this is one of those regional variances? (Like putting rebar in the footers).

In my area, you wouldn't build a basement wall without having some way of directly anchoring it to the footers...

chrissum · #27 02/14/10, 10:21 PM

I had a new basement built under my 60 year old house using this system:
http://www.arxxbuild.com/products/foundations.php
It is a system of styrofoam blocks filled with cement which gives it a much higher insulation value. I had this done over 5 years ago and am still very happy with it.