There are many types of materials that can be used in foundations. Innovative solutions have been developed for constructing foundations that are environmentally sensitive and energy efficient. Some such materials and methods are presented below:
Fly Ash Concrete:
Fly Ash is the byproduct of burning pulverized coal. Unlike conventional Portland Cement, Fly Ash, uses very little energy in its manufacture, is cheaper than Portland Cement and does not produce harmful emissions. By varying the content of fly ash in the cement mixture (i.e., fly ash, water, sand and aggregate), fly ash cement can be used in different applications. The ratios used for conventional cement can also be used for fly ash. Typically the ratio of water is less as compared to conventional cement. This helps to reduce the shrinkage of the cement during curing.
Some major resources for those of you further interested in this type of foundation:
- Click here for excellent information and list of manufacturers of flyash concrete.
- Visit a leading manufacturer of fly ash concrete.
- Review an actual project built using this technology, the Meadowbrook Community Center, Seattle.
Polystyrene Foundation Walls:
Solid polystyrene panels are often used to construct foundation systems. This system employs metal or wood studs which provide the structural strength with the polystyrene panels placed "around" them. The exterior surface of the panels must be protected from moisture and insect attack.
Some resources are:
- View pictures of an actual construction site, showing a foundation being built using this system.
- Excellent resource, with diagrams explaining the step-by-step construction process for this method.
- A builder's homepage extolling the virtues of polystyrene walls.
Insulating Concrete Forms:
Although not essentially a foundation material, this technology is very innovative and helps in efficient foundation structure. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs), also made of polystyrene, are rigid plastic foam forms that hold concrete in place during curing and are left in place to act as thermal insulation for the concrete walls. The foam blocks, panels or planks are lightweight and provide an energy-efficient, durable construction method. Using ICFs saves wood as being used for forming. Also the need to have reusable metal forms (which are carried from site to site) is eliminated. Once the concrete has been formed, the ICFs become an integral part of the foundation, providing critical thermal insulation.
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