The design of the foundation is one of the most important aspects in homebuilding. This is particularly true in North Texas, where the clay soils are subject to a dramatic seasonal shrink/swell cycle. Based on guidelines from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), residential foundations should be designed using a recent soils report, covering either a single lot or an entire subdivision.

Most foundations are built directly on the ground and are comprised of a concrete slab with interior stiffening beams and steel reinforcing. This steel is typically either post-tensioning strands or conventional reinforcing (rebar). Ground supported slabs are designed to resist the anticipated soils movements, but will experience some movement over time. They may also be supported by piers, depending on site conditions.

Post-tensioned foundations use high strength strands, which are stressed after the concrete has been placed. It is a very efficient combination of high-strength materials, and is the predominant foundation type in North Texas.

Rebar foundations use a larger amount of mild reinforcing. This type of construction is more traditional, but often more expensive. It is used more often in other areas of the country, where soils are more stable and post-tensioning is less common.

For increased performance or where anticipated soils movements are particularly high, foundations may be suspended above the ground, isolated from the movement of the soil by waxed carton forms. Two common types of suspended foundations are the pier and beam and the carton form suspended slab. All suspended foundations are supported by piers.

Carton Form Suspended foundations have a six inch concrete slab with a deepened perimeter grade beam. The entire slab is suspended over carton form voids and reinforced with post-tensioning strands.

Pier and beam foundations have perimeter beams of concrete and an interior system of wood joists and girders. The concrete perimeter beams have carton form voids and the joists and girders have a ventilated crawl space.