Foundations and Concrete Work

FOR PROS BY PROS
Foundations and Concrete Work

• Form and pour a solid foundation.
• Install concrete piers and footings.
• Lay groundwork for patios and decks.
• Waterproof a basement and keep it dry.
• Retrofit and repair foundations.

Quality construction begins with a strong, sturdy, foundation. Whether building a new home, adding an addition, or doing major renovations and repairs, this book is filled with expert advice from engineers, contractors, and remodelers that can save you time and money, as you learn from their mistakes.

You'll find how to troubleshoot and correct common masonry mistakes, how to use concrete in the home landscape, and how to build a foundation that will last and resists the forces of nature and time to provide a sturdy base to build on.

Contents:

Introduction, 3

PART 1: CONCRETE BASICS

Avoiding Common Masonry Mistakes, 4
Working with Rebar, 16
Placing a Concrete Driveway, 25
Drilling Concrete? Get a Rotary Hammer, 36
A Solid Deck Begins with Concrete Piers, 44

PART 2: BUILDING FOUNDATIONS

Soil: The Other Half of the Foundation, 54
Start with Batterboards, 62
Pouring Concrete Slabs, 66
Building a Block Foundation, 76
Laying Up Concrete Block, 86
Forming and Pouring Footings, 96
Forming and Pouring Foundations, 104
Footing and Foundation in One Pour, 116
Insulated Concrete Forms, 122
A Fast Foundation for an Addition, 138
Building a House of Insulated Concrete Block, 146

PART 3: WATERPROOFING

The Stay-Dry, No-Mold Finished Basement, 156
Moisture-Proofing New Basements, 164
Sealing a Crawl Space, 176
Details for a Dry Foundation, 184
Keeping a Basement Dry, 194

PART 4: RETROFITTING FOUNDATIONS

Foundation Drainage, 204
When Block Foundations Go Bad, 214
Retrofitting a Foundation, 223

PART 5: CONCRETE IN THE LANDSCAPE

Four Retaining Wall Choices, 232
Building a Modular Retaining Wall, 242
Dress Up a Block Wall with a Rock Wall, 252
A Concrete-Paver Patio from the Bottom Up, 262

288 Pages - 8-1/2x 11 in.