Foundation Work

Even if the foundation is not square or level, getting the mudsills right will get you back on trackby Jim Anderson

Waterproofing the foundation walls is only the first step; you also need a system of drains around the foundation that silt won't render uselessby Larry Janesky

The bones beneath concrete's muscle, rebar has to be cut, bent and tied properly to do its jobby Howard Stein

Assembled with regular building skills, ICFs form airtight, insulating concrete walls that finish with standard materialsby Andy Engel

They hold up the house, hold back the earth and keep out the water. If they're not level and square, you may end up custom-cutting every rafter.by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin

Fill up a trench with concrete -- what's to know? If a house is going to stand on those little sidewalks, they'd better be straight, level and correctly placed.by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin

Think of the ground around the house as the roof that keeps the foundation dryby William B. Rose

Get evenly spaced courses and consistent mortar joints by using the proper layout, mortar consistency and troweling techniquesby John Carroll

Used overseas successfully for decades, this innovative foundation system uses carefully placed insulation and a slab with integral footings instead of conventional deep frost wallsby Christopher R. Kendall

Tips on ordering, placing, screeding, floating and finishingby Carl Hagstrom

A simple, effective foundation system for residential structuresby Elias Velonis

Precision-ground concrete blocks make it easy to build a wallby Rob Thallon

How to pour the footing and lay the concrete block, and what to do about waterproofing, drainage and insulationby Richard T. Kreh Sr.

On a flat lot, footings can be oriented with precision using batter boards, string and a water levelby Tom Law