New Construction

by Lynn S. Hayward

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

Although it's healthful, low maintenance, and easy on the environment, this Texas home is also lots of fun to live inby Peter L. Pfeiffer

Carpenter Joseph Truini offers construction details for four types of basic, on-grade foundations suitable for backyard buildingsby Joseph Truini

Establishing a sound connection between the house, the foundation, and the earth is crucial. These foundation fundamentals can help get you started.by Larry Haun

by John Spier

by William B. Rose

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

Dry-laid walls reinforced with steel and filled with concrete make a weathertight, bugproof houseby Fred Leadbeater

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

by Thor Matteson

by John Carroll

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

by Robert L. Brungraber