A Video Explaining the Basics of Construction Footings & Foundations

Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/construction-basics-result-claims-defects-barry-zalma-esq-cfe and see the full video at https://rumble.com/vqhcx6-construction-basics-that-result-in-claims-of-defects-defects.html and at https://youtu.be/H5zKA348V-I and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4000 posts.

To understand the construction defect claim and the litigation surrounding construction defects, it is necessary to first have a basic understanding of construction, what is proper and prudent and what can go wrong.

Building codes prescribe basic standards. When these standards are not followed, or not followed carefully enough, a building can fail. It may leak or lean or even fall down.

The following discussion offers a brief overview of the component parts of a standard dwelling built of wood framing using common construction methods used over the last century, and the problems that can arise when any part of the building fails.

To make things simple, the discussion below focuses on the single-family dwelling. Multi-family and commercial buildings are larger, have more parts, and are much more complex to construct. Newer building materials and techniques are not discussed, nor are factory-built homes.

Note that modern buildings may use steel in place of lumber in the framing, artificial rather than cement-based stucco, computer controls for electrical appliances and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, and other modern materials and construction techniques. Regardless of the materials and techniques used in construction, the points at which the structure may fail are essentially the same.

Typical single-family homes built during the last century were constructed with a wood frame built on top of a concrete foundation. The foundations are either raised on piers or poured flat on grade. The lumber that makes up the wood frame is usually jacketed with lath (thin wood strips) or a moisture barrier paper with a wire covering that is covered with stucco (a durable porous concrete product), exterior insulation and finish systems (artificial stucco) or wood or vinyl siding. The interior walls are usually finished with drywall (gypsum covered in paper that, when finished, gives the appearance of lath and plaster) or, in older structures, wood lath and plaster.

Basic single-family dwellings are usually one to two stories in height and range from 900 to 3,500 square feet. Of course, there are also “mansions” where a single family may reside in a 20,000 square foot structure and “McMansions” that range from 3,500 to 10,000 square feet built on lots where most homes are the simple single family homes of 900 to 1,500 square feet. 

All three varieties are available at https://amazon.com

© 2021 – Barry Zalma