What Is Pier and Beam Foundation | Advantages & Disadvantage of Pier and Beam Foundations | Pier and Beam Foundation Design | How to Build a Post and Pier Foundation

Pier and Beam Foundation

Introduction of Pier and Beam Foundation

  • The foundation plays important role in the construction of the building. The strength of the structure depends on how the foundation of the building is constructed.
  • In the olden days Pier and beam foundation is widely used in the construction of these structures because of its economy.
  • In this article, you will get to know about the Pier and Beam Foundation, Advantages and Disadvantages of Pier and Beam foundation.

What Is Pier and Beam Foundation?

Pier and Beam Foundation

The Pier and beam foundation is a large diameter cylindrical column which is constructed to support the superstructure and transfer the total load into the underground strata.

The Pier and beam foundation is also referred to as the footings which are the columns that are constructed to hold this structure. The beams are connected with the piers to transfer the load into the ground. It is a common type of foundation which is widely used for the construction of residential buildings.

A pier and beam foundation which includes the three main elements such as concrete piers that anchor the house foundation to the ground.

The second is the posts or piles that run between the piers and the horizontal beams and the third is the wooden beams that support the weight of the house.

Pier and beam house Foundation is constructed to support the structure. Post and beam foundations are also known as post and beam foundations which help to elevate homes to protect the structures from flooding and moisture.

Advantages of Pier and Beam Foundations:

Advantages of Pier and Beam Foundations

The various advantages of a pier and beam foundation are as follows

  1. Pier and beam foundations are constructed to elevate the structures which will help to protect from Moisture and flooding.
  2. There is a high crawl space available to install the Plumbing and Electrical
  3. Pier Foundation provides Termite control because the house is constructed above a sufficient height from the ground.
  4. The cost of Pier and Beam Foundation repair is comparatively low as compared to other types of foundation.
  5. Pier and beam foundation can be constructed on any type of land.

Also, Read: What Is Pier Foundation | Types of Drilled Piers | Advantages and Disadvantages of Drilled Pier Foundations

Disadvantages of Beam and Pier Foundation:

Disadvantages of Beam and Pier Foundation

There are also some disadvantages of the construction of pier and beam foundation which are as follows

  1. If the foundation of the structure is not properly ventilated there may be chances of development of dampness.
  2. There are many problems are faced by the builders during the Maintenance and repair of the pier and beam foundation if the crawl space is too low.
  3. If the pier and beam foundation is not constructed properly it is difficult to construct flooring.

Also, Read: What Is Bridge Pier | Type of Bridge Pier

Pier and Beam Foundation Design:

Here, the pier and beam foundation design are as follows.

  1. Pier and beam foundations are constructed to transfer the total superimposed load through the unsuitable bearing strata into the firm layer of the soil.
  2. Pier and Beam foundation spacing is determined on economic considerations which are depend upon the depth of the piers and the sub soil conditions.
  3. The construction of Pier and Beam foundation has various advantages and different types of foundations are generally constructed in areas with dry soil.
  4. The post and pier foundation spacing is generally kept 8 to 10 feet distance for the foundation piers in order to support the structures.

Also, Read: What Is Tie Beam | Tie Beam Details | Advantages of Using Tie Beam | Tie Beam Reinforcement | Why Are Use Concrete Tie Beam

How to Build a Post and Pier Foundation?

How to Build a Post and Pier Foundation

  • The pier and beam foundation can be constructed on land which is not levelled. To construct other types of foundation it is necessary to construct level ground for the construction of the building.
  • The foundation of the building should be properly ventilated to avoid the problems of fungi growth.
  • The crawl space under the foundation should be sufficient so that there should not be difficulty faced by the builders during the Maintenance and repair of the Building.
  • The piers are constructed in brick and mass concrete for the reinforced concrete. During the construction of the pier and beam foundation the crawlspace is provided which is used in the installation of the plumbing and electrical wirings.
  • The beams which are provided on the top of the piers are made from precast concrete.

Also, Read: How to Calculate Cutting Length of Stirrups in Beam and Column

Pier and Beam Foundation Cost Per Square Foot:

Chart by Visualizer
  • The construction of the pier and beam foundation is economical as compared to another type of foundations.
  • The cost of pier and beam Foundation depends upon the number of piers is needed as per the design given by the engineer.
  • The cost of pier and beam foundation generally ranges from Rs 300 to 350 per square foot.

Also, Read: Singly Reinforced vs Doubly Reinforced Beam | What Is Singly Reinforced Beam | What Is Doubly Reinforced Beam

Pier and Beam Vs Slab:

Pier and beam foundations and concrete slabs are the two options which are available for construction of the foundation of the building.

This is necessary that a good foundation should be constructed for the Building. The difference between pier and beam foundation and the concrete slab is as follows.

  • Concrete slab foundations are widely used in warm climates where the ground is less likely to freeze which may develop cracks in the foundation of the structure.
  • The pier and beam foundations are very easy to construct and repair as compared to other types of foundations.
  • In the case of slab foundations, there are fewer chances of damages due to flooding because of crawl space into the house.
  • Pier and beam Foundation elevates structure to protect it from the damages of flooding and moisture.
  • Concrete slab Foundation is economical as compared to the pier and beam foundation.
  • Pier and beam Foundation provides extra insulation from the air which will help you to save the energy cost and keep the place cool.

Also, Read: What Is Lap Length | Lap Length of Column | Lap Length of Slab | Lap Length of Beam

House Leveling Pier and Beam:

  • Levelling is one of the most important processes which should be done before starting the construction of this structure.
  • Levelling of the house is the process in which the ground or the site on which the structure is to be constructed is labeled horizontally before starting the construction of the structure.

How Many Pier Blocks for Shed Foundation?

  • The Shed Pier foundation is a permanent type of foundation which consists of a series of concrete blocks which are laid directly on the ground.
  • The tops of these blocks are levelled properly to support the main floor beams of the sheds.

Also, Read: What Is Beam Bridge | Types of Beam Bridges | Beam Bridge Works | Advantages & Disadvantages of Beam Bridges

Short Note

Pier and Beam Foundation Spacing

A true pier and beam foundation consists of pedestals (piers) embedded into the ground and spaced at an average of 5 to 6 feet on center with wood beams supporting the floor joists. Poorly draining properties are more likely to have foundation issues and movement; regardless of the age of the foundation or the home.

Post and Pier Foundation Spacing

While 8 to 10 feet apart is a sufficient distance for foundation piers to support most structures that would sit atop a post and pier foundation, if the building is particularly tall or made of heavier materials such as brick or metal, it’s not uncommon to place the foundation piers even closer together.

Also, Read: What Is Grade Beam | What Is Grade Beam Foundation | Grade Beam Construction Process |Advantages & Disadvantage of Grade Beam

What Is Pier and Beam Foundation?

A pier and beam foundation is an alternative to a slab or basement foundation. Slab foundations typically are inexpensive, can be built quickly, and are made from reinforced concrete. In a pier and beam foundation, a concrete pier is reinforced with steel (rebar), forming a strong cage within the pier.

House Leveling Pier and Beam

A Pier & Beam Foundation can be repaired and leveled by installing steel pilings or concrete pilings under key locations under the concrete perimeter beam. The interior is adjusted by adding or removing shims placed on top of the interior pads or columns.

Also, Read: Difference Between Beam and Column | What Is Beam | What Is Column

Post and Beam Foundation

A post and pier foundation—also sometimes called a pier and beam foundation—is one of two major types of home foundations. Spanning up from the concrete piers are either concrete or wooden posts, and along the tops of the posts run horizontal wooden beams that provide the bed on which the structure will be built.

How Many Pier Blocks for Shed Foundation

As with the on-grade foundation with concrete blocks, at least 8 piers plus one in the center will be necessary. Therefore, provide for a minimum of 9 piers. 2 – Use a posthole auger to dig holes 10” to 12” in diameter and approximately 54” deep, depending on the area.

Pier and Beam Foundation Cost Per Square Foot

Generally, you can expect to pay around $9 per square foot to have a pier and beam system installed. This price may be higher depending on where you live in the United States, as pier and beam have become something of a niche request. For an average size home, you will pay between $7,200 and $13,500.

Also, Read: What Is Lintel Beam | Lintel Beam Size | Types of Lintel Beam

Pier and Beam House

First, a pier is sunk into the ground deep enough so it butts up against stone and a concrete base is added. This helps to ensure the piers won’t shift. Next, beams are extended from one pier to another. These will support the joists and flooring of the home.

Pier and Beam Vs Slab

While pier & beam systems do create very stable foundations and are preferable in some situations, they can deteriorate over time. However, they are usually easier and less expensive to repair than a slab foundation. It’s also easier to install, repair, and add plumbing with this kind of system.

Pier and Grade Beam Foundation

Pier and beam slabs consist of brick, stone or concrete piers and wooden beams that support the weight of the home. Unlike slab foundations which sit directly on the ground, pier and beam foundations are elevated, usually about 24” off of the ground.

Foundation Beam

A grade beam or grade beam footing is a component of a building’s foundation. It consists of a reinforced concrete beam that transmits the load from a bearing wall into spaced foundations such as pile caps or caissons.

Building Piers

Pier, in building construction, vertical loadbearing member, such as an intermediate support for adjacent ends of two bridge spans. In foundations for large buildings, piers are usually cylindrical concrete shafts, cast in prepared holes, but in bridges they take the form of caissons, which are sunk into position.

Shed Foundation Piers

A shed pier foundation consists of 4 or more concrete piers with diameters of 12”-24”, which are poured to a depth at least 6-12” below the local frost line. Ideally, shed piers should be combined with a gravel shed foundation.

Pier Block Shed Foundation

A pier block shed foundation is not strictly a permanent foundation it comprises of a series of concrete blocks laid directly on the ground (occasionally a shallow hole is dug and filled with crushed stone), the tops the blocks are then levelled to support the main floor beams of the shed.

Pier Foundation Design

A pier foundation is a series of vertical pillars or piles that transfer the building load to the soil. Beams are then built on top of these columns. They lift the house off the ground and are very popular in coastal regions where rising tides are a problem.

Can You Build a Shed on Pier Blocks?

We don’t recommend pier blocks for sheds because they do not provide frost-proof structural support and are at risk of shifting over time.

Types of Pier and Beam Foundations

 

 

 

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