An important decision to make when planning a new home is deciding what type of foundation to place the RTM onto. Whether you want a crawl space to keep the costs down or want to invest in a basement down the road, this decision will impact your budget and project planning. B&B collaborates with third party contractors and also provides foundations services as well. Below are a few considerations for this choice:
*Planning Tip: the foundation needs to be completed three weeks before the RTM move date.
Crawl Space of Full Basement?
An RTM home can be placed on a crawl space or on a full basement. Depending on your budget and needs, a crawl space may be an appropriate choice for you. Consider the soil and lot size. There are a lot of options out there when it comes to planning a basement. You can decide if you want an additional guest room, laundry facilities or another bathroom downstairs. If you are a DIY family, you can plan the development in the future yourself. With enough square footage on the main floor of the home, you may decide that the basement is an unnecessary function for your family’s needs.
Planning Tip: Generally speaking, it is more economical to finish a basement than it is to expand the main floor for materials costs.
Planning a Basement for an RTM Home
Planning a basement for an RTM home requires lifestyle, function and budget considerations. What is the space going to be used for? Home office, kids play room, bar, storage or home theater? The possibilities in this process allow you to customize your home based on your individual requirements. Depending on your land, you may want to invest in a walk-out basement. Knowing the size of home you want to have and your lifestyle preferences will help you navigate this stage of the planning process.
ICF, Wood or Concrete
The choice is yours. Insulated concrete form (ICF) foundations are common due to their energy saving efficiencies. B&B Homes recommends ICF as a primary option for this reason and also because we can take this style of basement to dry wall ready. It does cost slightly more than a traditional wood-frame, but the long term return on investment outperforms both concrete and wood in value. ICF material provides good insulation and does not rot or decay and has strong resistance to water.
Contact us today for more information on foundations or to discuss getting a project started.