Foundation Options for Home Extensions: Which is Best?

You dream of a beautiful new house or extension that will provide you with the necessary space. In your head, you draw a picture of how the room should look, what paint to paint the walls, and where to put the future furniture. However, this is different from where you should start. It is worth considering that the structure may ruin for only one reason. To prevent unpleasant cracks on the wall and other destruction of the new building, it is worth paying attention to the foundation options for home extensions.

Below, we will consider situations and advice that will help specifically in the Netherlands, considering the local climate and common practice.

The base must be strong enough to withstand the heavy weight of rooms or even a separate house and not deteriorate over time. In this article, we’ll tell you what to pay attention to and how to select the right option and materials.

The Importance of a Strong Foundation in the Netherlands

Let’s start with the basics. Certain types of soil have specific characteristics. Accordingly, specialists study where the new building will stand and on what terrain it will be built. They conclude the appropriate type of home extension foundation. Let’s consider two of the most famous examples in the Netherlands:

• Almost the entire country’s territory is below sea level. This means that the soil is mostly peat clay and only sometimes sand. In such situations, experts prefer to drill or drive piles. Over time, a house, or room on such a foundation will not float, and cracks will not appear on the walls.
• There is also a particular area in the east of the Netherlands where sand predominates. Ensure your house withstands time and heavyweight. Builders use another method: reinforcement is applied, and concrete is poured. This design is optimal for sandy areas. Even if you do not live in this country but on an entirely different continent, consider this advice.

The need to choose the right house addition foundation options and the main difficulties can be the following:

• overcome the destruction of the building’s architecture;
• avoid the appearance of cracks in the walls;
• difficult opening and closing of doors and windows may appear;
• complete destruction of the new structure or building;
• the presence of dampness and complex fungi in the room due to the wet soil;
• damage to personal property, such as carpets, flooring, furniture, kitchen units, etc.

It’s very easy to avoid bad situations. You must study the area and trust a specialist to select a suitable option according to your territory and its features.

Types of Foundations for Home Extensions

Let’s look at the most popular options in the Netherlands. People often ask themselves, which type to choose? That is why we give a brief overview below and point out the pros and cons of each option.

If you read the information, you’ll have a better chance of building a stable structure and delegating the right task to a specialist.

Slab-on-Grade Foundations: Simple and Cost-Effective

The main distinguishing feature is availability. This is one of the most expensive options among those popular in the Netherlands. However, do not rush to conclusions. First, you must determine what purposes these excellent house extension foundations can serve. The materials that are used by specialists are concrete reinforcement. They are durable.

Before making a decision, you should know about some features:

• A monolithic concrete slab is put in a house. Therefore, you use a lot of concrete and reinforcement.
• The monolithic option is considered cold. Therefore, it’s worth providing good insulation.
• You cannot create a basement to store things.

However, this type is the best for all sandy soils.

Strip Footings: Ideal for Load-Bearing Walls

This type is quite famous for many contractors because it serves well in the particular Netherlands climate. It’s useful for multi-story buildings, small cottages, and extensions to existing houses. It follows the contours of the walls that will then be built higher. Also, such a home addition foundation type is often helpful when making a basement or ground floor because pile or columnar options are unavailable.

Discover various types:

• By construction: monolithic and prefabricated.
• By depth: slightly recessed and significantly recessed.

The material used in the invention of this design is concrete, which means it is durable, strong, and reliable. This type is also undemanding of the soil.

Piled Foundations: Supporting Heavy Loads

Some readers may have seen the beginning of the construction of a multi-story building in their area. First, contractors dig a deep hole, into which concrete solid piles specialists then drive using special equipment. This is what lays these foundation options for home extensions.

The main advantage of this invention is its adaptation to almost any soil. You may live in different areas in the Netherlands. So, it’s nice to know there are some universal options. You can build as many floors as you want. The future house will not suffer. Just make the measurements and calculations correctly. Take this into account the following points:

• You can create several floors.
• Ideal for wet soils.

Comparing Foundation Options: Pros and Cons

How to Choose a Foundation for a House Extension

1. First, you need to study the soil. The type of future house extension foundations depends on it.
2. Second, you need to conduct a complete analysis of your old building. Let the specialists study the floor and check for cracks and crevices.
3. Third, look at your existing home’s walls, ceiling, and floor. If you notice a difference—doors open or close not well, unwanted cracks have appeared and are progressing—the old foundation was chosen incorrectly for your area. Share this information with a specialist when you make a choice.
4. Fourth, examine the cracks. This is especially true for the first floor. What is the current situation in the basement? Check for traces of fungus and red spots that may indicate the presence of insects that destroy piles. Such information also needs to be shared with a specialist of CBS Renovation. The employee may help save your existing home and offer a solution.

Conclusion

To get a space that will serve you for a decade in the Netherlands and its climate you need to cooperate with proven companies. Adding an extension to your house is a valuable start. Please pay attention to our experience and what projects have already been implemented. Follow the plan and create a comfortable space where your family will live happily for many years.