Foundation Walls

[Peter LeQuire]

"Wall" is not defined in the Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal, and the drawing of footings and foundation walls labels as "foundation wall" the structural element that rises from the concrete footing to the sill plate. The most applicable definition given in my antiquated Webster's defines a wall as the "Inside surface of a cavity or vessel." Neither of these accurately describes what a slab is or consists of.

From which I take the following: a monolithic slab foundation does not have a wall in the normally accepted meanings of that term - there might be, however, some basis for calling the area of the slab that rises above the thickness of the footer a "wall" as it is the structural element that rises from the footer to the sill plate. (Being in an area in which slabs on grade are common, I would take exception to the statement that such are not "conventional" but we can take up that argument some other time.)

As a practical matter, I don't know how much energy to spend on this discussion. "None" - to most readers of appraisal reports - probably doesn't make sense, if you think about it: it implies that the house was built without any foundation. (The report is first and foremost a communication device, and we have to remember that to someone reading appraisals on a volume basis "none" as the response in that field probably assumes a problem in the property.)

I believe that I'd report "concrete" rather than put up the argument, and take my chances that someone outside this forum would come up with some cockamamie reason to call doing so "misleading."

 

[Mr Rex]

Peter has the right idea. The portion of the slab that is turned down is the "footing" and the slab over this is the "wall". Diagram a garage foundation wall on the typical crawlspace house and you have a footing, typically a brick or block(or both) "wall" on top of that, with the floor slab abutting the "wall". In the case of a monolithic slab, the slab continues through replacing the brick or block. Much ado about nothing IMHO.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Way too much detail. Concrete/Avg and move on.

I think all houses have a foundation unless built on stilts and that doesn't happen out here. What the underwriter wants to know is....is it something out of the ordinary? Could it be a marketing problem?

Harrison's Guide to the URAR says...

Specify the type of material used for the FOUNDATION WALLS. Page 5-21. It would be proper, in my opinion, in your case to say Conc/Slab/Avg

 

[Rlong]

Foun•da•tion/founˈdāSHən/
Noun: 1. The lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.
2. A body or ground on which other parts rest or are overlaid.

 

[Rlong]

“Where poor soil conditions are found, deep foundations may be needed to provide the required bearing capacity and to limit settlement. Additionally, structures in coastal high-hazard areas are required to be elevated above the base flood elevation (BFE), commonly on piles. Examples of deep foundation systems include driven piles (e.g. pressure-treated timber piles, concrete, or steel), drilled shafts, or micropiles. See Pile Foundations.” http://www.raisedfloorlivingpro.com/footings.shtml

They’re all "Foundations"; you don't build without a "foundation" period.
Bob in CO

 

[Rlong]

i.e. "concrete/avg" and it is 100% correct
Bob (agin)

 

[Mr Rex]

The problem is the form says foundation wall. :icon_idea: Not foundation.:icon_idea:

 

[Tres Kirkland]

I've always put Concrete for a slab.