Cinder Block Foundations vs. Poured Concrete

Everdry Waterproofing can provide homeowners in Milwaukee, WI with a cinder block foundation or a poured concrete foundation, depending on their unique needs. In the foundation industry, when a cinder block foundation is compared to a concrete block foundation, it’s difficult to determine which one is better, as both types of block foundations have various benefits. Most builders, however, choose to use poured concrete walls for new homes. According to a survey by the Portland Cement Association, 72% of new homes with full basements are built with poured concrete wall systems, while concrete block walls hold 25% of the national market. Each foundation type has its advantages and drawbacks.

What Are Cinder Block Foundations?

Before the 1970s, cinder block foundations were the norm. Nearly every house was built with a masonry foundation. While the poured wall wins for lateral strength, the cinder block wall built correctly beats a poured wall for compression strength. Meaning it can hold more weight on top of the foundation. For this reason, a cinder block wall foundation is often the choice of engineers and architects. A good block wall does need skilled bricklayers translating into more labor costs. Plus, skilled masons are hard to come by. Block wall foundations are more prone to bowing and buckling, and repairs are costly if you have to rebuild the block wall. While both foundation types can be completely waterproofed, block walls tend to have more leaks because of the grout lines. Water and weather wear down the mortar over time and cause leaks.

What Are Poured Concrete Foundations?

Poured concrete wall foundations are arguably stronger than cinder blocks. Poured walls have a better lateral strength, which means they can resist more pressure from the water and the soil outside. A poured wall doesn’t have joints like a block wall, so it is easier to waterproof. Poured walls tend to be the preferred choice of new construction builders. Poured walls can be formed in any foundation design and can be adapted for last-minute changes. Constructing a poured wall is faster and more efficient, but it can be expensive if the cement plant is far away. If the concrete truck has to travel farther than 90 minutes, a cinder block wall foundation would probably be the better choice. It depends on the circumstance and the availability of concrete and skilled workers.

What Is the Strongest Foundation for a House?

House foundations are only constructed from the strongest materials, as they are meant to ensure that houses remain in place during the most severe weather and natural disasters, including earthquakes. Most of the time, people opt for poured concrete basement over a cinder block basement. Concrete is the strongest construction material and, therefore, the strongest foundation for a house as well.

What Type of Foundation Is Better?

Both types of foundations can also be reinforced with steel rebar. This helps strengthen any kind of foundation. One benefit of a concrete block wall is that the concrete is already solid at the time of construction. Poured walls have to cure onsite and sometimes can lose some strength in the process if spalling occurs. No matter which foundation you decide on, make sure you install a proper waterproofing system. No foundation wall will be any good if it isn’t waterproofed.

Contact Us Today for Foundation Repairs

Whether you have a cinder block foundation or a poured concrete foundation, the expert team at Everdry Waterproofing can help. We can install or repair your property’s foundation. Contact us today to request a free quote or to learn more about the foundation services we offer our customers.