The Foundation has to be the strongest part of any structure. Its purpose is to carry and distribute the load of a building onto the earth beneath it.
In this article, we will talk about the most common types of foundation used in residential and commercial applications in Nova Scotia – Piles and Strip Footing with foundation wall
The types of foundations and the use of each differs depending on the type of soil the structure being built upon and and the type of structure the foundation is supporting. Its depth also matters depending how tall the building is. Usually in residential construction, the depth of the foundation must be below the frost line and constructed on undisturbed soil,
Piles are cylindrical concrete pillars that are poured or pre-cast (already formed/molded) placed where the main supporting girder or beams.
Piles can also be made of galvanized steel most commonly known as helical piles. These piles are like big screws that are “screwed” into the ground with an excavator using a special attachment.
Strip footing or wall footing is most commonly used in residential applications. Think of this as an inverted T where the top of the T is the footing and the body is the foundation wall that supports the walls of a house.
Tiny Homes on wheels do not have foundations. Instead the structure is built on a metal trailer supported by its axles. When not being transported, the structure must be supported on the corners using stabilizing jacks or cribbing blocks (6×6 blocks stacked like the jenga) to help distribute the load better onto a larger surface area as well as to set the structure level.
Why build on a permanent foundation?
Building on a permanent foundation gives you the freedom to build without limitation to the size, shape and height and is subject to regulations and by-laws, except there is a minimum square footage one can build depending on your area. Permits must be acquired from the municipal office. Inspections are regularly performed by a municipal inspector to ensure that the building codes are met every step of the construction process. Keep in mind that taxes on a property is not only based on the services that are available to you (ie, sewer, water, garbage collection etc.) it is also based on the square footage of the house on the property.
Why choose to build on a trailer?
Besides the ability to move locations, building on a trailer enables people to own a house without needing to purchase a piece of land. Because the structure is movable, building one is not subject to our building codes, which means it is not subject to building inspections or permits. Building on a trailer limits the size of the home. Homes on a 8-foot wide trailer and less than 12 feet in height won’t require special permits to move.
Anybody can build provided that they have the proper tools and enough knowledge to do so. I encourage anyone to get their hands dirty and learn building skills. A word of caution though – even though building doesn’t require a Red Seal tradesperson to do, I would advise that you ensure you are following building codes whether building on trailers or on foundation.
At Intentionally Tiny we pride ourselves to be Red Seal trades and work only with other Red Seal trades. Our THOWs are inspected by a third party inspecting body to ensure that all of our builds meet CSA Z240 code.
